The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-01-31
CITY GoUN CsE..
Special SEeefing Saturday Night East
Condition of Elect ric Light Plant Con-
sldeEed-PInced In the Hands Of az,
EXPERT c0r sixty DAYS,

:
| The interest felt in this important sub
ject, was shown by the presence of all Thu
members. Heiskel Argenbright was ap
pointed temporary clerk in the absence O.
Newton Argenbrjght, clerk.
| President Berkeley stated that th'
| Council had been called in special session
to consider the condition of the electric
| light plant. There was general complaint
of the service. and either the manchinery
was defective or there WAS gross negli.
geree somewhere; and it was the duty Of
the council to remedy the difficulties.
Mr.. Bargamin. as chairman Of the Eec
trio Light Committee. had requested the
president to call the meeting. He was
greatly worried by constant complaints
about the lights. Where the fault was he
could not say. Last night the engine box
had been burnt out Whose fault it was
he could not say. He desired to be re.
leyed of the responsibility, and therefore
wished the council to take some action.
Mr. Tams: The Committee is supposed
to know what is going on at the works,
but as member of the Committee he had
been very little at the plant since July
last. AT that time he had opposed the cleo
ticn of O'Donnell. He had been in the
service since the placing of the plant, but
did not seen to understand the works. Had
had several difficulties Which required the
Df un fn ratnoly Woo
told by McNutt. expert from the Thomp-
son-Houston works. that it did not re.
Quire an expert to run the works. 0 Don.
mel did not seem 10 learn by experience.
and winter, and were rot giving
satisfaction. The city had ST 600 invested
in the plant. 1t was too much to be en-
trusted to parties who either did not
see nothing else TO do. but to make a
change. If the machinery is poor We
ought to know it, but If il was the fault of
the party III charge and not of the ma
chinery, then the sooner change is made
the better There are two dynamos. 50
light machine for streets. and As light
machine for the commercial light. The
commercial light machine was now over
loadtd by the value of three arc lights,
Either these lights should be taken off or
80 light machine put in place of the 45
light machine; which could be exchanged
with the company on advantageous terms.
Partition of oitizonc WAC ,,rocp nj cd cipp cd
by takers of electric light, stating that
they felt at liberty TO discontinue their
cont racts unless the service were greatly
improved.
The following was offered and advocated
by Mr.. Bargamin:
That the electric machinery Of the city
be placed in the hands Of all expert for the
period of sixty days at a price agreed upon
by the electric light committee: and that
the present superintendent. O'Donnell, be
allowed a leave of absence for entering the
factory CT the Thompson-H Houston com
pany for that period. for the purpose of
perfecting himself in the haadling OF The
n achinery,.to be at his own expense and
without salary from the city during that
time, ard shall return for the purpose CT
entering upon his duty. with u certificate
Of proficis ncy from the company, if such
certificates are awarded under similar cir.
cumstances.
Mr.. Bell was opposed to Mr.. Bargamen's
resolution. The Council had elected MT.
O'Donnel last July with the distinct IN
Outstanding that he would go On to the
works of the company and receive instruc
| ton. He had not done SO. and the city
was not now under any obligation to Mr..
| O'Donnell. He had opposed Mr.. O'Don
nei's election, because he did not believe
him competent, and thought that a change
should now be made. Mr.. Bell offered a
seize, Of resolutions to the effect that the
present superintendent be removed, that
the city take charge of the works. and
| take steps to secure another superintend-
ent. He afterward withdrew these resolu-
ton. ard offered the following as substi-
tute for Mr.. Bargamin' s resolution:
WHEREAS, Great complaints have reach.
ed the Council, Of the unsatisfactory work
ing OF the electric light plant; and Where
as. there is reason to beIieYe that the
| trouble is due to the incompetence Of the
superintendent of electric lights.
| Resolred, That the superintendent Of
electric lights be suspended until further
| orders of the Council.
| 2nd, That the committee on electric
lights be instructed to take charge Of the
plant. and have the same run by the ex-
pert DOW here until further orders.
81. That said committee be instructed
| to Investigate and report to the Council
what is the cause of the trouble complained
| Of. said report to be made 10 a meeting tc
be held on Wednesday night next.
| In reply to statement that the serl ices OF
an expert were not necessary that colored
man ran the works in North Carolins
town. Mr.. Butts stated that he had yisi
ted that town; that the colored man occu
pied subordinate position at $35 pei
month. and had an expert man over him
Mr.. McQuaide opposed very earnestly
Mr.. Bells substitute. He thought Mr.
| O'Oonnel should have a fair chance. II
was not known whether it was his fault
or the fault of the machinery. He die
| not consider it fair treatment to suspend
| him until this question had been decided
| He was anxious to protect the interests
of the city. bpt did not deem it necessary
to do injustice to any man in doing so
Thought Mr.. Eargamin's resolutions went
far enough.
Mr.. Weller advocated Mr.. Bells resolu
tons.
Mr.. Craig opposed Mr.. Bell s substitute
| Il was too extreme. The company WHO
| had an agent present had not said that
| O-DoDnel was at fault. O'Donnel was
competent mechanic and one of our OWE
people. We should do nothing to drive
our mechanics from us. Too many bad
left US already. The Council was asked K
cast a stigma upon this man, when il
bad not been determined where the fault
was, Neither the company nor the com
mittee. nor the CoGncil, were prepared tt
say where the trouble was. He was I'M
| willing to go out OF our city to employ an
expert OF any one else SO long as we mac
competent mechanics of our own. Sc long
as he was in the Council he intended t.
defend our mechanics, who were as wor.
thy and competen! as could be found any
where. He did not want to drive our me
chancs away. GIVE O'Uonnel a chance