Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-19
A QUESTION OF GAS.
MAssAcHUsETTs LEGISLATORS IN TIE
CITY T0sEE THE ARTICLE MADE.
That 10 to Say, They Wish TO Investigate
the Municipal System Of Fur
nishing Consumers

The following gentlemen. composing Il
special committee Of the Massachusetts, lie
gislature, arrived in the city yesterday after
noon and went TO the Exchange Hotel,
where they are now quartered: Moses p.
Palmer, Grotau. chairman; David Walker,
Lynn; A. o. Brooks. Springfield; +. w.
Qua, Lowell; Robert 5. Gray, Walpole; G..
B. Gardiner, Raynham; James LsIly, Jr.,
Milford Charles +. Porter, Brockton;
Simeon Dodge, Jr., Wenham; James H..
Mellen, Worcester; A. c. TbOmpson, Brock
ton; W. l.. White. Jr., Taunton; j. e..
Smith, Newton aud G. G.. Davis, Boston.
THE MISSION.
The two first named are senators; the
others are representatives with the excep-
tiou OF Mr.. j. &. smith, who is Journalist.
and Mr.. &. G. Davis, who is secretary to the
Sergeantat-Arms.
Under the present statutes OF Massa-
chusetts no. municipality can manufacture
gas for sale they can make 1t for their own
use, hut not TO furnish other consumers. An
| amendment TO the law is proposed, which
viii permit municipalities 10 make 1t for
their own use and to supply consumers too.
This change Is autag0nized by the gas COM
panies The Legislature, desirous OF learn
ing all about the system-sucb as we have
here deputed this committee 10 VISIT Phlla-
dephia. Wheeling, Richmond, and other
cities. They have been 10 Wheeling and Will
return home By wav OF Philadelphia, and
will leave here this evening on the Washing
ton train.
THEIR VISIT.
The committee were met at the Byrd-Street
station by Colonel Shepherd, agent here OF
the Davis Shoe Company, a former resident
Of Lynn. Their frat call was at the Office
OF Mayor Ellyson, but greatly TO their regret
he was out. After dinner, under the pilot
aye OF Colonel shepherd, they drove all over
the city. aud upon returning to the hotel
they were met by representatives oi the
Chamber OF Commerce, by General Edgar
Allan, and other citizens who bad learned OF
their coming.
TO-DAY.
This morning about 10 o'clock they will
accept an invitation Of superintendent
! AdSlns to visit the gas-workS. Their de-
! sire is TO become fully posted about the ope-
ration Of our works, with the view OF sscer-
| tanning II the system that prevails in Rich
mOnd u good one for Massachusetts, mu-
inequalities to be permitted to adopt. The
Massachusetts gas companies are opposing
any cuAhRt' lHcfS alt v"'t'eh s""i "''H
panics III Boston. They charge the city and
| very large consumers 81 per thousand feet;
smaller consumers are charged Sl.30.
PERSONAL.
II the committee conclude their labors be-
fore dinner, as they hope to do, and can
easily do il al who have information 10 give
will be prompt to furnish It, they will spend
the afternoon visiting tobacc0-ilctories and
other places winch they have not yet seen.
Senator Walker, Of Lynn, is commander
OF Grand Army Of the Republic Post No. D,
and il well known to many members Of Lee
Camp, as he came here at the head OF bis
post two years ag0.
Tine visitors are pleasant and agreeable
gentlemen, and already speak well OF Rich
mond, which they find is much larger and
handsomer city than they expected to see.