Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-20
LIGHTS FOR THE CITY
ElECTRlC-PLANT SHOULD BE OPE-
RATED WITH THE GAS-WORKS.
This Is Being Done I'm Many Northern
Cities and the Plan May BE
Adopted Here.

A matter that the City Council will soon
be called upon to decide is whether or not
the city shall own and operate its own cleo
trio plant
At the last meeting Of the Common
Council a resolution appropriating s75OVO
10 this purpose was referred 20 the Com
mittees on Electric Light and Finance and
the City Engineer and the Superintendent
OF the Gas-Works.
A meeting will soon be held and the sub
ject will be discussed very thoroughly De-
fore any action IS taken.
SHOULD OPERATE TOGETHER.
A gentleman who is perhaps as familiar
with the subject Of the cost and manner
Of lighting large cities as any person IN
Richmond was seen yesterday by ms
patch reporter and asked for mis- views re-
garding the proposition to estapilsh ah
electric plant.
u think il is desirable" he said, for
pas-vorks in "A city Of any size to own and
operate it's electric-lighting plant. Ihere
are sufficient grounds 10y every gas-%orhs
for the location OF an electrlc-llghtlng
plant. and the same set OF bOOk-keepers,
collectors, and practically the same WORK
inc force can attend 10 the business OF
both plants. and thus make the cost mate
rally less. Far-sighted managers through
out the country have already adopted TINS
theory, and are practically WoiAln8 u 10
their entire satisfaction.
WHERE THE PLAN HAS SUCCEEDED.
Il can mention Cincinnati, where Cen
eral HickcnloOper, who was for many years
bitterly opposed TO electric lights, has
now adopted and is running in connection
with gas-wOrks one Of the most complete
systems of electric-hghting, with 600 arc
and 5000 ncandescent lights and ope-
rating, am told, at far less expense than
any Of his competitors in the electric
lighting field in that city.
Then there are the gas companies In
Davenport, Ia., and at Evansville. Ind.
the latter being the first gas company, 70
operate an eectric-lighting plant, and has
every year increased It's facilities until
now il ha- about 400 arc and 5000 mean
descent lights at very good prices, and do
the entire street lighting.
HOW THEY DO IN OTHER PLACES.
I'm Boston the gas company operating
in Charlestown district own and furnish
electric lights: in Minnesota the NJ. Iaul
Gaslight Company operate no less than
500 ares and 5000 incandescents, all prom
tably: at Atlantic City. n. J., the gas COM
pauy operate go arc lights.
"These are some notable examples. |
could give many more. for there are now
$50 gas companies operating 3S.OUQ arc
and 100000 incandescent lights, and the
number of gas companies that are adopt
inc the electric lights are constantly IN
creasing. and the opinion Is general among
the gas fraternity of the cOuntry-and 1t IS
now being acted upon by some OF the
larger English companies that gas and
electricity make very prohtable mixture
and time will certainly demonstrate TINS to
all of US, as IT has to those who have tired
the experiment
THE TINE TO ACT.
"I think the city will make grievous
mistake.n ne continued, If 1t does not al
this time, when an opportunity Is afforded
for such an excellent opening estaollsh
plant of its own. and | feel assured that
short time will suffice TO make the facts
apparent 10 our people.
"Another very good reason for the city
owning its electric plant Is that great
many good and profitable consumers OF
gas are either in part or wholly using the
incandescent light.
This of course materially reduces the
revenue of the city and virtually places
the lighting under separate management.
This should not be. With the city owning
its electric plant il would be in position
TO furnish It's citizens with either gas or
electric light"
ANOTHER PRISON WHO rAyoBs IT.
Mr.. W. Deane Courtney. the chairman Of
THE Electric-Lght Committee. has labored
hard 90 bring about this result, and he, IS
entitled TO a great deal Of credit for yalu-
allie information obtained as to the best
system to be used tor both arc and incan-
descent lighting, and also the cost of con-
structing plant.
ut is to be hoped" said Mr.. Courtney,
that favorable report will soon be made,
and that the Council will proceed AT once
TO build model plant of sufficient capacity
to supply the demands that may be made
upon it for both arc and incandescent
| ii9bts. | am satisfied that enough COM
mercinl lights could be obtained TO make
| the plant self-sustaining. In this event
| the city could lightits streets free OF cost