Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-03
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 3. 1890.
Gas and Electric-Light.

Gas ana EIectrlc-blBht'
No city of the size and importance OF
Richmond can afford TO have ill-hghted
streets.
We were slow to adopt electric lamps,
but il the popular voice is heard by those
who have control Of the matter we will be
slower still to return. even temporarily. TO
the use Of gas on any of our important
thoroughfsros.
Instead of diminishing we had better
talk about increasing the number OF these
lamps. Il will be a shame to advertise TO
the world that we cannot provide the
money to pay for the full quota of lamps
which were leased for the year.
Oil was good enough until gas came into
use; gas is good enough for residential
avenues and streets, but on the CHIEF
thoroughfares, on the great highways. no.
thing but electricity will do. This we have
and must have. 1t is one of the lu1urles
if not necessities of the times.
The least We can do, in justice to our
selves. is 70 keep mp the present number OF
electric lamps until we can establish plant
Of our own. when we can extend the system
in many directions, and make our streets
Mt night as brilliant and attractive as is
possible for artificial light.
In view of certain extraordinary ex-
penses which the city is now bearing. and
of the fact that we will not begin to realize
from the new and increased assessments
until 1891. we have not urged instanta-
neous action with respect to erecting
electric-hght works, though we are firmly
committed TO the policy that the city
should own her plant. and that. too. IN the
course of a few years. While we have adj
mitted that electric lighting is, compare
lively speaking, in its infancy, we have IN
sisted that we cannot wait for 1t to
reach complete maturity before moving.
Had we awaited like development in the
processes for manufacturing gas, we would
have no gas.lamps to-day. If we await
perfected system of electric lighting we
Will be in the hands of the electric-light
company for ten or twenty years or longer.
In the Common Council Monday eve
ming q resolution was offered from the
Committee on Electric Light looking to
the appropriation of $4,000 for the estab-
lishment of just such plant as we speak
OF. 1t was referred 10 the Committees on
Finance and Electric Light and the Su-
perintendent Of the Gas Works.
This is the beginning of a movement
that is bound to succeed. 1t may be de-
layed and deferred, but in the end Rich
mond will be compelled TO own a plant
which will furnish electric light for the
streets. parks, and public buildings and for
such of her people as desire to become her
patrons. At present the gas-works are
forced TO compete with the electric COM
panv, This it might possibly do if it were
equipped to manufacture water-gas, but
our people having been taught that water
gas Is an exceedingly dangerous illumi-
nant have always refused to abandon the
old coal process. either in whole or in part.
Doubtless the time will come when public
opinion will change. 1t will have to If
this community ever expects to have gas
furnished ID as cheaply as it Isl sold IN some
other cities.
The latest suggestion that we have heard
is that water-gas plant be erected as
an annex to the present works. by
manufacturing a light of great power and
brilliancy, il is thought many persons
who now patronize the electric-hght CON-
pany could be reclaimed "a gss-works pa
irons. What the public wants is the cheap
est and best gas and electric light obtaina-
bic.
We have found that municipal manage.
ment Of gas-works is preferable to private
or corporate management. and we may
conclude that the same rule will apply tC
the manufacture and sale of electric light.
Hence we urge the City Council to set out
to procure plant. Before any appropria
ton is actually necessary the various com
peting systems should be examined. site
for the plant selected, a plan of organiza
ton adopted, and many of the other pr
mary details settled. We think yea
may be proftably spent in this way. Ther
with the money in hand building opera
tions can be begun and rapidly FASTENED
TO conclusion,
The community, so far from countenanc
ing any proposition looking to dminu
ton of the number of electric street-lamp
leased under the contract, desire and de
mand that they shall ali be retained until
the city is ready TO supplaut them with
lamps of her own. Ii is nonsense to say
that the trihing sum of money needed can
not be procured. We feel sure IL can be
but If it cannot no doubt tho Electric
Light Company will extend US all the
credit We need
Let us keep all the lights we have, an(
with reasonable speed proceed to buy anC
operate electric-lamps of our own. Why
should not electric-light works pay Us a
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