The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-08
THE ELECTRIC PINT.
Reasons Urged on the Aldermen for Non Con-
currence.
To the Board of Aldermen:

To the Board of Aldermen:
On Monday your honorable body will be
called to pass upon the action of the Council
in appropriating 900 for municipal cleo
trio plant. You will be assailed from differ
ent quarters by great number of reasons
why you should not concur.
Theoretical economists will tell you that il
is undemocratic 10 interfere with private bust
ness; that whatever can be done by individu-
ais should not be done by the municipalpows
itself" that enlarged municipal patronage
will inevitably breed municipal corruption,
and many other well-wOrn platitudes Of
closet philosophers. and that therefore you
should never, never, never appropriate dol
lar for this purpose.
Financiers will tell you that there is still an
old municipal debt of about $4,000 floating
around town which costs about sper cent, in
Guiding brokerage and interest upon interest:
that il is impossible to negotiate at par city
fourper cents. of which there are already about
s2l5.00U III the market imploriDg purchasers,
and many more a-coming, including pressing
demand for 800. 600 for the City Hall This
last not in full, but merely an account. and
that. therefore, 1t will be utterly useless to at
tempt 10 float $4,000 of fours for an electric
plant.
West-End men will tell you that they must
have 800 0G0 for street Improvements: East
End men that they must have 100000 for
Broad-street yiaduct, and central men that
they must have si00.0 for Shockoe creek
and 100000 for free bridge 10 Manchester,
and all will clamOr that an electric plant, if all
cannot be had, must not take precedence over
them.
Educationalists will tell You that thes must
have 80, 900 for a new school in Madison
ward, others sums for school-houses ia Full
ton and Jackson ward, besides $4,000 for a
School of Technology for mechanics. and that
therefore an electric light plant must wait till
education has been provided for.
Soldiers will tell you that the Stuart Horse
Guards must have an armory and so must the
colorec regiment. TO say nothing of an arm-
DRY for the Blues (Which, by the way must be
very handsome TO be worthy of them. and
that "a the gown must sometimes Weld 10
arms. so now in this case electric light must
yield to arms.
Philanthropists will tell you that they
must have $4,000 for a reformatory and
$1,000 for crematory. and that as morals
anu health are much more important than
electric light, that, therefore, if all cannot be
had. the plant must wait.
Business men will tell you that as we al.
ready have private electric-hght plant that
has contracted to supply. the city at less
cost than the city can make its own light. and
AS there is another company pleading for the
right TO put up another plant, that. therefore.
there Is not the slightest necessity for the
city putting up its own plant and, therefore.
the city should not put il up.
Those who prefer pelf to patriotism. and
who take more pride in their pocket books
than in the glory Of their city, will come TO
You in alarm. In Atlanta soulless private
companies furnish gas at one dollar per thous-
ana, while our paternal municipal company
charges sl.50 . thousand, aud they win saw.
what guarantee will we have that after til,
city gets it, own electric plant and forhids
competition that our electric bills u III. not be
doubledy and thar WI whine, " Don't. oh.