The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-19
LIGHT FOR THE CAPITOL.
The Committee on Public Property Do Not
Want Electricity,
As THEY CONSIDER IT VERY DANGEROUS.
Mr.. w. S. Thompson States That Their Fears
Are Ungrounded-A RESOLUTION offered
by Mr.. j. Taylor stratton.

The Committee on Public Property Of the
House of Delegates met in the hall OF the
House Of Delegates Yesterday afternoon. biz.
John 4. Browning, ST., OF Rappahannock the
chairman Of the committee, presided, and
every member wa on hand
Before the committee was Q resolution. IN
troduced by Mr. j. Taylor Stratton, OF this city
70 inquire into the expediency OF introducing
BIZ into tho General Assembly providing Tor
substitution Of gas for electric light IN the Capl
tCl building.
Mr. Sira'ion tho patron Of The resolution. was
present and had with him number oi vel
known gentlemen, whom be asked 10 be heard
by tine committee Oh behalf OF the measure.
lie FIRST called upon Colonel Frank q. huihn.
Second Auditor. who submitted some correspOn-
dcnce which me had had with the Governor A.
Tar back rs two years ago on the subject. when
he onIeagored TO show The danger brought on
by the Introduction Of electric wires INTO the
building The Governor however, had taken
no step in the matter. Colonel huihh added
that q great many records OF the state were
kept in the binding and no amounto OF insurance
could pay Tor them IL they should be DESTROYED
by ire. Eyenlf the fire should not reach them
they would he seriously injured ~ water
Mn BOILING.
Mr. Stratton read letter from Nr. Charles
J.. Boiling. SUPERINTENDENT Of the Llty WAFER
Works, stating that the water could not be
raised any higher in the uilding Lnan thirty
five feet from he ground iio0r
When asked ay q numl or Of the c0innittec
Captain SfratiCu said that he Wa5 not prepared
10 say what difference there would Be III the
COST OF furnishing the building with gas III
s.Cal ~ electric light.
Colonel Norton Mlryo. Auditor Of Public A.
counts. YVES mex; called by Alr Srattom iran
gentleman stated that as light he preferred
electric Light 90 gas tie only ccted tort on
account OF its dangerous condition, There
were tons Of very valuable public records stored
% n.
AMI be- bad noticed that IN those rooms
tie electric Wrcs were hacked 10 tAo wooden
mfters fac- that made the building eN-
ceeilngly dangerous. lis attention had been
Gale 90 tho con luOn OF affairs immediately
after the recent c0nlagration 40 the ASYLUM al
Williamsburg, which had Teen caused by cleo
TIC wires. Ue had 10 interest whatever IN
change OF tie mode of lighting tie bu.loln-,
Dut was Ouly ANXIOUS % see all danger ayerteG
as far as possible.
STATE Treasurer Hartman. who was next called
ulOn by the delegate from this city, SAID that
De could only corOhorate what had been sad
by the Othcr gentlemen, and added that he did
not believe electric light 10 De as safe a. gas
Colonel Marye tool occasion az this Iuucture
20 call the attention OF the members Of the IN
mllteo 20 the fact that ire p.oOt building Tor
the SAFE storage OF the public records was sadly
needed
SUPERINTENDENT or FIRE ALARM.
Mr. W. Ia. Thompson. the superintendent OF
the IRE alarm teIexTaph OF tho ire department.
vas air Strattou next witness. lie told the
comm tie that no danger would be caused by
the electric light u the wires we're properly run.
" hen be inspected The wires some time ago az
the request of the Governor be found them IN
safe condition but he was unable 10 say what
their condition wa. Al the present time As 70
the wires being run into the building from the
top. he assured tine committee that they could
be introduced in the same manner rs gas pipes
from the ground.
Mr. Charles ~. McCluer superintendent of
the telephone exchange IN this city. Was called
A. ana d
he had been in the telegraph and telephone
service for thlrty-slX years aud claimed 10 be
well posted in reference 10 electric Nires, 10
cXnlaiue9 in q clear manner and iu detail the
dang. s brought on by electric wires and stated
IN tie most positive terms that tie wires or In
cauaesccnt lights In houses could be made per-
fectly safe.
II tAe strineing of wires was done in the
manner sanctioned by the board Of FIRE under
writer's of New York 10 extra tax would pe
placed on the insurance The electric lsht
was just es safe as gas. " introduced properly
an perhaps safer. Fire, we're only caused DY
arc circuit. street railway circuits or primary
circuits OF incandesCent lights. but none OF
these wires ever entered building Tor the
purpose OF lntrod ucing lncandesccnt Iights.
Chief IS. g.. luller. of the ire department..
when asked by Alr. Strafton. did not feel lusti-
TED TO say whether the recent nrts IN TINS civ
had been cause. by electric wires. lie sup
posed, however. thai the ire, az the street-car
stables. at Miller s. Khoads. the fire during ie,
cent storm on Franklin between Third ana
wires lie could not 10 convinced That me
Capitol building wa as safe now as II Would ue
without the Introduction of electric lights
Mr. StrattOn asked the committee 70 report 70
the Uou-e Joint resolution 10 instruct me
Super ntendcnt OF Public Buildings - have the
electric wires removed from the building ana
instead OF them have "a. PIPES introduced. ,
Mr.. NyndhGm Il. Meredith. counsel or the
Richmond hallway anl Electric Company. VINO
was pTcsen' 10 look after the interest Of the
electric light com any, called on UT. W. l..
IranOrd. tine cleo .flclan OF The company, 10 eN-
plain matters from hl~ point OF view. lie
stated that the wires had been pat IN the
building n accordance with the rules
laid down By the board OF ire underNriitrs
in New York. he had 10 KNOWLEDGE OF any fre
In this city caused by electric wires, except
where these wires had been tempered with 10y
persons on side Of the company. his TACT bad
been established IN the instance OF recent nfe
in store on lirOad street. There the employees
o. The establishment hat tempered win the
wires aud Increased the number OF lights from
eight 20 twenty without the knowledge or the
coDrauy. / lac wires we're introduced into the
Capitol building from the roof and also from
the basement. Inc Mlf-ns cOUIQ DC uouc from
any point desired. ,
Nr. Stratton then renewed bis request TO the
committee 10 recommend joint resolution 10
the House instucting the superintendent OF
ubhc buildings 10 have the electric ights III
the building substituted by gas lght' -
MIR Wyudham T. Meredith requested the
committee % present q Joint resolution askin
the SUPERINTENDENT OF IubAc Buildings 70 eau
for bids for a new contract 10 ngnt TIE DulId-
ing and he gave tho as ufance tAat MS COM
pauy would carry out all the Safeguards lHat
might 10 required OF them.
lie committee first decided 20 postpone. finaI
action until to-day Dut after Iurtner consldera-
ton concluded 10 recommend a JOINT resolution
as requested hy Mr.. Sraton.
The committee then adjourned