The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-17
WANT TO GIVE US LIGHT.
TRiYLOR COMPANY Still IshING
FOR 4 FRANCHISE.
Action Of the Council Committee on Streets
Last NIght-Many subjects Discussed and
Acted Jpon-Contract Acknowledgements
OF Pay Asked.

Last Night Many subjects Discussed and
Acted Jpon-Contract Awarded-Increase
Of Pay Asked.
4 petition asking that the Traylor Electric
Company be allowed 70 furnish incandescent
lights was presented at the Street Committee
meeting last night.
Nj Belvin. speaking in reference 20 the
matter. said that it seemed 10 him that large
number of the members of the Council had 1t
as their intention to put the citizens ia the
hands Of a monopoly. He said that. as a mer-
chant Of the city, he was obliged to use cleo
tric light. and that he was at the mercy
Of the monopoly Of the electric light COM
pany. Give me some other company" he
said and take me out Of the hands If mo-
nop0ly." As a Councilman he was perfectly
willing 20 vote for $4,000, 100000 or even
$50 900 for an electric light plant 70 be
owned by the city. hut until then give the
1raylor Company the privilege.
Mr. Carter said that he thought II best for
the matter to be postponed until II is known
what IS going TO be done with the resolution
recommending S75. 0O0 for plant
Mr.. Bciyln gave as statement by Colonel
Cutshaw Of which the latter said WAS true,
that If the plant was erected as The citizens
want il erected 10 viii cost twice -l75, 900, or
$3.50 000
Mr.. Carter said that he did not believe that
the plant oi the present electric light CONE
pany which furnishes electric light cost
$4,000 If Nh. taylor'- company came III
a. the field. II is f0olishncs- ~ think that pco-
pie viii pay $50 "a thousand feet when cleo
trlc lighting can be- gotten for half the pnce.
MUCH DISCUSSION.
Mr. Baheu said that be did not believe in
holding up the gas works. tor when Gas sold
AT q 80 he paid the same Till As he pays now
at II 80 that he could see no difference, and
did not believe in upholding such "a corpora
ton. even though 10 Doe ,wued 10y the city.
Mr. Stratton said that 1t was unjust tO say
that the men ii the Council voted for
monopoly. but that the men, intentions were
to protect the gas works and also the scheme
for the erecting Of AN electric light plant by
the city. Mr.. Stratton said further that hc
was Of the opinion that the city could have
the electric light plant erected for $4,000.
Mr. Belvin moved that the matter be re-
fcrred to "a special committee and the City
Engineer. with q request 10 report at the next
meeting Of the Street Committee
Mr.. Belvin, IL answer - question from
Mr.. Carter stated that in the Board If Alder
men he would vote for any appropriation re
commended for an electric light plant but
that he did not believe that the resolution
would pass 40 the next meeting.
COL. CUTSHAw'S OPINION.
Colonel Cutshaw said that he thought the
city should OWL its own electric light plant.
lut that the present period he did not think
WAS the time To do H. that IT would bee soon
found out that the matter would be a greater
question than is thought 81 now. that IN
SIX months II would bee required 10
light the street then the public
buildings would have 20 bee lighted 10y cleo
trirlty and then enough machinery would
l.t ., l.D hat Pol he
made. that 10 start with -1j 600 such an M
crease i'm lighting would bee made that M SIX
months another $4,000 would Dee asked Tor.
lle thought that the matter should Dee con
sidcred and the requirements 60 Doe made ~
the plant. and then the appropriation 60 bee
made. lie said there was also another draw
back IN the lighting II the city. inasmuch as the
Committee on Light and Committee on Elec-
trlc Light handled the light question, but
that they took separate actions as % the
lighting If streets. and that when tie Electric
Light Committee was formed they received
about $1,000 and although they lighted the
streets with the money, none ~ the money
used bv the Committee on Light WAS taken
away from them. nut that the appropriations
for streets were cut down.
Nj IurpIn 1ered as substitute for Nh
Belyin's motion that the special rommtte" Pc
port an ordinance Carried by vote II 90
l. The commtte We're appointed. Messr,.
Belvin, Turpin and Stratton.
CONTRACT AWARDED.
A contract was awarded for iron frames for
sewers q Mr. Joseph +. IIeindl.
Colonel Cut-haw stated that though no APP
preparations had yet been made. the Council
would certainly appropriate for sidewalks and
alleys so he asked that such work Dee con-
contracted for and when the money is apprO-
priated II can be paid.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that his report - 10
the appropriations for streets had been mnde
up. II was not read. however. but the totals
are AS follows Marshall ward. $50. Hoo. JET
lcrson ward. Sl02 95s. 3j. Madison ward s2s.-
g97OO Monroe ward. G7.4lL53 Clay ward.
t2lG.3-3.0j jackson ward. t6l, ga p. repairs,
$4,000 Total, SJ51,5l9.3S Total including
la' rolls etc, 80 sl9.3'.
Mr. Belvin said that when the Finance Com
mitt,c considered the report that the Street
Committee should g before Tie Committee
Is. % whole and protect thelutercsts Of streets.
He said that the present Finance Committee
was cOmpO sod ~ set of the most -hDrt-
sighted men lie had ever heard IT, that uo
appr1 puations are made that pay quicker
and better returns.
Mr.. Curtis sud that he wanted the appro-
pration voted Tor over tho heads # the
Finance Committee 40 the Council Chamber;
that II was tie only WAY to gct H.
Mr Bclyin moved that the chairman of the
Street Committee call meeting of the com
mittee and go before tine Finance Committee
and ask for the money. Canned
INCREASE on PAY.
petition was presented hy Mr. Curtis
from the hand, who work OF the carts ~ the
city. asking that their pay Dee increased that
they have jO answer r0ll-call az O'Clock in
tine morning and stop at O'Clock Colonel
Clt,hew stated that when II ralucd they did
uot work. bat If they answered rol-eall they
would get their pay for days work, viz,
sl.jo.
Messrs Belyin and Gray made statements
in opposition % the increasing If sularfs.
They used the argument that the clty now
pays 20 per city. more than Is necessary for
lAb0rers. and that 10 Wa, bad policy g. bring
Lborer- w.ge- pt0 the plane II skilled me-
chuulc~.
Air. H. l.. Garter made 70 strong speech in
favor of increasing the pay saving THAR hr
thought the duueo warranted such al liz
crease.
Mr. Curtis moved that the pay OF the drivers
a the carts beiucroared to :l.15 per Jay.
MI Bahcu moved that the matter Dee laid on
The table until "a list D, nude out OF the men
vino work twelve hour, day Carried
Mr. Jurpu moved that the Richmond,
fredericksburg aud Potomac railroad De- re-
ouired % put gates 40 every street crossed by
y ..,,,,.l.,,.,p .ra.k Carr.t go