Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-18
OF LIGHT.
VIEWS or CITIZENS ON THE CUES
TON or EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISES
The Consensus of Opinion In Favor OF
CompetitIon-Shouid the City Not
Own m Eleetrie-Plant?

The application 70 the Council OF tho
Traylor Electric Company for the same
privileges in furnishing electric lights in
the city that are now enjoyed by the Rich
mond Ralwayand Electric Company has
brought TO the public mind the issue
whether or not any ono concern should en-
joy an exclusive franchise in the matter.
In other words, tho question presented
for consideration is one Of competition and
monopoly and. incidentally, 1t has given
rise TO the further question whether 1t
would be advisable for the city to own and
operate an electric-light plant. -,
Yesterday dispatch reporter talked with
a number of citizens touching these points
and below are given their views.
COMPETITION II TIE LIFE or TRADE.
Mr.. John l.. Williams said: II am op-
posed to exclusive franchises and monopolies
Competition Is the life Of trade aud regulates
all social Interests. / am opposed 70 the city's
owning an olectric-light plant " private enter
prise is 10 be debarred from competition with
the city fin furnishing light There Is no
sense or reason IN tho city's running monopoly.
people, and DO a nursery OF corruption. Compe-
tiiion compels economy. Monopoly leads 70
carelessnoss and waste"
THE DISPATCH IS RIGHT.
Colonel John p. Purcell. president OF tho
Chamber OF Commerce, said he had been iol-
lowing tho Dispdtchs articles In reference 70
competition in electrical lighting and no
thought tho position 81 the paper the right enc.
lie was opposed to monopoly. "AH regards the
city's owning It's own elecric-lgnt planb
would no added, be In favor OF tLat, pro
ylded tho plant we're put under the supervision
OF n mmissicn, as is the case with the Fro De-
partmentp
Mr.. W. A. spott expressed himself as in favor
-as.H-. a 60. H.uHV
businesses IL also favored city electric-light
plant, provided 1t would furnish lights cheaper
than gas.
AMATTER OF JUSTICE.
Mr.. r. ". Powers hold that contract having
been made by the city with one company Tor
furnishing public lights II would DO unjust 70
give any other company the same privilege, but
he thought competition should be allowed in the
matter OF furnishing private lightA NOT 10
allow competition on that would also DO unjust
AZ am decidedly OF the opinion" no added,
"thtt all our public thoroughfares should DO
lighted by electricity, for the reason that they
could be thus lighted cheaper than by gas
have always advocated the citys owning an
electric-Iight plant Seeing that II owns the gas
works this Is necessity"
MIR s. w. Travers said he could certainly SEQ
no objection 20 admitting competition. As TO tho
question Of tho city's owning an electric-llRht
plant, he had not, he remarked, examined into
The situation suniccntly 10 render IL competent
for hin 10 express an opinion
COMPLETION GOOD FOR ALL INTERBsTs.
"Competition IA good for your interests and
for mine-gOod for all interests" said Mr. war.
ner L. Fleming emphaticslly, whom approached
by the Dispateh man. Il am he resumed, in
favor OF competition In all things. would nzs
to see the city own an electric,hghI plant u
such thing as private competition were per
mitied, this preventing the city's imposing upon
the people"
or GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
Mr.. C. w, Branch said ~ know nothing OF
tho merits OF tho case but on general princi-
pies am IN favor OF competition"
How about the city's owning and operating an
electric-light pisnt7 asked the DISPATCH TO
That" replied Mr.. Branch, "would be a good
thing for the city but q bad thing for the people,
judging from my gas-oill"
~ never object to competition" remarked
Mr. s. s. Cottrcn. "Competition Is necessary In
everything. without 1t any business 10 liable 20
become n MONOPOLY. | think the city should
own an electric-light plant provided II would De
10 The interest OF the people, but have not
studied that subject In detail"
SHOULD BE PUBLIC POLICY.
al Think ssld Mr. Isaac Davenport, Jr.,
that IL should be the policy Of the city both as
q CORPORATION and community 70 have compet-
ton IL might be well enough Tor The city 70 nave
its own elecric-light plant, though believe pri-
yaie corporations would manage such enter
prises cheaper"
A number Of other citizens were approached
who had not considered the question OF estao-
fishing municipal electric-light plant, but they
were a unit In favor OF competition.
In connection with this whole subject 10 may
be we'll 10 state that the Council Committees on
Finance, Light, and Electric-Ligh will meet
in the Chencery court room Monday evening at
3 O'Clock to consider the expediency and pracu-
cability Of lighting tho streets entirely ny cleo
tricity. The price at which the cityis furnished
with electric-lights under the new contract Is so
low that II is contended by some that II will Do
cheaper 10 dispense with gas altogether