Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-28
MONEY FOR A PLANT.
APPROPRIATION FOR CITY ELECTRIC
LIGHT WORKS RECOMMENDED.
To Buy Lot for New School Building
A Buildmg-Pcrrnit Ordinance
Agreed Upon.

Finance, Light, and Electric-Light was
held in tho Chancery-Court room last
evening to consider the resolution recently
referred 10 them by the Board of Alder
mon instructing them to inquire into the
cost Of having electric lights in that por-
ton of the city now lighted by gas.
Captain Andrew Pizzini, who IS con-
nected with the management of the COM
pany that has the present contract, was
present and addressed tho committees.
He was of opinion that IL would not pay
the city TO put mp plant, tor the reason
that IL $4,000 worth of machinery was
purchased now five years hence 1t would
be obsolete and not worth more than Sl7,-
600 or $4,000. In the meantime there
might be an earning OF $4,000 or SS,OoO-
not enough to pay for the loss on ma
chinory. Tho city cannot erect q plant
and get electric light, he declared, as
cheap as 1915 cents per night-the price, TO
be paid by the city for the next year, be-
ginning February sth.
DOES NOT PAY.
In reply to questions Captain Pizzini
said that the Richmond Railway and Elec-
trio Company had never made money out
Of furnishing electric lights to private citi-
zsus II had made money out of the
cgrs and out Of the arc plant,
but not from the incandescents. There
were several reasons for this, the principal
one of which was that the business TO a
great extent depended upon the honesty
of the consumers, which 1t appeared could
not be depended upon. The company
would make O contract for sixteen-candle
power light and the consumer would pull
the lamp out of the socket and put in
twenty-five OF fifty-candle power globe
and the company would be losing money.
Electric-metres had been tried, but they
did worse than gas-metres, and the worst
Of il was they lied both ways. Besides 1t
was very easy to beat an electric-metre by
running O wire over IL. No wire made
could carry more than 90 per cent. of the
current that started from the power house,
and often immense leaks were discovered.
1t might really be said that the earth
helped to rob the company.
LIGHTNING DAMAGE.
Damage for instance came from such un-
expected sources. Last summer the light
ming got into the plant and played havoc.
The Neutrality-suspicious. ought to have turned the
current into the ground, but IL did not
Mr.. Bowden wanted 20 know II good deal OF
injury wss not done tho machinery by heyin
"chesp-John labor.r lie remembered one night
last summer thare was bad storm, aud one OF
the electric-cars was burnt out by lightning sim
ply because the motor-msn did not undo his
dynamo brake.n
tain Pizzlni said their electricians were paid
about 81, zoo or $3.50 per year.
CHEAPER THAN GAS.
Superintendent Adams, OF the gss-works,
said e would be undoubtedly much cheaper TO
use electricity at the price 20 be paid next year
than gas. and that u would probably save the
city about $4,000 per annum.
Mr.. Glover offered resolution, which was
adopted, declaring IL inexpedient to make a
contract for electric-lighting for five years.
Mr.. Mann moved 70 lay the whole matter on
the table. Adopted-syes, II : noes, 4.
Electric Light and Finance.
Upon the adjournment OF tho triple committee
Mr.. Hargr0ye, c0airman Of tho Finance Com
mistee, called q Joint meeAng OF that and the
Electric-Light Committee at the request OF Mr..
! Glover.
This latter gentleman said he wished to call
| up tho resolution referred 10 the Finance and
Electric Light Committees 10 regard 70 an cleo
tric-piant. Mr.. Glover stated that Colonel Cut
shaw had not as yet prepared an itemized state
ment OF the cost OF an electric-plapt. but that
| from an estimate furnished by the Thompson
| Houaton Company, one OF the best aud highest
| priced, Il could DO put up for sl25,OO0. This
would have capacity Of 400 arc and 1850 incan-
| descent lamps, With the necessary machinery
| and appurienRnces for making repairs In case
| Of a breakdown. The Traylor Company was
anxious TO get started now, and this was the
opposition was started.
| 'ku Appropriation Of that size would be moro
| than one committee should handle, and he
would therefore move that sl23,0O be appro-
prfated for the erection OF an electrc-plant, 10
! - expended under the supervision OF the ~
! nance and Electric-Light Committees. There Is
| no hurry about the plant being put up, but Il
would be well 10 get things Into shape.
ADETAuED STATEMENT.
Mr.. Adams said he had an itemized statement
1 II. ~ NNTNl laAa ~
ted the following, which, he said, was prepared
| by n reliable person:
Fifty miles OF wire erected, including
poles, wires. cross arms, insulstors,
pins, aud reckets......~.............. $l5,OOO
T yersibie lamps. $4,000
travels. complete. e....................o... ~ 2sOC
One thousand light incandescent alter
mating apparatus. including loo
lamps sockets converters, and central
station equipments. b,OOO
So, 800
Two high-speed compound engines, 200
horsepower, complete. .......... 22,OOO
s74,sOC
This plant will run $50 2,OOO-candle power arc
lights and 900 incandescents.
GAS CAPACITY.
Mr. Adams called attention to tho fact that an
impression exists that the gas-works are rue
ming up 10 their full capacity This Is mis-
take as az present only los out Of $50 retorts
IN use. There Is q shortage OF holder capacity
though.
APPROPRIATION RECOMMENDED.
In reply to a question from Mr.. Christian, Mr..
Glover stated that the plant could be erected, he
understood from Mr. Adams, In four months
Twice that length OF time would be soon enough
though. The contract for electric lighting did
not expire until February 5, le9., but In the
meantime the city could DO furnishing private
consumers and lighting with electricity that por-
ton OF the city where gas Is now used.
Mr.. Christian addressed the committee and
said he felt constrained 10 vote 10 recommend
an appropriation. He moved to amend Mr.
Glover's resolution by making the appropriation
s76, 900. This was accepted BY Dir. Glover and a
| recorded vote being called the resolution a:
amended was adopted BY vote OF ayes 70
no, Mr.. HarToye voting In the negative, he ex-
| planned, not because he was opposed to the
plant but as matter Of financial policy
New School Building.
A Joint meeting of the Committees on Finance
and Schools was held yesterday afternoon and
an appropristion OF tiaOO0 TO be used for the
purchase OF q lot for the erection OF school
building In the place Of the Jef Davis Mansion
was recommended to the Council.
Ffre-Permit Ordinance.
At meeting Of the special committee on
! freme-bullding permits, held In the Council
chamber ,sst night, the ordinance amending
section I6, chapter CO. concerning frame-ouilding
| permits, was discussed. This matter was re-
| ferred 20 a committee consisting OF hessrs. Car
| ter, Houston, Thomas, Campbell, and Carnea
| by the Common Council on January 5. 1891. The
| gist OF tho ordinance, which was amended IN
| several particulars and ADOPTED. IS as follows:
| Hereafter all buildings In the city must have
brick and mortar walls, and there shall be nc
ADDITION other than those that are OF nre-prooi
| material.
| The roofs Of ali structures hereafter TO be
built must also DO Of fire-proof material. The
| procedure OF obtaining q IRE permit, under
| the new regulation, is first the approval ol
| nre members of the City Council from the ward
1 In which the building is 20 DO erected The ep'
| proyal Of the chairman OF the Committee ON Fire
| Department must next DO procured Tnis COM
mittee may grant or reject the same. In casa
| of rejection by the Pire Committee the appli-
| cant may appeal 20 .he City Council For yio-
| lation Of this ordinance q hne OF not less tnan
| IS nor more $40 and Imprisonment for failure %
pay said fine Of not less than one nor moro tnan
| ten days IL provided.
The ordinance goes 70 the Common Council
| tor action at Its ne1t meeting.
SCHOOL, AT THE ACADEMY.
| The Beauty and Fashion of Richmond
Throng the Playhouse.
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