The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-12
ANELECrRIC PLANT AGAIN.

Mr. Gums resolution to appropriate
s125 900 of city tours to erecting an
electric plant has been referred to the
Finance Committee. The occasion is one
which demands that the taxpayers OF
this CITY shall rouse themselves and make
their voices heard. Unless a protest, anu
an earnest protest, is mnde by them at
once this measure will be carried, ana
the CITY involved in another huge and I'M
necessary expenditure OF money. Rouse
Yourselves. therefore, gentlemen. See
your Aldermen and Councilmen and
make them understand that you are I'M
alterably opposed to this thing. The
charter allows us TO Issue only $6OO,0OV
more of bonds. and Providence only
knows how much of these the new City
Hall will take. We have got to spend
something like half million of dollars
on the Water Works, unless we adopt
a meter system. Can any man, then,
saw that the city is in condition 10 UNI
dertake this great outlay for an electric
nlant. when there is no sort Of necessity
for one?
But above all, the city's credit is
stretched to its utmost limit. The bulk
of orr debt and the reckless way in
which we have spent money in the past
few years turned investors from our se-
curities Consequently when the present
Council came in our credit had sagged
until il was almost impossible TO sell our
bonds 1t was believed that the present
Council was much more conserva-
tive body than we had heretofore had,
and our credit has been picking up. But
if it is announced that another career
of reckless expenditure is 10 be EN-
barked on. it will drop to zero at once,
and it will not be possible to sell our
bonds except at ruinous sacrifice. Is
this thing to be done when there is no
occasion for it!
We are now buying electricity cheaper
than we could possibly manufacture il
if we owned a plant. Why, then, shall
we ruin our credit to construct a plant
that we do not need when We can buy
what we want in the market cheaper
than that plant could furnish it to us:
Another most important consideration
should have its weight. Electricity is in
its infancy. Those interested in manu-
featuring electrical machinery refuse to
make up their exhibits for the Worlds
Fair even yet, for fear that the rapid
improvements going on will render them
useless. Improvements are going on
every day in the methods of producing
it, 1t is produced by the simple act of
combustion Inventors are at work on
the proposition to collect and utilize the
electricity produced at our kitchen stoves
and ranges. Numerous other improve
ments are on the anvil. If this is a sue
cess, and electrical experts think il viii
be, present processes will be dropped.
How absurd that we should spend all
our money in erecting an electric plant
adapted to producing electricity accord
ing to its infant process, when all these
may be wholly abandoned in five years.
If we must have an electric plant, let
lis wait until the methods of producing
electricity have assumed something like
stability, that our money may not be
wholly thrown away.
Our people are already overburdened
with taxes. The tax rate here is Sc
rious impediment to the progress and
growth of the city. With It's bad health
statistics and high taxes many persons
arc datarrad fran settling here who
would otherwise make Richmond their
home. Ii is hoped we shall improve our
health reports. Do not let us destroy all
the good that would bring to US by load
ing our people down with increased
taxes.