The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-02

lights and 1900 incandescent iish.s' ine
company was perfectly willing 10 naNe i's
plant and books thoroughly examiner %
subcommittee. end II the city was VIII
ing to 20 into the electric business tney
were willing to sell Their WORKS az 10"
nSure. The company did not MAKE cent
out Of the city. for It was furnishing the
lights in the city at cost.
STRUCK THE KrY-SorF.
He thought Color ell Cutshaw had struck
the Keynote by stating that the question
before the committee was whether eiec-
tr.c light should supplsnt gas. Ihls qGes-
ton was TO be answered by the gas en-
gineers. and Superintendent Adams VINO
had recently visited the convention ol
gas engineers, was the best nan 10 give
the desired information. He felt asSureu
that the city would not abolish us gas
works, Tor its gas output had peen coH-
stantly increased during the last hVe or
SIX years. He felt convinced that within
the next five or six years the whole
system OF electric lighting would DE
changed, and that in that instance the
investment by the city in an electric lght
plant at the present time would become
worthless. His company was at present
furnishing 300 inCandescent lights' hdVIlS
lost about 10 per cent. during the past
year and he feared that the WellsDach
gas-burner would drive the incandesceat
lights entirely out Of the market. II the
city was willing to make contract with
ms company, he thought arc HGhts or
l'1O candle-power could be furnished at
about 10 per cent. less than they were sew
eral years ago. and arc lights OF 2.O0) can
dle-po"er which are now furnished Tor
twenty-seyen cents, for less than twenty
five cents. The machinery in the present
plant for lighting purposes cost $4,000,
and the estimated cost Of running ex-
penses was about S637l0.
ALDERMAN BLAKE's VIEWS.
Alderman Blake. who about ten years
ago was employed In the electric light
business. thought the whole question
should be referred TO a subcommittee,
who should advertise for bids. If the
streets could be lighted foc 10000 with
electric light. he vas in favor of doing
so. He certainly was opposed TO the
issuing Of more bonds. which could only
be sold at loss. The city had just
completed the How!tzers' armory, for
which year ago $500 worth of bonds
had been issued. and the sale of which
had only beer effected at a sacrifice OF
about $500.
L!eutenant-Coloncl James Il. Branch,
member of the Common Council. stated
that the main objection TO President Glow
ers plan was the Issuing OF bonds. and
he thought that this should be avoided, il
possible. He agreed. however. that as
IiOnS as the city was engaged i'm the light
ing business. 1t should protect its inter
ests by the establishing Of an electric
plant. He added that Al the mex: meet
ing OF the Common Council he would
introduce resolution on the subject,
winch he then read to the committee.
COMPROMISE RESOLUTION.
II provided that the Committee OF III
hdEce be instructed TO place annually for
seven years the sum Of 5000 TO the
credit Of an account to be knoXn as the
electric light fund: the came TO be kept
on the Auditors books. This resolution
also instructs the Committee on Light 10
cor tract for 800 are electric lights. of
not less than 100 candle power. each To
light the streets OF this city for a perio<
or two years. at "A cost not TO exceed
$4,000 per annum. This committee is 10
have an option for a period OF seven
years OF renewing said contract, when
il expires for each surc eeding twelve
months, and after payment Of the con-
tract price for the said 600 arc lights the
balance remaining annually, and all
profits arising therefrom are to he placed
10 the credit of said electric light fund.
The sinking fund commissioners OF the
city are instructed to invest this balance
and profits TO the best advantage, the
part necessary Of said funds TO be used
for the purchase of the city's electric
light plant at the end Of seven years. or
whenever the electric light fund is large
enough for the purchase. and the Super
intendent of the Gas Works is to keep
weekly account Of the candle power Of
the 500 are lights. and should they fay
below the contract Of POO candle power
the party or parties assuming said con-
tract is 10 be paid only I'm proportion
to the candle power they furnish.
The party or parties TO whom this con-
tract for lighting is awarded shall have
a franchise for furnishing electric lights
I'm this city providing the prices for lights
shall never exceed the average price paid
in 1891 10 the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company. Such party or parties
with whom said contract IS made is re-
quired to give a satisfactory bond for
the faithful performance OF the pro-
visions of the contract. In the event
such a contract is not made all street
lights are to be made from the citys
gas works.
The resolution was left in the hands
of the clerk of the Finance Committee.
BY Mr.. Branch's plan he estimates that
at the expiration Of the seven years
there would be to the credit of the
electric light fund $3.50 1872.
on Mr. Starke's motion the committee
here adjourned. subject TO the call Of
the chairman.