Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-02

| s.burner would drive the iacandcscent
light entirely out OF the market.
| Captain Pizzini further said that n the
city was willing 20 make a contract with
his company he thought arc nshts OF
| 900 candle power could be furnished at
abou, 10 per cent. less than they we're
several years ago. and that arc lights
| ~ 700 candle power. which are now
furnished for e cents, for less than %
cents. The machinery in the present
niant for lighting had cost si35,O00. and
the estimated cost OF running expenses
was about ss3.7lO per annum.
SHOULD REFER IT.
Alderman q. Med. Blake was Of the
| orlnlon that the whole question should
| be referred to a subcommittee who
| should advertise for bids. lie was op-
posed 20 issuing bonds, and was in favor
OF paying 10000 for the ciiy's lights. II
| they could be gotten for that sur
MR.. BRANCHS PLAN.
| Mr.. James r. Branch. a member OF the
| Common Council here arose. and stated
| that he had given great deal OF time
\ TO the consideration OF this question.
| and had consulted several fnanciers and
| others upon the matter. There was
! general opposition among financial peo'
| pie TO the appropriation OF bonds at
| this time. and he had therefore, pre-
n
at the next session OF the Council. 1t
| provides that the Committee on Finance
| be instructed TO place annually for seven
years the sum of $1,000 to the credit OF
an account to be known as the electric
| hght fund, the same 10 be kept on the
Auditors books. The resolution also
instructs the Committee on Light to
contract for 800 arc electric lights. OF
not less than 100 candle power each, TO
Il..k.. III oil a
| pt riod OF two years, at a cost not 20 eN-
cced 10000 per annum. This commit
| tee is to have an option for period
| Of seven years Of renewing said con-
tract, when IL expires, for each sue
ceedine twelve months. and after ray
| ment Of the contract price for the said
800 arc lights, the balance remaining an
nualy, and all profits arising theTefTom
are to be placed to the credit Of said
eectric-li light fund. The sinking-fund
commissioners OF the city are instructed
10 invest this balance and profits to the
best advantage. such part of said funi
as may be necessary to be tsed for the
purchase Of the city's electrlc-li2ht plant
at the end OF seven years. or whenever
the electric-lght fund is large enough
fer the purchase. and the Superintendent
Of the Gas-Works is to keep weekly
account Of the candle power of the 800
arc lights. and should they fall below
the contract Of 1900 candle power. the
party or parties assuming said contract
is TO be paid only I'm proportion to the
candle power they furnish.
The party or parties 10 whom this
contract 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 1894 to the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company. Such party
or parties with whom said contract ls
mgde Is required TO give a satisfactory
bond for the faithful performance of the
provisions OF the contract In the event
such a contract is not made all street
lights are to be made from the city's
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 elec-
tric-lght fund $3.50. iS5.7e.
on Mr.. Starke's motion the committee
at midnight adjourned subject TO the |
call of the chairman.
Big Gas-DiIis and the Coke Question. |
The Council Committee on Light held |
one of Its regular meetings in Committee |
Room No. 5. of the City Hall. at o'clock |
last evening. at which the matter Of eX- |
cesslye gas-bllls and the sale Of coke got |
ten from the gas-hOuses by the negro, |
Ben TOwnes. were considered. Those In |
attendance were Chairman Grimes and |
Messrs. Boykin. Branch. Cnskie. Davis
Noble. Starke, and WaIlerstein.
The payroll for the half-month was |
approved. and the matter Of excessive
gas-bills gone into. On Mr.. Starke's mo-
tion the committee agreed to hear any
one present who desired to make COM
plaint concerning the gas bills. Mr. u.
Hauff, who resides at No iol east Clay
street was the first TO speak upon the
subject. He produced his gas receipts Tor
the twelve months past. showing the
amounts for gas to be follows: 81. SC0.
$3.50, $3.50. $50, $40. $500 $3.50, $3.50, $40.
$40, $3.50. S.10--and for the month OF
January last the sum OF 5000
MIR. Boykln. at whose instance the in
vestigation is made. stated that his bills
had ranged from 30 cents In September
TO So In January. He said he could not
understand the eXorbiIant amounts OF
the bills recently. and added that about
30 people had made complaint to him.
lie read a letter from a gentleman whose
gas-bllls for the months Of December and
January were NgO and Sl2.10 respective
Iy. Mi Boykn declared that there was |
something wrong somewhere. and that !
he did not propose TO allow the matter 10
be dropped. now that he had taken II up.
n |
Mr. Knowles. Of the Gas Department, said
that he had received several complaints
as to eas-bills. and that the majority of
them came from the West End. The bill
of Mr.. Hauff was referred 10 the In
spectOr and Superintendent, and the gen
eral questio OF excessive bills was re-
ferred to these gentlemen and a sub-com-
mittee consisting of Messrs. Vaughan,
Davis. and Wallerstein to look fully into
the matter.
BENS SALE OF COKE.
The question OF the sale of coke by Ben
TowneS. who has been allowed for some
time TO remove the ashes from the gas
house was then taken up and ii lively |
Investigation followed. Mr. NJ. NJ. Jor-
dan, IN employee OF the gas-works, was
the first witness called. He said that he
had been connected with the gas-works
of and on since 1859 lie narrated the
way in which Townes had two negroes 10
help him roll the ashes and clinkers out
OF the gas-WOrls. and what he had heard
concerning TownCss sales of coke He |
said TOwnes had been reported to have
sold S2l worth Of coke to Armitage a.
co. In one week and slOO worth TO an
other party i'm the same length of time.
lie could not tell whether the whole
amount OF coke was gotten out by Townes
in one week Mr. Jordan said he had
watched the negroes employed by Townes
rolling the coke from the works and II
appeared TO him 10 be a large quantity
20 be obtained that way He had OBJ
served that about sixty bushels OF this |
coke had been gotten out OF the gene
rators in one day and night since Townes
had been stopped from rolling away the
ashes. Superintendent Adams asked Mr.. |
Jordan II he did not know $l00 worth Of
coke could not have been gotten out OF
The generators In week, and the en-
)loyee replied that he had only said ,
he had been informed that Townes sold
hat quantity in one week.
WHAT TONNES SAID ABOUT TT.
Ben Townes, the negro who has figured {
10 prominently in this matter, was called |
,cfore che committee. lie said he had |
'een rolling the ashes and cinders away | 2
rom the gas-house for several years | !
About two years ago he was given the =
Xclusve right TO do this. as IL was an =
annoyance 10 have too many persons y
bout the works in this connection. He /
ad two colored boys 10 assist him to do | d
he rolling and picking. and made an a
verage Of about 81 week the year I
round. He said he had not made as .