Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-14
NEEDS THAT ARE URGENT.
better Gas and More Water Rnthcr
Thnn nm Electric Plant.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
The spectacle o. our honorable C0un-
cirs efforts In tr,ing to pass a resolution
approprlatng 3l5l 90, or even any amount.
with which TO erect CD electnc-iight plant
Is indeed hard to understand. II We are
to suppose they are looking 10 the inter-
est of the citys credit As businessmen
these gentlemen should know that the
present financial condition Of the country
does not Justify either municipalities
corporatiOna. or individuals In Increasing
their obliga lions. except under the most
urgent needs. Already oar city's burden
IS entirely too heavy. Instead Of her /
per cent. bonds standing high on the iist
Of Investment securities. as they should.
they are hard % dispose OF At con-
siderable discount. but notwithstanding
this some OF the members of the honor
able Council are willing TO add sun more
10 he burden for this electrlc-light plant.
In the face OF more urgent needs In
other directions, what 10 We want with
this elcctric-light plant? Are We suffering
for electric-llght? win II add the smallest
fraction Of per cent. 10 the health Of our
city? on the other hand. II IL OF far more
importance TO every one OF our citizens
that we have first those things most
conducive to lie and health-vz., pure
gas and a pure nd ample supply Of water
II IS useless for us 20 say that not only
Is our present supply OF gas a great dis
comfort 10 the users. but IL is Injurious
20 health and life. and the Council should
take up that question and see that the
necessary reforms are carried out to
remedy the evil II is a reflection on the
Council as long as this evil exists IL IS
"A "a VaHanf on fair gIFN thar
We are forced from year 10 year. and
almost every week in the year. 70 use tho
muddy. hthy-lo0king water We have but
as poor as IL f.. large district Of the
western part Of our city Is almost entirely
deprived OF it during the summer months.
This is another one of the urgent needs
Of our city that requires the attention OF
our Council.
We all know how prevalent fever often
is IN small towns that have no water
system. and our health Is In danger du-
ring the summer months. when certain
districts OF the city have not sufficient
water for sanitary purposes. The COun-
ell should drop this electric-llght ques-
tion for the present and spend their time
and the citys money on things that arc
OF greater interest 20 our health and
comfort than electric-lights.
take IL that some OF them are poor
men. or, If not now, they have been. and
know how 10 handle their own affairs
economically and It is not likely that
II the rear Of their house was falling in
and the roof leaking they would spend
the last money they had 10 paint the fence
in the front-yard and put on Il few fancy
stripes. Wei. this is about what this
electric-light plant would be for the city
at the present tlme-fancy stripes. l am A
believer In fancy stripes for our city
when she can afford H. but the Council
should az guardians Of this citys best IN
terests. look 10 this gas and water ques-
ton first. When they ge, through with
the appropriation that VIII be required
10 remedy these TWO evils, and there Is
anything left. they should try and spare
"A few dollars and change the topography
Of the pavement on the south side of
Broad street for three or four blocks
west OF Seventh. After n rain IL Is =
miniature Swi,zerland-full OF little lakes
and mOuutaius-and q disgrace 10 that
grand and beautiful avenue.
Respectfully, Il.
Richmond Va, March II, 1895.