The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-02
THE COKE AND ASHES.
AN IyVESTTGA TON BEG UNBY THE
COMMITTEE on LIGHT.
The O-estion of Excessive Gas Bills In
Richmond Also Receives the Attention
of the same Committee.

The Committee on Light held its regu-
lar meeting in room No. . of the City
| Hall last evening and considered the
comnIain.s Az to excessive gas bills, as
well as in regard to the selling Of coke
at the Gas Works by the negro, Ben
Townes. The following members were
present: Messrs. Grimes chairman Boy
kin. Branch Caskie. Davis, Noble, Starke
| and Wallerstein.
After approving the payroll OF the de-
partment, the committee decided on mo-
ton of Mr.. Starke, tina, any one be heard
who had a complaint to make as to eK-
! cessive gas bills.
Mr.. T.. Hauff, residing at iol east clay
street, produced his gas receipts Tor the
past twelve months, showing the tol-
lowing amounts paid by MIN: ~ Ni6O
$3.50, 1880 $3.50, $40. $780, $3.50, $780,
$40. $40. $3.50 $50, and for the month
of January last the sum OF szO.p.
Mr. Boykin. at whose instance the in
vestigation was being made, stated that
his bills had ranged from ~ cents In
September TO $50 in January. He said
he could not understand the exorbitant
amounts OF the bills recently, and added
that about 500 people had made COM
plant TO him He had letter from a
gentleman whose gas bills for the months
OF December and January were A.o and
$l21O respectively MIR. Boykin declared
that there was something wrong some
where. and that he did not propose to
allow the matter to be dropped, now
that he had taken il up.
In answer TO inquiries from Mr. Noble.
Mr.. Knowles, Of the Gas Department,
said that he had received several COM
plants as to the gas bills. and that the
majority Of them came from the. West
End. The bill Of Mr.. Haun was referred
TO the Inspector and superintendent, and
the general question Of excessive bills
was referred to these gentlemen and
subcommittee consisting OF Messrs.
Vaughan, Davis and Wallerstein. to look
fully into the matter
SALE or coEF.
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 a live
~ investigation followed. Mr.. VI. NJ.
Gardner, an employe Of the Gas Works.
was the first witness called. He said
that he had been connected with the
Gas Works off and on since 1853 He
narrated the way in which Townes had
two negroes to help him roll the ashes
and clnkers out of the Gas Works. and
what he had heard concerning Towncs'
sales OF coke. He said that Towncs had
been reported % have sold $2l worth of
coke 10 Armitage & Co. In one week. and
500 worth TO another marty I'm the same
length Of time. He could not tell whether
~ hFl
out by Townes in one week Mr. Jordan
said that he had watched the negroes en-
ployed by Townes rolling tine coke from
Inc works and that IL appeared 10 him
20 be a large quantity - be obtained iu
that way. He had observed that about
% bushels Of the coke had been gotten
out OF the generators i'm one day and
night since Townes rad been stopped from
rolling away the ashes. Superintendent.
Adams asked Mr.. Jordan II he did not
know that 800 worth of coke could not
have been gotten out Of the generators
In one week, and the employe replied that
he had only said that lie had been in
formed that Townes had sol1 that guam
" In one week
Ben. Towncs. the negro who has figured
50 prominently in this matter, was called
before the Committee. He said that he
had been rolling the ashes and cinders
away from the Gas House for several
years. About two years ago nc was
given the exclusive right to do this, as il
was an annoyance 10 have too many per-
sons about the works in this conuectiou.
He had two colored boys to assist him
10 90 the rolling and picking, and made
on an average of about 81 a week the
year around. He said he had not made
as much money in this business as he
had made beforehand while working in a
brick-yard. He had bought no property
save one small house and lot. for which
he had not finished paying. He declared
that he had never stolen any coke from
the Gas House, and had not sold nearly
the quantities of this commodity as had
been reported he had. He emphatically
denied that he had ever refused 10 al
low any one 10 go I'm and roll out ashes
Mr.. William DOnnclly stated that he
once made a bid Of a small sum for the
privilege OF rolling out the ashes and
having the coke. but that Townes had
told him that the privilege had been
given 10 him Townes) for carrying Mr..
Welch's meals to him. Mr.. Welch is
foreman AZ tho Lower Gas Works.
Mr.. Welch was heard upon the matter.
He declared that the statement that any
one had been refused permission to carry
out bags of coke was a lie. Mr.. Welch
and Robert Parklngton made a state
ment to the committee about the rolling
out Of the ashes. and the body adjourn
ed until Tuesday afternoon at 6 o'clock,
when the investigation will be resumed.