The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-29
The Virginia Electric Company Nay
Engage in Business Here.
The NATTER WAS HOTLY DEBATED,
And Accusations Against the Solyency
and Good Faith of the Company Made.
Richmond Railway and Electric
Company's Franchises.

committee on the 18th instant the ordi-
nance granting the company a charter
was adopted by sections and referred to
the City Attorney to embody certain
amendments, the understanding being
that the ordinance as whole would be
adopted without debate at the next meet
ing.
When the matter came up last night Mr..
John NJ. King. who was absent from the
last meeting, said that as a member Of the
subcommittee appointed TO report on the
Virginia Electric Company's application
for a franchise he had gathered from the
statement of Mr.. Todd. representative of
the company. that the concern had not a
dollar and was simply securing fran
chise with view OF selling it.
DEPOSIT A BOND
Mr. King contended that the company
should be forced to deposit a bond FOR
$4,000 ten DAYS after the franchise was
granted in order TO compel them 20 DO
tho work they promised I'm good faith.
Mr. Kings statements occasioned con-
siderable discussion and the matter was
debated i'm a spirited manner, the result
being finally that the ordinance was re-
commended 10 the Council for adoption.
The ordinance granting a franchise 10
the Home Electric Company then came
up. but despite the strong protest Of Mr..
Phil. B. Shield. attorney for the COM
pany. it was laid on the table until the
next regular meeting.
A letter was read from the City At
torney giving some very interesting I'M
formation in regard 10 tho expiration Of
the franchises on the various lines of
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany.
Chairman Allen called the committee
to order shortly after = o'clock. there be-
ing present Messrs Bahen. Burton. Fos-
ter. Woody. Ebel. John j. King, John Nj.
King. Pollock and Bloomberg.
FUNDS FOR SEWERS
The discussion Of the great need Of
funds FOR sewers resulted. on motion of
Mr.. Pollock. in the appointment of a
subcommittee consisting Of Messrs. Al
len. Pollock and Bloomberg TO formulate
a report 10 the Council setting forth that
S3i 600 are absolutely necessary To put the
sewers in proper shape
Colonel Cutshaw reported that a Sc
rious condition OF things existed on north
Fourth street caused by the breaking Of
a sewer number Of cellars in that
section were flooded. he said, and prompt
action was imperative.
a resident of that portion of the city
appeared before the committee and cor
roborated the City Engineers state
ment
Colonel Cutshaw said there was no way
Of giving temporary relief 20 the citizens
living there. and $500 would be required
TO remedy the trouble.
- Nfr "a u
mittee was appointed to formulate a re-
port in connection with the city Attor-
ney and City Engineer. setting forth the
facts i'm the case and the amount ia
quired to remedy the damage.
This report will be presented 10 the
Common Council Monday night and
special meeting of the Board Of Alder
men will probably be called soon there
after
On further motion Of Mr.. Pollock the
CITY Engineer was instructed TO procure
a fire engine 10 pump the water out of
the cellars I'm that district.
Cinders were ordered 10 be spread on
the south side Of Park avenue for three
blocks west Of Lcmbarfy street
The ordinance granting a franchise t1
the Virginia Electric Company OF Bal
timOre. Was then taken up. and after IT'S
the company be required To put up q
bond for SiO0m as "a guarantee Of good
faith ten days after the franchise was
granted instead Of twenty two months
as provided in The ordinance.
HAD NO MONEY.
Mr.. King said that from The admis-
siOns of Mr. Todd, a representative oi
the company. before IL sub-committec. it
appeared TO him that the company app
plying for a franchise had Lot a dollar
and was simply receiving the franchise
i'm order 10 sell 10 in the twenty-five
months allowed before the bond for $4,000
had TO be-put up. He was not In favor Of
granting franchises 10 companies who did
nOt can business.
Captain Charles 4. Williams, attorney
for the company. said that Mr.. Todd, re-
preventative o; the company. had return
ed 10 Baltimore feeling assured that the
franchise would be granted Mr. Todd,
ne said, could nettcr answer these ques-
tions thar he could.
He did know, however. that vast enter
prises Of this kind could only proceed
a step al a time The FIRST step had
been taken i'm surveying the river and
getting the franchise. captain Williams
deried that the franchise was being se-
cured to be hawked about and sold.
Mr. King said that he understood that
the amount of horsepower which the
company was expected TO develop was al
ready in existence here and that the new
company would have nothing TO do. Mr.
Todd, he said. had admitted that the
company had had but so 900 and that this
had been spent in surveys, leaving the
company insolvent.
Mr.. Ebel took the opposite ground. No
company was insolyent unless IL had
debts which II could not pay.
A vote was then taken on Dir. King S
motion. providing for the immediate de-
poslt Of $4,000 and it was defeated.
Mr. Pollock then brought up Mr.. King s
statement that the company would not
develop any horsepower in addition 20
that already in existence. II that was
the case. no said. he would not vote for
the ordinance as il stood.
Mr.. Bloomberg was OF the same opin-
ion. and said the ordinance should clear
lv set out that the horsepower which
the company promised TO furnish should
he in addition to that already in exist
ence.
PLEAS FOR THE COMPANY.
Mr.. Ebel made a strong plea for the
adoption Of the ordinance as II stood. ar
ter which Major Allen left the chair and
made a powerful argument in It's behalf