The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-19
JAMES RIVER WATER POWER
1 Movement on Foot 10 RaVe II Fully
Developed.
A PLAN PROPOSED TO The CHAMBER.
A COMMITTEES Appointed TO Ascer'ai"
whether Tnere u - Market Here for the
Vast Power which Can he Ems
ployed for the Plants

Commerce was held yesterday tNehi"S ~
O'Clock. Present s. IL. Hawes. presl-
dent. Mr.. S. W. Travers. hrst-vice-pres'-
dent and Mossrs. H L. Cobell Dl o
M.cartbr. Jas. IL. Scott. w. o. SHELTON
i. l.. Traylor, Leon Wailerstein' ana -
T. Wingncld, directors.
After the transaction OF some rou'lhe
business which occupied a few minutes.
Mr. Edward j. Willis. superintendent OF
the Richmond Traction Company ana MI.
William Todd, of Baltimore the agent ol
Tho General Electric Company WI
were present by invitation were Inli
duced ana invited by President haWes 10
address the meeting I'm reference 10 pun
Cor tho full development OF the water
power OF James river.
Mr. Willis. who spoke first, SAID mat
a would only De necessary Tor MIN 10
say that ne was we'll acquainted Win Ni'
Todd and the General Electric com
panv. which be represented, and that IN
The plan of development proposed by tnat
company they had offered the Iracuoh
Company electric power upon snch teInls
.hat though his company's s present steam
plant for generating electric power was
80 constructed as 90 secure the best re-
suits obtahcblc from plant or int
kind when the system proposed by me
General Electric Company was establish
cd. the Traction Company would certain
lv abandon the use Of its own plant TOT
Khe chcapcr power offered by the General
Electric Company.
POWER GOING TO WASTE.
Mr Todd after few explanatory re-
marks. then read paper addressed 10
the Chamber which was as follows;
General Electric Company
baltimore ONCE 221 east German 81,
August 10. 1897.
President Richmond Chamber of Com
merco. Richmond Va:
Dear Sir.-The General Electric Com
pany has been making an investigation
into the water-pOwers Of this country
with the view of ascertaining whether
come of the present idle water powers
could not bo advantageously developed
and the power from them distributed by
means of electricity for the operation of
manufacturing establishments. our pur-
pose in This Investigation was. OF course,
90 create a demand for electrical appa-
ratus that we can furnish. While the
General Electric Company. as "a com
pany docs not invest its own money tn
enterprises of This caaracter 1t is able.
through its various connections. - i'm
torest capital BOO these enterprises where
there is "a fair possibility for "a good re-
turn ln The money invested
"Our attention was called some time
oeo TO the possibility Of utilizing the
waste now of the James river ar Rich
m0nd boy the establishment of an electric
power plant for the distribution of cleo
tricity for variols purposes. our pre-
limnarv Investigations convinced us that
there was several thousand horse power
now golng 90 waste in the river that
could Doe so utilized. and that there were
in the cities of Richmond and Manches-
ter sto8m plants. aEgrcgatng several
thousand horse power. whose power was
costing them great deal moro per horse
power per yoar than am electric power
station established there could furnish
them powcr for
ONLY A MARKET WANTED.
eve interviewed the present owners
OF tho w1tor-rower and found that they
wore willing to cooperate with any conn
pany boo the complete development of the
water power. our engineers have made
preliminary estimates as to- the cost of
such plant. and f 10 can Doe shown
that there is "a market for this power
we can probably interest capital sufli-
cicnUy to make thorough INVESTIGATION
into the subject and if the re-
Suits of such investigation are
are satisfactory there cam. we think. Doe
established % power plant that cen fur
uieh power to thc present manufactures
u Richmond at greatly reduced cost.
and c4u o0Or inducements 90 other man
uf1curug companies in Che way Of
cheap power that will cause their locl-
ti0u Boo Richmond You have hut 90 look
900 what water power developments have
done for Lowell Lawrence Havcrhin. and
tho other points through New England
10 appreciate the advantages that would
come to Nichmonl .f such a development
would take place. There would. in addi-
ton. be the immediate and direct benefit
from thc expenditure of from 81. .000.O 900 20
E. 100000 boz the construction. "a large po'
tou OF which would necessarily 20 20 the
citizens of Richmond
"Our interest bon the matter IS. Of course.
q purely selfish one. but 10 is so entWined
with the interests of the city of Rich
mond that We feel free 20 ask your or
Fanizauon Goo assist us 800 establishing this
enterprise
LIBERAL CONDITIONS
"The first thing to be done is to show
that there is an actual market for this
power iu Richmond sufficient in amount
to show some returns on the Investment
and f0 that end We have sent repre-
sentative to Richmond with instructions
90 make as many conditional contracts
for electric power as possible. conditioned
az follows.
"fhc power company 20 supply the
power at au acrced price. to furnish ana
Keep in repair at their expense an electric
motor of the proper size 10 Go the work.
tho power go hc guaranteed permanent
and ass good as power from
a steam engine. The only cx-
pcnso that the customer will be
put 20 in order 90 avail himself Of the
reduced cost is "a trining one for a f0unda-
tion foriho motor. These contracts being
conditioned upon the power being sup
piled Within eighteen months from the
date OF the contract and being only bind
ing upon thc customer for the amount OF
power he is using al the time the power
is turned on.
"Wo can see no reason why the manu-
facturcrs of Richmond should not be glad
TO avail themselves Of the possibility of
their expenses. when 1t costs
them practically nothing 60 make the
trial While. OF course the securing Of
sufficient power contracts would not guar
aniee the establishment Of power plant
In Richmond 30 would certainly insure
there being "a very close and accurate
made Of the situation and
would. ] think. ~ no uusurmOuntable OBJ
sfaolcs presented themselves result in the
ultimate development 10 It's fullest extent
of the watpr power OF the James river and