Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18


make the ordinance OF none effect.
Mr.. Carter argued that electricity was
n commodity, and its sale was regulated
by the market. II was a necessity, and
az such. its sale could be regulated by
the Council.
Mr.. Zimmerman urged the passage OF
all the ordinances. Competition Is the
life OF trade" he said. The old COM
pany has things so much its own way at
present, that competition Is much need
ed" The city had had an object lesson
when the new street railroad company
came into the field, some time ago, and
he thought the citizens were practi-
cally unanimous in their desire that the
three petitioning companies should be
granted the rights they asked. Mr.. Kings
amendment was lost.
The ordinance was then adopted az
amended by Mr.. Turpin.
The ordinance OF the Home Electric
Company was next taken up, similarly
amended. and passed.
THE JAMES RIVER SCHEME.
The third ordinance, granting rights to
the Virginia Electric Company TO supply
power and light and to electrify James
river was then taken up. Mr.. Turpin
moved to amend ii in the same manner
as the others, by curtailing the term OF
years for which the rights were TO De
granted.
Mr.. III. /. Cabell. representing the
Chamber OF Commerce. was given tne
privilege OF the floor He said that oooy
had no axe to grind. They believed that
this franchise would utilize the waste
waters OF the James river and that II
the corporation were allowed to come and
do business here, it would go farther to-
wards building up the city than anything
that could be done. The object OF the
Chamber. he said, was TO make Richmond
such a favorable place for manufacturing
enterprises that they could not stay away
1--WE need some stimulant, ne sald.
"Our real estate Is going down. We pos
sess advantages here, and all we nave
to do Is to advertise them. IL we nave
water power. it will advertise these ad-
yantages to the whole world. ne
Chamber. Mr.. Cabell continued, had IN
yestigated the application very thorousn-
lv. and had been satisfied that IL was
perfectly genuine. and that the interests
OF the city would be thoroughly CON
served. The corporation was prepareu 70
spend sl50O0O0, and had ALREADY speh,
sI5 OOO on the work He begged the Board
not IN refuse the franchise, and said that
anv amendments that might be passed
would have the tendency to lessen the
chances of the acceptance of the terms
by the corporation.
MIR. KINGS INQUIRIES.
Mr. King asked Mr. Cabell whether IL
was not true that the Virginia Electric
Comnanv had raised only $4,000, and had
snent the entire sum in preliminary sur
veys. 90
Mr. Cabell: / am not informed as 10
the resources of the company. l know
that Il is composed of men who STAND
hieh I'm the commercial world. Mr.. Bryan
IS here. and can give you more intorma-
ton on this point.
Mr.. King: Is 1t not true that this COM
pany only wants this franchise IN oruer
TO develop 1t and sell It?
Mr. CabeIl: ] feel sure that they 90
not. and that they mean what they oner'
URGED BY MR.. BRYAN.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan next addressed the
board. He did so. he said, entirely on
his own account, and at no ones sollcl-
tation. He was deeply concerned, ne
continued. about this development on ac-
count Of the L.ocomotive-Wor He had
toiled and struggled with that enterprise
for the mast nine years, and it was now
at a point where 1t was credit 10 the
CITY The works were in competition
with the whole world. Only short time
ago large contract for engines for Japan
had been lost their bid being next TO the
lowest and they were just now sendlng a
man to Russia to prepare estimates TOT
large order for which other concerns IN
other countries were also bidding. II ~
a question of power with us" Mr. Bryan
continued, and he went on to show no"
the rapid advance in the Improvement
fro, ont a
mand on the resources of the corporation,
Before this plan was mooted, he SAID
thev had been considering the advisa-
bility Of replacing all their boilers, but
the fact that they might soon have
motors for every machine, and might
purchase power at a cost cheaper than
II could be procured anywhere. except
at Niagara, had led them to wait and
hope with the skill of our men and
the excellence OF our tools" said he. IF
you will put this power behind us. We'll
beat the whole world. Every minute lost
is costing us money. 1t Is this or no.
thing, and | do appeal TO you not to put
upon us greater burdens than We can
bear"
Mr. Bryan then touched upon the SOL
vency of the company. He had known
Captain Cross, of Baltimore, the attor-
ney of the company. for twenty years,
and had his assurance that the concern
was I'm every gay reliable. He had also
| consulted other men, who were In a
| position to know, and their testimony
was along the same line as that OF Mr..
| Cross. In conclusion, Mr.. Bryan SAID
with dramatic force: I'VE have met at
| the parting of the ways. You gentlemen
| have TO say whether we are TO go on or
| TO go back"
Mr.. King asked that Mr.. Todd. the
representative of the company. should
| be heard as to rates. Mr.. Todd SAID
| II was impossible TO form any approx
mate estimate of the cost Of production.
| Mr. King asked what provision as TO
rates had been inserted In the $500 or
| 5000 contracts which the company
claimed to have already but Mr.. Todd
| did not reply.
IT WOULD KEEP THEM AWAY.
Mr.. Allen vigorously opposed Mr.. Tur-
pins amendment. and ridiculed the idea
| that investors would put their money
into such a vast enterprise for such an
| unreasonable period as fifteen years. He
drew a picture. in glowing terms. OF
| the prosperity that might follow upon
| the heels of this enterprise.
Mr.. Carter advocated the granting of
| the power franchise for thirty years. Mr..
| Snead said he had always regarded the
water-power of the James as God
| given right to the citizens, but he be-
| lieyed the Board would be doing very
| foolish thing II they refused to grant
| this franchise.
Mr.. Smith moved to amend section
| of the ordinance, so as TO reduce tne
| bond required OF the company to 5000
| and to make II payable within sixty days
| . -, ..a..aoa ~ tho ordinance instead