Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-29


of place for me to refer briehy 10 us
merits. -, .ho od-
,.ortaoes of CHEAP gas as a fuel II Is
not nossible for them TO realize It's I'M
nortance to a city. In our southern CHI
mate where the summers are loiie
and the hot days particularly uS ins -
those of our people who. whether py pte
ference. or forced by necessity, perform
their own household duties, IL WIZ NC o.
esnecial blessing and comfort III hsn.en,
ing their labors. 1t is more ecoionieS'
than coal for cooking ana hea'lhs' w.,
the attendant labor in handilhs en.S,
obviated: the house is clean from DUST am
shes. the atmosphere of the city Is ireeu
Sror, SCOT and smoke. and rendered clear
and healthy. and when used in gas
engine. IL furnishes the cheapest anu
most convenient power Tor an h,.its "a
manufacturing purposes. IL Is Oh esps
cial importance to this class Oh business
ard will effect saving or 80 per cent
a. This item of expense to every manu-
footrrino- concern in the city using power
such an industry will bring to our peopie
and our city all of these advantages po.n
for household and manufacturing pun
noses and not an objection can De laHieu
against IL as to it's DISADVANTAGE III
sections where natural gas has peeh useu
and the supply become exhausted luei
gas plants have been erected 10 i"n0 10
place. oroo. ar
,,raIv senarate works, and lay new
cor ~ mains at a large expenditure OF
money II would be our desire TO nave
the fuel-gas plant in operation without
deIav and for several months during the
foll and winter we would have four or
dva hundred of our tailoring class ana
s,.,Iled mechanics employed prosecuting
this work as rapidly as possible Fehu-
ing the completion of these WORKS We
wouId SIMPLY the regular gas to the pun
lic where used for cooking, at ninety
cents (9Oc) per thousand cubic ieet' ~
would no our purpose TO give our people
the right to use any standard ana reilaDle
make OF meters they might prefer ana
supply them without cost.
NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL.
Tn considering this question, permit me
IN sav that the city wousd not De ue-
nartinp from any well established pre-
cadent ~ she went out of the gas business.
II would he quite as reasonable for her
tn engage in the coal business, or the OH
business. or the electsc-nghtlh9 anu
street-railway business. 1t Is the eScep-
ton and not the rule for cities 10 uon-
an, tho business of making and selling
gas. In the wealthy ana prospe,ou'
States Of Massachusetts,, Connecticut
Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey
Irdiana and illinois, there Is not n single
it,, that is I'm the business. In the State
| of ohio. with her many prosperous cities.
NOT one of them, with the exception OF
| the town of Bellefontaine G,OOO people, ana
| IIapoilton that own gas-works, ana with
the single exception of Philadelphia, we
| do not find any OF the cities ana towns
| I'm Pennsylvania in the business Ihese
| nrosnerous northern and western cities
econ, TO show quite the reverse or our
ou,,, condition. with their low rates OF
tayat,on. III we come South, we can take
every Central and Southern state. with
,ho excention OF Virginia and West Nir-
| ginia- and we do not find city engaseu
| In the gas business. In fact, there are
only two cities and two towns OF any I'M
nortance In the country that 90 q sas
| siness-Philadelpha, Richmond Dan
Vile. and Wheeling. W. va III sne
former city the condition of AFFAIRS con-
,ac,ad with the gas department became
60 den,orable. that an investigation OF II
has recently been made by the state
| Legislature. 80 4, 90
merely state these facts. as IL Is
L
,ha ,mnresslon among some or our peo-
ME that It is customary for cities to man
| ufacture and sell gas
In order that you may fully unierStanu
the merits OF our system. we invite your
COMMITTEES. or any competent expert OF
both branches OF the City Council &c
rrora an examination OF it, and every
facility VII be given them for most
thorough investigation. Tho,
would call to your attention 'na'
under such an agreement we wou'd con
tribute largely to the cltys revenue III
taxes. as il Is not our purpose. as Is cus'
tomary in such cases. TO ASK 'n'n'u a...'
from taxation. We desire 10 con. '..'.'.
o,,r mart in supporting the city govern
mcnt. and as far as possible aid In III
prosperity III, .a,xo,,