The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02
TO BID ON GAS-WORKS.
tCLTYLENE PEOPLE PROMISED
yfGOHOUs OPPPOSITiON.
rho Committee Oh Light and Finance Fa-
yor Submitting the Most Favorable
Proposition to the People.


or lease the Gas Works and the Com
mittees on Light and Finance Jointly
recommended to the Council last night
that competitive bids be received for the
sale or lease, with the right reserved to
reject all offers, the acceptance OF the
highest or most favorable bid to be voted
on b. the people.
At tho last previous joint meeting OF the
committees. the question of the sale or
the Gas Works was considered, ana a
report OF Superindent Knowles, to the
effect that the Gas Works was paying
institution, was also read. resolution
was adopted, stating In substance that In
view of the report OF the Superintendent,
and in the absence Of a proposition, II
was deemed inadvisabe to sell.
The re-opening OF the question was de-
bated at some length, Messrs. Hardwicke
and Witte taking the ground that the
committee had performed its task. and
adjourned sine die. and that any new
propositions should be made TO the Coun-
ell, and referred in the regular order OF
business.
THREE PROPOSALS.
motion TO reconsider was passed by
a vote of nine to two The motion was
then laid on the table. and the PROPOSE
ton OF Mr.. William j. Payne. which was
published in full in The Times OF Thurs
day, was taken up.
Colonel James Lyons. who was present,
stated that he was not prepared 10 sub
NIT a written proposition, but he repre-
scented parties having large gas holdings
| who were willing 10 pay more than was
| offered By Mr.. Payne. His clients de-
sired that the question be submitted to
| a popular vote. and, II carried, they
were willing to bid
Judge Marshall. of Portsmouth. on be-
| half OF himself and others, wished 10
| be considered among bidders. They
| had no detailed proposition. as they had
supposed the Council would first decide
| whether the Gas Works were TO be leased
| or sold outright They did not antici-
| pate the consideration by the Council or
| committees Of any single proposition.
| Mr. Rountree moved TO report I'm favor
| OF submitting the question OF the dis
| position Of the Gas Works to the people
| al the Nav election. and that no pro-
| posal for less than 100000 be considered.
| Another stipulation was that gas for the
city streets and public institutions must
| be furnished free. and 81 per thousand
feet to be the maximum price charged
the public.
DISPOSED OF.
Mr. Zimmerman moved as substi-
| tute report one in favor OF the Council
receiving competitive bids for the sale or
| lease Of the Gas Works, reserving the
right TO reject all and the highest or
most favorable bid. 10 be submitted 10
| the people.
The latter was adopted BY the fol-
| lowing vote:
Ayes-Messrs. starke. Wallerstein,
| Stokes Tanner, o. S. Allen. thinner
mann. and Cottrell
Noes-Messrs. Hardwicke. Witte. and
Rountree.
OTHER COMMITTEES.
The Committee on Light met at p. NJ,
with the following members present:
Messrs. Starke (chairman), Hardwicke,
Wallersteln, Stokes. Tanner, Witte and
| o. S. Allen.
A bill OF s2.5l7. 30 OF the Richmond Rail-
way and Electric Company for lights
was ordered paid. The payroll, amount
irg to Sl.775.G0. was approved.
A request for a gas-main from Han
over street 10 Park avenue, via walnut,
was rejected on account OF the expense.
Contracts were awarded 10 James CARD
ner, Jr., OF Pittsburg, Pa, for I'VE
benches and settings. five tons OF ground
and fire clay. and 5000 friedrich, at Ss21.
| Other bidders were Messrs. Cyrus Barg-
ner Of Philadelphia; and the Baltimore
Retort and Friedrich Company. or
| Baltimore.
The Committee on Police yesterday
approved the April pay-rolls and bills
amounting to sS1N6S.
The Chief OF Police was authorized 70
purchase fifty "bIllies." The meeting
| was held at the Office OF Mr.. +. ID
Starke. Those present were Messrs
| starke. chairman. Williams. and Mont
gOmery.
The contract for thirty-eight tree
| boxes was awarded 70 Frank Newman
| ~. tho Committee on Ct. Johns Rurving-
| Ground, at the regular meeting Friday
| rirhr Nassrs Hardwicke. chairmnn;
| Montgomery. Woody. Miller, and Will
| liams, the full committee. were present.