Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-03
OUTLOOK FOR RICHMOND.

| OAILOOh FUN itsIhMONDs
The scheme for "eiectrifying" James
river has so far advanced that our City
Engineer and City Attorney have been
| instructed to draw up for the Council
Committee an ordinance allowing the
proposed company to string wires and do
business In this city.
This company, or syndicate, has already
spent about $1,000 In surveying James
| river, and Il has ascertained that there
| is here available for use 10000 horse
power. Its plan is to buy out the water
rights OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company and other owners OF
water-power here and to construct neces-
sary dams and canals, and thus secure
ample power with which to manufac-
ture electricity. This electricity they ex-
pect to sell TO be used as light and for
motive power. In fine, the world-famous
experiment that has been successful at
Niagara is to be tried here II the needed
legislation can be obtained from our City
Council. Exactly what is asked by the
electric company we do not know as
yet: but of this the public Will be in
formed shortly.
Richmond ought to secure this pro.
missing enterprise IL 1t be possible
for IL to do so. We ought to gran,
the company all reasonable requests. We
ought to strive to make better use
of our much Wanted water power, for
our city must rely upon manufactures
to sustain 1t in a healthy financial con-
that we must chiefly depend, for there
are many other cities that can undersell
Richmond in the matter of steam coal.
But with James river electrified" we
could have hundreds of new manufactures
here, and we ought to be able to furnish
them with power as cheap as 1t may be
obtained anywhere. Niagara, itself, not
excepted.
Another thing: These general electrical
works will bring into market much of
our real estate that hangs fire" now,
so far as Suitability is concerned. When
a man may start a mill or factory,
great or small, anywhere in the city, he
will naturally seek location where lots
are cheap and convenient. We have here
hundreds of such lots in unimproving
sections of the city.
It is true that some investors may be
tempted to pass over Richmond and go
into the county or across the river
where taxes are cheaper, but we would
ra ther have all the new industries which
Richmond cannot get. established in
Henrico and Manchester than anywhere
else in the world.
Moreover, we continue to hope that
the time will soon come when Rich
mond's corporate limits will be enlarged
when we shall take off several slices of
Henrico's territory and annex Manches-
ter besides. Eventually, Richmond will
have to take some step to make subur-
ban manufacturers, who enjoy all of the
blessings of our city government, con-
tribute TO the City Treasury. Anncxa-
ton ia the best plan that we can think
of to accomplish that object. However,
present, our foremost ambition is to en-
large and enrich this city; our next is |
to enrich Henrico and Manchester. and |
we think nothing that has been proposed |
here in many years offers so much pro-
mise TO this community and its near
neighbors as this scheme Of "electrify- |
ing" James river.
We always associate this electrical en-
terprise with the viaduct plan Of the
and Ohio Railway Company
The railway company is the owner OF
much of the water power here. Then,
the large sum of money that this power
would be sold for would probably be
used by the railway company In i'm
proving its terminal facilities here.
we know that the railway
is steadily at work preparing
and arranging TO build the viaduct and
depot. SO these two great schemes |
afford us much hope for the future. We
know of some cities of this country that
would use our opportunities for I'M
ceasing boasting and boosting OF them
selves were they in our place. But Rich
mond takes things more quietly-too
quietly for her own advantage, we some
times think.