The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-05

Yesterday n representative OF The Times
...ltoA mon MFR. Ware j.. Gay and sought
an interview with him In regard 70
tho comrsny which he represents. MI
cav was asked II his company had yet
apnlied for a charter from the city'
lie replica.
mo. we have not yet made application
for a charter. We shall probably ava"
the result OF the discussion as 10 proVa-
lDity CT the city making lease.
AS TO FOREIGN CAPITAL.
81 understand. Mr.. Gay. that II your
N oposed company secures wy -, 60
that its financial dement's VIII 30 l" Ao'
eign capital. Is that sof a.. ,o,,e+
e. TO forcicn capital getting the De lsh''
I'm event OF lease being gwen 20,
you'd say that every citihen OF ~, No.
Will have q fair oppoIt ah'sy y, ~ fdea
nnv ~ tho shares. but II was my Iuc.l
that the city should so gu1ld thS Aco
or sale OF the Gas Works as 10 enc"
gas OF specified and bigh quaiiss' -
price so low as 10 ensure att,ar''so nriv
Tor Richmond and ManchcsterInot O,1s
f,r Illuminating purposes, but lot huuso
heating and cooking and man 20 "a 80
PURPOSES. and at so low ~ ~
attract industrial estabisntns',l 's,,9tal can
occurs TO me that II foreign capl.n ~, ~"
lie obtained 10 do this, II wOnIh ivaES ~. 90
much mere RichniCnd money ~ IOT $50
90 otter things, 50 much htt"pu, ~ C,,r
We become the manuiactuilus 49, - fullv
natural possibilities suggest anu ~ +"''
taken advantage OF and aeVeiope"
BENEFITS DERIVED.
How win the city be benefited by leas-
ing the Gae-WOrks TO your company
would answer: II the city were IN
ouch financial condition as 10 invest
million or more dollars In pubHo lnproN'
ments and thus place her IN anything me
AAfN'rff 9TH fff
competitive comparison with olnet C,''v9
urging outside capital 10 enter ther Do'
ders. / should say. don't lease the WoIhS,
,u, Improve and extend them, ana sen
80 a. cost or even less, II the returns
IN taxable values were 10 be corIespoHu-
,ncIv increased and profitable labor Iur-
,isbed onr then increasing population
Other improvements are also baby htt"-
81 and without q large increase OF the
,ax rate upon valuations. already III tA-
oess OF other communities. i see no way
for Richmond TO enter the race OF I'm
proved industrial conditions without max
ing some emphatic changes. ihey may
at first seem "A shock 10 our eXistihs con
dit,ous. hut by reading the annual out
burst OF letters from our puOlic-spiii'eu
citizens. who have our community
hest interest so much at heart IL VIII
he seen that we need to do something
ana IL must DO broad-gaugcd 10 be Aelp-
iul.
PROSPECTS AHEAD.
What do you think Of the charter grant
ed TO Major Ginter and his associates
As 10 the charter just granted MAJOR
Cinter and associates | can only say that
! am glad he is willing 10 take mp the
matter as IL ensures something good Ioi
Richmond. either through his company
or any other with whom the city may
arrange.
How long will It take your company 10
complete the plant, provided IL secures
III
II will take several months. I Judge.
Mr.. Gay discussed the possibilities OF
Richmond's immediate business prospects
in connection with the leasing of the
city gas plant. lie said:
"Richmond and Manchester have great
possibilities but In my judgment. the
kew TO an Industrial situation is cheap
power and reliable frelghts at low rates.
NV development OF the Richmond coal
field we can have far cheaper power than
Niagara. with its millions ard millions
of dollars expenditure: and then we nave
the James river for low freights ana
with n daily barge for New York, Bos-
ton and other points. heavy products IKE
coal. castings. dry goods paper, ETC.. ETC.,
'fNNftN'tt'rI
ION into New York and New England.
CAPTAIN PIZZINI'S VIEWS.
CAPTAIN Andrew lizzinL when asktu
Yesterday for his views on me suDJccl,
said that there were iCw men Who Wouu
give The necessary labor To inform them
selves as 10 whether the easy ofka ld4u
or did not pay the city. lie smd tnat he
and three other COunciimeu Wen qudHHeu
to estimate on this expense uhpe 'o"h
ltuf a.
was put In the holder. ana aiIer careiu'ly
going over the whole business, found tnat
no two OF the four had come 10 al near
the same figures.
Captain Pizzini believes the sale or
lease Of these works would be a sayins
10 the taxpayers, from the TACT that
everything would be reduced % q mini
mum cost lie thinks that IT the interest
on the outlay was taken into the count,
and an the numerous other figuring that
should not be allowed. such as putting
the cost of the city's gas at q per l'VoJ,
that Tho Taxpayer would ma IL greatly
10 his advantage for the city 10 lease
these works Ter a stipulated sum. lie
would have the lease so drawn ana so
secured that the city could not be the
loser The price or the gas should DE
fxed. Tho provisions Tor "a GOOD service
and the items that should be furnished,
and every safeguard provided for in The
lease in such way that the lessee could
net escape from the fulhllmont Of his
contract. II the Council makes the
proper provisions Captain fiZzini be
iieves the lease will be an advantage 10
the city and the taxpayers.
AN EX-ALDERMAN TALKS.
Mr.. Joseph G.. DickcrSon, who was a
member Of the Board when the matter
was discussed before, said yesterday:
II have very vivid rocoii<ction If the
feht we had on that question. The mat
ter was killed il the BOARD q Aldermen
without ever reaching the Common Coun-
ell | was opposed TO the measure. as
was my colleague from Marshall ward 80
Mr. Diokerson said he thought that
those who were prcciaiming that the city
was IN such financial straits lacked I'M
formation. 1.-The city OF Richmond has
cent OF her bonded indebtedness. This
does not look like bankruptcy. 10th the
GaS-Works and Water-WOrks would sell
FOR double their assessed value. The
city's income from all sources IS s. 900 -
90 per arnurn ! am opnoscd 10 selling
the Gas-Works. for 7 think " D ttor 20
contend with the troubles they bring ms
than TO fight contractors IN the courts.
There Is much talk about the omhc22ic-
fNcnt and recent loss 20 the city. Take
the same volume Of private business and
SEQ II similar losses DC not occur
UNDER COMMISSIONS.
"The system OF petty thieVing that
went on at the Gas-Works Is difficult 20
provide against IN any concern employ
ine a number Of men. A small business rs
always run with closer scrutiny and
regard 10 economy than large business.
Major Ginfcr doubtless would run the
expenses OF the American Tobacco Com
pany cheaper thas they are now run ~
every detail came under his immediate
supervision. The Light Streets. Health
and water Departments should b. taken