The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-26
RECOMMEND The FRANCHISE
The Virginia Electric Company May Do
Business in Richmond.
BUSINESS MEN ARE OUT IN FORCE.
Many Prominent Citizens Before the Com
mittec on Streets-t Reduction Recon-
mended in the City Hall Force.
Money to be Provided for>ewers.

| TOT ibut NouiH 1'NA'tNdl dlttiNuoh tNN-
siderIng an ordinance granting to the
| Virginia Electric Company, Of Baltimore,
the right to erect a plant in this city 20
| utilize the waste now OF the James river,
and to distribute the power thereby gene
rated electrically over the city for man
ufacturing and lighting purposes.
After careful delibcration the committee
determined to recommend to the Council
an ordinance granting the franchise ask
ed.
The ordinance approved by the commit
tee provides that the company within two
years from the passage OF the measure
shall have its plant sufficiently under way
10 supply for manufacturing purposes
2.00 horse power, and that NJ the expira-
tion of five years the city shall have the
| power 10 compel the company 10 con-
struct conduts and put its wires under
| ground within "A territory bounded hy
| Broad cary. Ninth and Adams. Also
that after six years It's wires shall be put
| i'm cOnduits i'm other sections at the rate
of two squares per year
BUSINESS MEN PRESENT.
| Inc importance OF iiltr enter Ill0f ~ iAH
city was strlkinely demonstarated by tn
representative citizens who were i'm at
tendance upon the session OF the commit
tee last evening.
Besides a number Of business men there
were present: Mr. Joseph Bryan, repre-
senting the Richmond Locomotive and
| Machine Works. Mr.. r. L. Cabell. on be-
half Of tho Trade Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce. and Mr.. Christian.
who appeared for the Young Mems Busi-
J ness Association.
! Captain Charles T.. Williams was also
| present as counsel for the company and
! Mr. y. W. BOwe. representing the real
estate interest Of the city.
| All Of these gentlemen made eloquent
| addresses i'm advocacy Of the new com
| pany. and tho result was as liberal "a
! franchise. 81 is said as has ever been
granted by the city.
Tho only question which provoked any
| long discussion was as To whether the
company should be compelled 10 put it's
wires underground within a prescribed
! territory when its lines were first con-
structcd Mcssrs. Bloomberg and Pollock
made a determined effort TO have the
ordinance 50 amended as to force them
| 90 10 So.
/
would Dee such as 10 prevent the COM
| pany from accepting the franchise If such
"a condition was imposed and upon re-
corded vote il was defeated. only Messrs.
| Bloomberg and Pollock voting aye.
| In explanation of their vote these gem
! uemen explained that experience had
shown that If n company were once per-
mitted 10 use poles and string IT'S wires
overhead. II could never thereafter Doe IN
| duccd 10 put them underground
| The provisions Of ordinance as adopted
are similar To- those of the one heretofore
| published in The Times. with the eXcep-
| tion Of "a section. added on motion Of Mr..
| Carter. prohibiting the new company from
I'm any way interfering with or damaging
the water department Of the city
| IL was some time after o'clock when
| the committee was called 10 order hv
! Chairman Allen. there being present az
that time Messrs Pollock John j. King
Foster. Woody. Bahcn. Burton. Lavder
| Carter and Bloomberg
ORDINANCE TAKEN Up.
| The committee az once took mp the APP
| plicaton Of the Virginia Electric Com
| panv. of Baltimore. for "a franchise to do
| business I'm Richmond. which had been
| recommended at a former meeting by Il
| subcommittee Before going into the
| details Of the ordinance granting the fran
| chisc the chairman suggested that as
| there were "a number of citizens present
| who are Interested IN the matter. they
be- allowed the privilege of the floor TO
| give their views on the question.
| The committee agreed 10 the suggos-
| ton and Captain Charles L. Williams
taking the floor. said that ne had laard
| that the Water Committee had passed
1 Ifrr
| be- so framed as 10 prevent any detri-
ment 10 the citys water department. He
had also received a COMMUNICATION from
! Colonel Archer Anderson Of the Tredegar
| Works asking that the water supply OF
| his works Dee also projected.
While ne did not think that anything
1 I'm the ordinance would invade the rights
Of anyone Captain Williams said that
! the company had no objection whatever
10 the addition of clause protecting both
the city and AN private parties.
| In this connection a letter was read
| from the City Attorney stating that the
| Water Committee had asked that he ordi-
! nance be- so framed as 20 protect the
| city's pumping stations Mr. Meredith
enclosed a section as requested by the
| Committee on Water.
MR.. BRYAN's REMARKS.
| Mr. Joseph Bryan then addressed the
! committee briefly but earnestly In sup
| port of the application of the Virginia
| Electric Company for a franchise After
calling attention 10 the great good likely
| 20 result 10 Richmond from such an en-
! terprse locating here. Mr.. Bryan said
/ that while he took the deepest interest
I'm all that concerned the welfare Of the
city. yet on this OCCASION he was present
| IN behalf of a private enterprise-the
! Richmond Locomotive and Machine
| Works
| These works. said Mr. Bryan now had
more men upon their payroll than ever
before in their history. and their import
/ anco 20 the city Of Richmond could not
| be overcstimated.
The motive power now. Mr. Bryan said.
| was "A $50 horsepower Corliss engine. but
| the management Of the works had found
IT necessary to change the power and
were casting about what to use when the
| proposition to supply them was made by
| the Virginia Electric Company.
This enterprise means thousands and
| thousands OF dollars 10 us said Mr..
| Bryan and II Is absolutely necessary
| that there should be a change in the
power used. am afraid TO tell you what
J our coal bill Is each year. but II Is some
| thing enormous. IL we cannot get the
| power from this company we wish TO
| know IL at once. but II you gentlemen
I refuse To grant this franchise you will
| deaI a blow 10 hat ! consider one OF
| Richmond's most imnortant enterprises.
| REAL. ESTATE INTERESTS.
| Mr. n w. Bowe followed Mr.. Bryan In