Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-26
ADOPTSTHE MEASURE
COMMITTEE AGREES TO THE vIR-
GINA CoMPANY's ORDINANCE.
FIGHT UPON MATTER OF CONDUITS.
City May Require Them In Five
Years-Conference Committee Re-
commends n Sewer Appropriation.
Fewer City-HaIl Employees.

by section. the ordinance granting the
Virginia Electric Company. Of Baltimore,
the privilege to develop the water-power
of James river, put up poles and wires
upon the streets, and run wires under
ground along the streets OF this city,
for the purpose of furnishing light ana
power by electricity.
The session lasted for more than four
hours, and was a most important one.
A fight was made to have the conduits
provided for in the second and third
sections of the measure put down at
once, instead of five years after the ap-
proval OF the ordinance by the Mayor.
The original provision was, however, ad-
hered to.
There were present at the meeting
score of prominent citizens, Interested
in the subject up for consideration. Mr..
Todd the Baltimore representative of the
Virginia Electric Company, who has been
engaged In working this measure through
the Council and in interesting the peo-
ple of Richmond in its merits, was on
hand. as was alse Captain Charles u.
Williams. counsel for the company. or
the committee present were Chairman
Allen and Messrs. Bahen, Bloomoerg'
Burton, Carter, Foster, Lawder, John D.
King Pollock, and Woody. The City En-
olneer was in his accustomed place.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan, vice-president OF 'he
Richmond Locomotive and Machine-
Works. spoke briefly, saying that the pas
sage of this measure meant untold bene-
fits to the entire people OF Richmoho'
His company had made the most scleht'-
fic and careful investigation OF tne merits
of the scheme, and had found that they
were worthy of adopting. The Locoino-
tive Works had finally entered INTO
conditional contract with the company.
Mr.. Bryan stated that 1t had been Iouhu
that by the advantages this company oi-
fared the LOCOMOTIVES Works plant could
go on developing indefinitely, WORKING
lust as large or just as small force as
nossible at a minimum cost, avoiding
endless troubles caused by steam boilers
Mr. BRYAN referred to the recent water
troubles at the works. which could not
have occurred if this electric power had
been in use there. He closed by express
ing the hope that the franchise would be
promptly and properly granted.
Captain Charles L. Williams made
few remarks. in which he said, as rep
resentative of the company, that the
point had been raised. that there was
nothing in the ordinance protecting the
water rights OF private corporations and
individuals. He said the Virginia Elec-
tric Company had no objection whatever
TO this being fully guarded
Colonel Cutshaw stated that the CITY
Attorney had sent to the committee
communication, in which he had provided
for this very complication. This letter
from City-Attorney Meredith was read
and laid upon the table until the COM
mittee was ready to consider 1t.
ADVANTAGES TO THE CITY.
The next speaker was Mr.. N. w. Bowe,
representing the real estate men of the
city. who pointed out some advantages
which the city would derive from THIS
scheme. He referred TO the fact that
Richmond's commerce had been railing
off for some years, and the prices or her
real estate were fast going down Manu-
featuring enterprises were diminishing
here. and the only hope that the city had
was i'm the upbuilding of her factories,
the bringing of capital here to be IN
vested in such enterprises, and the speak
er knew of nothing that would do more
TO accomplish this end than the passage
of the ordinance before the committee
and the installation here Of this vast
power scheme.
Mr.. Arthur b. Clarke addressed the
body In about the same manner. lie
said what Richmond needed more than
ANYTHING else was some facility which
a. L. thpoHOhnnt the land
as a city for manufactures. II 1T was
not a manufacturing city 1t was nothing,
and everything that could be done should
he done to build up her manufacturing
interests.
Mr.. III. L. Cabell. of the Committee on
Inland Trade of the Chamber of Com
merce. and Mr.. Christian, representing
the Young Mems Business Association,
spoke briefly in favor of the measure,
also. and the committee went into the
consideration of the ordinance. seriatim.
SOME AMENDMENTS NEEDED.
Mr.. Bloomberg said he was heartily in
favor of granting the franchise. but
thought several amenments to the ordi-
nance were necessary He first argued
that the title should provide for not only
the stringing of wires and putting up OF
poles, UuA dlHO lVi AbC DNhNft5 ~ N~''
duits. He thought the city should grant
no new franchises to string wires in Rich
mond without requiring condults in cer-
tain sections of the city where wires are
numerous. He felt that this would not
be a hardship upon this company. as II
would practically have a monopoly in the
matter of furnishing power.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that the ordi-
nance provided that the company should
commence to put down conduits In GER
tain parts of the city within six years,
and, should prosecute this work at the
rate OF one square year. He said ne
did not think the Council was ready just
now to require conduits. because of the
complications of the Bell Company and
for other reasons.
Mr.. Bloomberg said he was surprised
that the City Engineer should have
changed his opinion as 10 the efficacy
or the necessity of conduits since he and
the City Attorney had only two years
ago recommended them. The Engineer
explained that he and the City Attorney
prepared the ordinance in accordance
with directions from the Committee on
Streets Captain Williams said the COM
pany could not accept a franchise which
required IL to conduit at once.
NOT READY FOR CONDUITS.
The committee then proceeded with the
consideration Of the ordinance section
by section. There was great deal or
discussion over section 2, which dealt
with the conduit question. Mr.. Bloom
berg moved to strike out the entire sec
tion, with view of so amending section
as to require conduits to be put down
upon certain streets as soon as they reach
them in the construction OF their plant
Mr.. Pollock agreed with Mr.. Bloom