Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-17
ALDERMEN VETO TT.
BOARD VOTES DOWN PROPOSAL OF
THE RICHMOND GAS COMPANY.
WON'T LEASE The WORKS
Their Action WAS Emphatic-Detniis
OF the Offcr-Counscl Decline TO
Address the Mecting-The Death
Blow of the scheme.


The proposal to lSase the gas-works OF
the city was made openly last night be-
fore the Board OF Aldermen. 1t was a
very flattering one. but it was hopelessly
defeated, and its authors say they will
make no effort to reintroduce It, at least,
for the present.
The Board met in extraordinary ses-
sion Messrs. j. 4. Vaughan, T.. NJ
Noble. and r. $. Brock, Jr., signed
request TO President Turpn late on
Saturday that he would call a special
meeting Of the Board to be held Monday
night. MIR. Turpin refused to do this,
and under the rule which provides for the
calling Of the Board when the President
refuses to act. a call was issued at the
instigation OF Messrs. Sol. Cutchins, ].
T. Vaughan, and j. S. Montgomery.
When the Board was called to order
the following members answered the roll
call: Messrs. Turpin PRESIDENT, Allen,
Bahen, Brock, Burton. Carter, Cutchins,
Hardwicke, Montgomery, Lawder. Moore,
Smith, Snead, Vaughan. and Seay.
THE COMPANY'S PETITION.
Mr.. Cutchins presented the petition of
the Richmond Gas Company for lease
of the City Gas-Works for thirty years
The paper is signed by Messrs. II. NJ.
Smith, Jr., and Phil. b. SHIELD as attor-
neys and in it the company offers:
l. TO furnish gas to the city. free of
cost, for lighting the city buildings and
street: provided. that the amount of gas
50 delivered shall not exceed 100000
cubic feet on an average in any one year,
or 800 100000 in said thirty years
?. To pay the city $4,000 per annum
during the continuance of said lease, pay
able quarterly, in lieu of all taxes and
assessments, dues, and water rents to the
city.
3. To keep in order and light all its
street lamps.
4. To give to the city yearly, as the
same may be required, 800 loads Of coke
for distribution among the poor
.. TO furnish and deliver to private
consumers gas at not exceeding 81 per
900 cubic feet, such gas, well as the
gas furnished the city, TO be OF not less
than twenty-five candle power photo-
metric tesD, and free from suiphurated
hydrogen.
o. To make all necessary extensions, re-
pairs, and Improvements. both 10 the sys-
TEN of mains and TO the works, as may
be necessary from time to time. and at
the works, mains. and plant in as sood
or better condition as they were when re-
ceiVed from the city.
T. To expend within two years after
obtaining possession Of the property not
less than $4,000 I'm the construction or
an additional gas-hOlder, and in the eN-
tension and Improvement OF mains ana
plant and after two years TO eNpend each
wear during the said term of thirty years
on an average not less than 20OW in I'M
proponents and extensions.
g. To pay into the Treasury of the city
at the end of each year during the con-
tinuance of the lease 5 per cent. of the
gross receipts from the sale OF 1llumi-
mating gas furnished to private consumers
i'm the city. The books of the company
TO be open to the examination OIL the CITY
whenever requested.
g. To keep such of the property of the
passwords as is destructible by fire In
Sured for so per cent. of the value thereof.
pdDaltY not exceeding 100000 for the
faithful performance Of the covenants OF
said lease.
The petitioner further asks that the
nroposition may be submitted TO the peo-
ple at the regular election to be held in
this city on the 26th of May. 1898.
Accompanying this petition was
statement of receipts. disbursements, and
profits from 1861 to 1898 which shows the
average yearly profits of the gas-works
to be $l9,22o2S.
BUT ONE VOTE FOR IT.
Mr.. Cutchins then introduced an ordi-
nance embodying the wishes of the COM
panv. Major Cutchins moved that
Messrs. Smith and Shields be given
hearing, but these gentlemen declined
the privilege, and Mr.. Cutchins withdrew
his motion. Major Allen said he would
offer an amendment to Mr.. Cutchinss
motion. but he changed his mind, and
when Mr.. Turpin put the question Mr..
Cutchins was the only member who an
swered IN the affirmative, while the bal
aucye of the members. as if to make
their vote the more emphatic, expended
no little vocal force over the simple mega
tive. This result was followed by
motion to adjourn, and the meeting was
at an end.
WILL LET 1T REST.
Mr.. SHIELD said after the meeting, that
the result was not a surprise TO him.
THE members who had promised to sup
mort the matter were absent, he said,
and he thought no further steps would
he taken towards securing a lease, at
least for a year or two.
Mr.. Smith the petition would demon
strate one thing to the Richmond public
# would show them what a really valu-
able nroperty the gas-works is, and can
he made. when wealthy corporation is
willing to pay such large price for H.