The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-20
GREAT PROGRESS.
Splendid work Bcin. Done on Flee
trical Plant and Conduits.


Work on the Plant Of the Virginia
Electrical Railway and Development Com
pany is progressing rapidly and favorably
and the foot of Twelfth street will
present a different scene within a short
while.
Mr.. Reuben Shrrefs, the constructing
engineer, has stated that while the
work is not progressing with the celebrity
originally anticipated. from now until its
completion the masonry and foundations
will not be retarded in assuming tangi-
bic form Dy conditions which confronted
the engineers and contractors In the moi
piency OF the work. The conditions pre-
yaiing at this time while not patent TO a
casual observer uninitiatod IN the techni-
caiites of such work. ate most gratifying,
and prosage completion not 50 late next
spring as was feared by the engineers in
charge "A week ago
Mir. Shirrefs, in speaking of the delay
occasioned, said that the solid bed of
rock encountered Is the source to which
1t must be attributed.
Another obstacle which has confronted
the engineers and contractors has beel
the lack of sufficient laborcrs.
With the advent of the holidays. a num-
Der Of men who have hitherto worked
steadily are inclined to take a temporary
vacation. As the work necessitates the
major portion OF the laborers TO work in
mud and mirc, Mr. Shirrefs Is welded 10
the belief that their ranks would be de-
pieted more than they are az present had
irclemcnt weather prevailed here this fall.
Within the past ten days the results Of
the labor that has been pushed night and
day for tine past three months have re-
war6ed the efforts II Inc contractors Yhe
head-gates at the upper end of Brown
Island are practically completed. The On.
largement Of the canal has already begun.
This work will continue without in
terruption. Within the next ten days Mr..
Shrrefs expects 10 have completed the
concrete masonry in conjunction with me
foundation for the power house. So soon
as this Is done. the w):S will ASSUME q
more interesting and attractive charac-
ter. as anyone will then be able 10 see and
appreciate and distinguish the object Of
the engineers.
I II Is not the intention OF the engineers
20 place their sole reliance IN water power
as the means OF lOcOmOtiOn f.r the genera
tors in the power house. Nor D. ia their in
tentiOn to await the completion Of work
necessary before water power can be call
ed into requisition. Each generator i'm the
power house viii have stationed by its
side a powerful engine and those engines
will be operated just as soon as IL is found
practicable.
T.. J. willis. electrical engineer in charge
Of the conduits being laid on Main ana
Twelfth streets and adjacent territory Is
fully satisfied with the work thus far dc-
Complshod in this connection Halt of
This work viii individually be finished
ere the Christmas holidays are over. The
main conduit. extending from he liver
bank TO Main street. has been closed,
the fact of Twelfth street having boon
temporarily dishgured not being apparent.
Within short while. II Is expected
that Main street between Eleventh and
Fourteenth viii assume its natural ap-
pearance. owing to increased traffic on
this thoroughfare al this time Of the year,
Mr.. Willis has decided 10 Temporarily
abandon the work on Main street until
after January LIST. In the interim. his at
tcntion will be confined 10 Capitol street
As soon as she holidays are over work
will recommence on Main street 20
Eleventh street. thence to Ninth street 10
Broad street.
Taken IN its entirety the work both On
the river bank and In the city, IS pro
crossing favorably and il f. not the int1n-
fi0r Of the engineers and contractors 10 he
retarded by any obstacle that can possioiy
be overcome