The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-09
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST ., 1893.
\ BUSINESS MATTER.


The city Gas Works question IS purely
n business question and should be dealt
with as such By the Council. 1t Is
most valuable plant. and If the city
should advertise it for sale the bidding
would be spirited. and a very large sum
would be paid for the exclusive privilege
~ supplying gas 10 the people Of Rich
mond. In dealing with a question OF TINS
character politics should never be consid-
cred. We believe that the works should
be operated in the interest Of the people
OF Richmond. regardless of politics and
regardless OF sentiment We believe 81
. 10 be a matter Of prime Importance that
the city should forever hold the plant
The ownership Of the Gas Works and the
Water Works should never pass from the
city 20 private corporations But the ope-
ration OF the Gas Works is another ques-
ton. II the city can operate the works
so as to give to the people Of the city
the best light at the lowest market price
and az the same time bring into the city's
treasury the largest revenue. then the
works should be operated by the city.
II on the other hand 81 can DE demon
strated beyond a peradventure that # is
10 the interest OF the people and
TO the interest OF the municipality that the
works be operated under lease 10 pri-
vate corporation. then the privilege should
he farmed out. AT any rate if the citH
Is going to operate the Gas Works So
ought 10 do So on strictly business prin-
clples. IT ought to have the very best
equipment. it ought TO keep the WORKS
fully up to date in all modern improve
ments: in short. it ought TO avail itself
81 every modern mechanism that Will
insure the best product at the lowest
cost Of production.
We 10 not mean to reflect uDon the
management Of the Gas Works. but we
are fully persuaded that the city has
never operated these works 10 the best
advantage. either OF the people at large
or Of the municipality as such. There is
10 doubt about 1t that with a well-equpped
gas plant there is q handsome profit in
nrst-ciass Illuminating gas at one dollar
per thousand cubic feet. There IS no
doubt about 1t that with such plant
there IS handsome profit in Arst-class
fuel gas at half the price Of Illuminating
gas and fuel gas al nifty cents per
thousand cubic feet would be q blessing
10 Richmond. Il would not only be
great comfort 90 housekcepers. So would
not only he IN many cases a means of
economy 90 people On moderate circum-
stances. but il would also stimulate enter
prise and industry.
We hope that the members OF the Coun-
eli VIII consider this important question
a. we have presented e.. I.et the members
remember that the city OF Richmond IS
largely a business corporation and that its
fiscal affairs should DE conducted on
strictly business principles lie, the menu
bers Of the Council remember that they
are. 10 20 speak, the board Of directors
Of this municipality, and that they should
deal with all such questions as the opo-
ration Of She Gas Works as they wosld
deal with any question Of any private
corporation OF which they should be the
directors II these Gas Works were own
ed ~ private corporation directed by
the members Of the Council. there would
b. no two opinions as 20 how the works
should Pc operated AS matter OF
business. the directors would. first Of an.
put the plant in hrst-class condition. and
they would conduct the business OF max
Ing gas along economic lines that would
produce the best ali-around results. or
course We DO not lose sight OF the fact
that the members Of the Council must
consider the interest Of the consumers
a. well as the interest Of the municipality,
but this does not alter the fact that bust
ness principles and not politics. should
rule.