Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-11-26
COMMON COUNCIL.

At regular meeting Of the Common Coun-
ell of the city of Alexandria, Va, held No
yember %, 1902, there were present.:
F. J. Paff, esq, president, and Messrs
Trimyer, Burke, Snowden, Rlsheill, Nor
moyle, Desmond, Bladder, Brill, Uhler, Lead
heater and Spinks.
The following communication from Hon.
George L. Simpson, Mayor, relating to the
introduction of an incandescent electric light
| plant in the city was received and referred to
/ the Committee on Light.
Alexandria, Va, Nov. %, 1902.
To the Honorable, the City Council of Alex
andria.
Gentlemen: The system through which
electric current is supplied to our citizens for
the operation of incandescent lights and fans
has recently become the subject of adverse
criticism and as this criticism emanates from
! men who have made the matter of electricity
a study, we can with propriety and prudence
heed il.
The position assumed by these parties is
emphatically antagonistic to a continuance OF
present methods in our community, and there
| is reas0nableness III their contention which
The current is taken from trolley circuit.
| This plan being gross violation of the cleo
trio code, and is positively discountenanced by
cities generally. Added to this abuse in Alex
andria, wiring, in almost every case, IS I'M
perfectly done, and liable to cause trouble at
any time. Fans and lights are operated from
current taken from grounded circuit. wires
are pushed at entrance with unappr0yed
tubes or not pushed at all, and where liable
to mechanical injury they are not protected.
Improper switches, or switches Improperly
! located are on incandescent house service,
and 125 volt fittings are found on 900 volt
circuit. These are Objectionable features, and
so extraordinarily hazardous as to justify the
cancelling of policies by insurance companies.
| While it is true that our people should en-
| Joy all the comforts and conyeniences that
modern appliances and modern inventions
afford it is hardly just to the whole COM
munity that small minority should be in
vested with privileges that imperil the rights
and safety Of neighbors. and il would be a
most incongruous exhibition of municipal
favoritism to recognize and.continue dangerous
fayors where insurance companies, which
| have only business interest in our people,
unqualifedly condemn.
Heretofore the subject of furnishing our
citizens with electric current has been dis
cussed from purely pecuniary standpoint,
and with reference TO a distribution Of profits
between community and railroad company,
yet, as a matter of law, this character of dis
cussion has not been always appropriate, for
| by an examination of the privileges granted
some of our citizens, we find that while they
have received permission to use electricity
for lights, there is nothing in the permission
that has empowered the railroad company, or
any other body, to supply the current
Aside from this phase Of the subject how
ever, there is the more serious problem con-
fronting us-a problem in which are involved
claims which our taxpayers have upon us
and the people expect us to protect these
claims, even against the petitions and re-
quests of those citizens who, for ornamental,
or for other PURPOSES, desire electric lights
upon their premises.
Now, the remedy for the evils hereinbefore
mentioned, is the simple one Of denying 10
citizens permission to use electric lights, and
this will hardly be a material deprivation, in
view of the fact that the lights are usually
only intended for ornamental purposes.
The plans under which fans are operated is
simply one of annually adopted resolutions,
and in few months refusal 10 extend tins
favor will rectify the trouble at that point.
Conceding these reformations accomplished,
we can consider the matter Of installing an IN
candescent electric plant, our own arc pant
being wholly inadequate and unsuitable.
Under the present laws the city allows no
competition in the matter OF lghuhg, ana as
we are very properly unwilling 10 install
plant of our own, we should be Wiling 70 en-
courage the establishment by others, ana tins
should be quite an easy matter, when we take
into consideration the claims which have
been advanced by some Of our enterprising
citizens, that an incandescent plant would,
prove a paying investment.
II is not probable that plant Of this kind
in our city will materially impair the reve-
nues from the gas works. At any rate, if
private enterprise will recognize our commun-
ity as an eligible site, and will erect its estab-
lshment among us, to share in our prosperity |
as well az in our burdens, then should we
take down the barriers of monopoly, and per.
NIT competition between municipal gas and
private electricity TO have full sway.
Respectfully,
GRO. l.. SIMPSON.
A recommendation Of the Committee on