The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-06
should CITY own
lighting PLANT?
The Important Question Now.
Pending in Council.
Mr.. ALIENS RESOLUTION
Two Committees Will Consider
Feasibility Of Scheme.
A BIG FIGHT is PROBABLE
Councilman from Marshall Ward Thinks
City Should Own an Electric Licht
ing Plant-ResoIuton Intro
duced at Recent Council
Meeting Referred to the
Joint Committees.
Two Committees Will Consider
Feasibility of Scheme.
A BIG FIGHT is PROBABLE

IN the event majority of the members
OF the City Council are OF the same
1H'ho as IS Councilman j. NJ. N. Allen OF
Marshall Ward. it will not be a great
"hlie Delore the city of Richmond will
De the proud possessor OF an electric
E5ntlIg plant of its own, and the Pas
scnger and Power Company will have q.
sUCnS competitor in the 1ieid, neturally
losing their contract for lighting the
Sheets
At the last meeting Of the Common
Council, under the head Of roll call,
Councilman Allen offered a resolution
which was passed without debate or at
t'sctng any particular comment from
the members. authorizing the Finance
and Electrical Committees, as, a joint
body, to investigate and report back to
tht Council, at their earliest convenience.
the feasibility of the city constructing
lighting plant and the cost of it. Tho
measure is now up to the Board OF AL
dernen. and they will doubtless concur
=: the action OF the lower body after
which the two committees will get to-
gether and formulate report in accord
arce with the resolution.
MUCH SPECULATION.
Since the action. of the Common Coun-
Gil in passing the resolution, there has
been much quiet talk and speculation
Going on among the members, for it is
realized that the matter is one of great
Importance. and one in which the cjti-
.ens generally are deeply Interested It
;s regarded as the first direct step to-
wards accomplishing the much talked Of
municipal ownerhip Of public utilities.
That a great fight will be precipitated
by certain corporations against favor
able report from the two committees
rarsr yin MAJ 40 rea r.
lily seen that any mos tending TO such
action as con nte,nplated by the Allen reso-
luton would affect them no little and
might finally result in the city owning
net only the lighting plant, but the
street railroads as we'll.
Mr. Allen is. deeply interested In the
matter, and has taken the trouble to
set together q number of statistics in
regard to municipal ownership. and he
feels confident that he will be able TO
show the two committees and the Coun-
Gil, if necessary, that a properly con-
dpcted lighting plant would prove a pay
ing investment
In Jacksonville. Florida. Mr.. Allen
sayS. the city owns and operates light
ing plant, which has proven veritable
mint It has been a monsy-maker from
the start, and the present ratio OF. in
crease pror1isesto prove the best invest
r1ent from a business standpoint in which
it ha ever been the good fortune of jack
scnvilla to indulge. There. not only are
the streets better lighted than under prl-
yate control. but the citizens are fur
n;shsd with electricity from the plant
at a much cheaper rate than before the
tlre. when the plant was operated and
owned by private capitalists. And in
face or all this the city is reaping
harvest in the way OF net profits
WOULD SAVE MONEY.
AZ nresen+ Richmond yea rly pays into
.bs co-fers Of the PASSENGER and Power
,.omnanv something like s25.ooO. yet there
are many parts of the city not lighted
Nv electricity. the Lighting Department
Of the city government maintaining gas