The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-01
Diamond Dyes $ $ss; ' S:sy Es Rs1 mt
AN ELECTRIC PLANT
owned By The CITY
Continued from First Page,

CONTINUED from First Page.)
So far from retiring from the gas manu-
featuring business, members of the Coun-
ell are seriously considering the advisa-
biity of the citys entering the field as
a producer Of electric power, and this not
only for the streets anu the city's build
ings but for sale by the city to individual
consumers.
ANOTHER COINCIDENCE.
The coincidence found in the fact that
the city's lawmakers are considering this
matter at the very time that the sale of
one of the electric power companies to
the other puts the whole business in the
hands of one company, is very interest
ing.
The city has for a long period pur
chased electrical power from the Passen-
ger and Power Company and it's
predecessor, the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company. The arrange
snents, especially during the last five
years when there has been a. rival COM
pany in the field, Counciimen think has
been expensive one. The contract
has been let for one year at a time, and
the company has owned all lines, poles.
lamps and apparatus necessary to furnish
the light in the streets AS the company
has never known from year TO year but
that at the end of the year the contract
would go to the other company, thus
leaving an extensive and expensive plant
in the streets altogether valueless on its
hands its bid from year to year having
necessarily been made in the light Of this
contingency
These same facts have hitherto kept
what seemed 10 be competition resulting
from the presence of second electric
mower company from being competition in
any real sense. The bids have been let
for a year only and the new company in
bidding would necessarily have had to
have added the cost Of ali extensive plant
in the streets This added to the cost
of electric power for a year put its bid
far and away beyond that Of a cclnpany
having these lines anu equipment fully
installed.
CONTRACT TO BE LET.
The Light Committee meets this after
noon to award a new contract Tor street
electric lighting. AS the city, II 1t ell
ters upon this scheme. could not be IN
a position to supply its own electrical
mower in less than twelve months or
more at the earliest. the committee will.
of course. let contract to the only
comnanv now in the field. 1t is possible
that a two-year contract may be pro-
posed as more advanta GeouS to the city
In view of the discussion OF the city S
entering the field as a. producer OF cleo
trical power. it Is believed that the COM
pany will name a very reasonable figure
Those who have been considering TINS
matter, say that the city's alleys Should
be lighted much better than at present
Richmond is said to be peculiarly behind
in this matter. The alleys of Northern
cities are lighted UP in much better
style The long alleys. which run the
length of the city. are now nearly or al
most altogether unlEhted. and harbor
and encourage crime. AS a police protec-
ton measure this feature believed
to have large value.
The lighting of the city's buildings can
be done more economically by the city
by electricity, il is thought The City
Hal is now lighted by gas with yearly
contract to company using special
burner. The yearly contract bid in
cludes the cost OF the burners all over
the City Hall-some considerable sum.
While it is not contemplated that at
any time in the near future the city
should become the sole producer Of cleo
trical power for lighting purposes in the
city. as it is Of gas. yet with a private
competing company in the field the ad-
yantages of the citys selling electrical
power to individual purchasers pracu-
cally at cost, and thus controlling the
market prices. are believed to be very
great.