The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-03
"A QUESTION
OF PRIvlL.EGE.
The Special Report of the
Danville Water Committee.
REPLY TO PUBLICATIONS
A Defense Of its Course In Securing a
Water Supply for the City, and
Answer to Questions as
to Its Course.
REPLY TO PUBLICATIONS
Danville v. oc,n,or ., nm,


city of panville, hold on Tuesday, Sop
ten.ber 10Th, 1903, tho following report
from the Special Committee on Water
waf submitted and adopted and ordered
to be published In Tho Times Dispatch
Of Richmond, Va:
Danville. Va. Sept. 10Th. 1908
To the President and Members
Of the City Council:
Gentlemen,-As q question Of privilege,
we bring to your attention matter
which demands some notice.
The Danvl1le Register, In it's issue Of
September 9th, speaking OF the con-
troversy between the Dan River Power
Company and the city. made this state
ment ut will DO a great relief to the
water drinkers to know that this matter
IL practically settled, but whether the
city has emerged from the long contest
with as much honor as profit there Is
room to doubt"
This appeared to US, as 1t did to many
conservative citizens, to be very broad
statement and quite insinuating. Being
uncertain Of the intent, we addressed a
courteous note to the Danville Register,
in which we called attention to the Ian
guage above quoted. and stated that
as members Of the committee, represent
Ing the city in this contest, we would be
pleased to know what they meant by
their statement We expcced private
reply and hoped that the language would
be satisfactorily explained without re-
course to publicity.
However, the Register, as did its after
noon counterpart, in its next issue, ex-
tended Its attack and became openly in
sultng. Their reply you have doubtless
read In substance 1t says that the city 8
lack Of Honor consisted in
d Allowing the Power Company to
work for eight years without protest.
(2) That within the past twelve months.
after having allowed the Power Com
pany to make contracts for moro than
ttree-auarters of millions dollars, the
company was suddenly advised that un-
less It complied with certain exorbitant
and arbitrary terms or locate Its plant
within the taxing jurisdiction Of the city
II would be "held up" by an Injunction,
etc.
(3) That the city refused to consider
In any manner or form the Power Com
pany's repeated request for arbitration.
Replying to the first reason assigned,
the Power Company was chartered ori-
ginaIly in 1885, but their developments
were chiefly on paper until within the
past eighteen months or more. The city,
Of course did not interfere with plans
which had not been matured, and OF
which they were not officially advised.
| In taking UP options and getting to-
| gether lands, the Power Company was
| cared for by duly constituted director
| ate and they were advised by able at
| torneys. It is to be supposed. therefore,
| that their attorneys who handled their
| property transfers kept them advised OF
| their rights and privileges. as well as
| OF the rights and privileges Of all others
| upon whom they might trespass. In adj
| dition, the present owner of the Register,
| who is not "a citizen of Danville, was a
| stakeholder from the first, and he might
| have given the Power, Company the adj
vantage Of such information as was be-
| You'd the ability of their directorate and
their paid attorneys.
| Replying to the second reason assigned,
the files of the Register will show
1) That the city has taken no step
without proper notice to the Power Com
(2l That each delay has been IN defer
| ence to the desire Of the Power Company
for an extension Of time.
(3) That the city has never advised the
Power Company that 1t will be held hp''
| by injunction.
In other words, the statement of the
Register is false, and that when the
| truth could have been obtained in the
| Registers own Office had the owner of
the Register been seeking the truth
| Replying to the third reason assigned.
| we would state that. our reports to the
| Council have been sufficiently clear on
| the question of 'arbitration" In this
particular case, and with settlement
pending, we will not further argue 1t.
Respectfully submitted.
Isigned) w. r. MlTCHEiIL
| JULIUS KAUFMAN,
r. A. FOX.
H. e. fOONS,
JOHN w. CARTER,
Special Water Committee.
A true copy-Teste:
Robert Brydon. Clerk of Council