The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-30

effect that water pipes be banished be-
cause they some times interfere with gas
mains. The course advocated by the as
ISOLATION was In effect prohibition OF cleo
trio tramways except IN compara.lve'
w smaller number OF our largest cities.
because the double trolley overhead Is
highly Objectionable and the double troll
ley underground, Is extremely expensive.
A SURE PRINCIPLE.
The law OF progress In availing our
selves of the discoveries OF science anu
utilizing the forces of nature Is regula-
ton and not prohibition. The rallroaa
train that is standing still Is usually safe,
but we do not prohibit the running OF
tof trains It is VIGOROUSLY impossible to
prevent a certain amount Of leakage OF
gas from gas mains but their utility and
necessity arc recognized and we 90 not
Danish them. Efforts to restrict progress
BY arbitrary and unfair enactments rare
IL succeed in America l remember COM
ing to Richmond about fifteen years 90
at the time when q commute OF the VIZ
ginia Senate was considering Dill Wnch
aimed to arbitrarily limit the potential o.
electric circuits. The proposed law. which
OF course was based upon incomplete
knowledge of the subject. was argued
before the Senate Committee by some
OF the ablest lawyers and experts, lnclud-
ing your distinguished fellow-townsman
Wyndham r. Meredith, Esq, and that
other eloquent Virg Man. Captain hugh
Garden. OF Warrenton. and to the nonor
of Virginia. be 1t said. that not a slnGla
member of the committee was willing 10
record his vote In favor OF the resolu-
ton after the facts had been placed be-
fore him. obviously. in dealing with PROD
lens of this kind, 1t Is best to choose
among several plans that which IS most
reasonable and effective. all things peril
nent being given due weight.
I am confident that the Water Commit
tee OF the Council will adopt this course
and that an agreement fair. to tho city
and fair to the companies VIII De reach-
ed"
~, MIR. WATERMAN TALKS.
MT. waterman was then asked about
the progress of the work In Richmond
and particularly with reference 10
statement which he was understood TO
have made to the Water Committee, to
the effect that the only absolute cure OF
electrolysis was by the double trolley
system. Mr.. Waterman replied:
ct ia unfortunate that l shoulo nave
been understood as making any state
ment so seriously in error as that which
Won have mentioned. a.y rccoIIecton is
that stated that the only way to abol-
ish cIectrolysis in an absolute sense is
IN return to horse cars and kerosene
lamps. To prevent e1ectrolytic actlon
from occurring to such an extent as VIII
apprcciably affect the city's pipes. how
ever. is another matter, and this can
readily be, and. in fact. has already been,
Accomplished intended to state 70
the committee that the methods which
we proposed was the most advanced ana
scientifc method known. and that 1t was
capable OF the best results. but IN re-
ply to question by one OF the gentle-
men OF the committee stated that as
good results might be attained by the
double trolley provided that 1t was
equally well maintained. but that us
maintenance was much more difficult
matter and that In practical use and ap-
plication it was not as effective In the
cure Of the trouble and was in many re-
spects undesirable. notably because OF
the danger OF accidents to which 1t Is
peculiarly susceptible, and which bring
down the live wires Into the streets.
I'VE have conducted a very long and
very thorough examination into the con-
ditions here in Richmond and one by
one have found all Of the causes re-
sponslble for such conditions as exist,
and 1t is worth noting that one OF the
Important sources Of current leakage
was the trolley wire itself along Broad
Street.
RAPID PROGRESS MADE.
We have made rapid progress in the
way OF removing these causes, and the
results have been most gratifying, In
that with the work still incomplete. the
leakage OF currents to the pipes Is now
practically done away with. This result
has proved that by the scientific recon-
strlction of the company's return sys-
TEN alone 1t is possible to make more
perfect, permanent and efficient cure OF
electrolysis troubles than could probably
the double trolley. either overhead or
under ground. Moreover the plan OF re-
construction adopted enables the system
to be maintained at this point of high
efficiency. certainly and with compare
tive ease, a result winch could not be
promised with any known double trolley
construction. The companies have
modern appliances for this purpose by
tho systematic use of which this eff
cheney will be maintained.
1t will probably interest the Richmond
public to know that at the time this
work was undertaken the methods
adopted here for the cure OF electrolysis
were partly in use by Professor George
for Greater New York, and have now
been completely adopted by him In his
official work"
THE CoMPANY's PLAN.
The Water Committee was called to
order at o'clock and good deal Of
routine work was taken up and disposed
Of including the approving OF bills and
payroll,
On motion OF Mr., Anderson, the regu-
lar order was suspended and the cleo
trolyss matter taken up,
Captaln A. B, Guigon, on behalf of
tho Passenger and Power Company. Of
fered the following proposition on the
subject, which was read by the clerk:
October co. 1905,
MIR. John Mann, Jr, Chairman, Hon
orable Committee on Water Richmond,
Dear ;, sir,-Referring to and confirming
my letter 10 you of Octnher 2lst and I'M
derstand ne from the action Or Your com
mttee at It's recent session tha rio me co,-