The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-29
"a. on water, Under date OF December
~, 1908, enclosing report OF tho sub-com..
mjltce appointed TO consider our last

ten on water, under date q December
1908 enclosing report q the s SUP
Tbe wording and general tone Of this
report havo been Il matter Of great sur
rste to the relations q fes eo ee-
prudence that has passed between the
committee and myself have been Of such
n friendly and frank nature as not TO
tone that characterizes this last report,
nor Is It felt that tho position the COM
pan;es occupy relative TO the matter Or
cettrolysis Is such as to justify q threat,
ching attitude on the part OF tho water
Immediately after the present owners
assumed charge Of this property and Pc
FORE there had been any recent action
10 the matter OF clecttUiysls. these new
.owilers employed the most eminent cleo
troDStic experts and commissioned them
to make d thorough examination OF the
linn, as to expense. "tfe best and most
approved fixtures and appliances TO pre-
vent injury by electrolysis.
The system recommended BY them as
very large expense and We are now adj.
visCd by these gentlemen thatgt the protec-
ton Of the city Is complete and perma- :
nent and that, In the matter OF e!ectroly-
tic protection. the companies are fully
complying with all franchise, or reasonn-
bic, requirements. We now stand ready
to prove the effectiveness and perma;--
money OF this cure and the fact that It
IT, without exception. the most approved
- c9 ARE e 1w aqyptSSi TO PAY.
AS to the electrolytic damage that may
haze taken place, these companies are 2
any, for which they are liable under their
resf ective franchises; in fact they have
from time to time paid witaout question.
the bills as presented by the water 4, .D e
been the result OF electrolysls. The Trac-
tivn Company franchise does not prescribe
any specific method for de termining dam
ages and naturally tits left to the arbi-
trcmentg OF the courts, and the city is
accordingly now suing the company The
Richmond Passenger and Power company
franchise, however, prescribes method
of arbitration for determining damages
(Which method the city now insists shall
b, applied TO both companies); set this
method seems to be unsatisfactory to ne
cry. as The city attorney has seen 4 NJ
Passenger and Power Company. rather
than aroitrate under a specific franchise
2YrO-lsion. q
Ut is possible that the representatives
.nllsapprehenslon. but they had been led
ito understand that the committee desired
ito arbitrate the damages OF both compa-
lss Giny and TaS Only Y
tees wishes that these companies pro-
posed arbitration: this arbitration natur-
ally being conditioned upon the cIty's
tagre cling TO give a fair :rlal to the sys-
tenn Installed for the cure of the trouble
complained Of. 1t was not supposed tia
In coupling the arbitration Of the total
amount of damages with fair. trial OF
the system already installed the COM
panies would be giving offense, rs It was
1ett that the committee, on general. prin-
-clr.es. would wish tostest thoroughly a
system which the companies had Installed
in good faith and under competent advice
ard at large expense. and It would seen
natural that the companies. satisfied that
they had effected a cure OF the evil COM
planned OF and proposing to close the