The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-18
RIGHT OF WAY
FOR Gas WORKS
Electric Plant Movement Not
to Be Pushed for
Present.

Until obviously necessary provision Is
made for the rehabilitation OF the munici-
rally owned ana operated gas works, no
further steps Will be taken In connection
with the recently agitated question OF
establishing In Richmond m electric
lighting plant under city control.
Reports current TO the effect that since
the development OF the real condition
existing at the gas works the other Inove-
ment had been indefinitely sidctracked
and would probably not soon recover mo-
tion again, were emphntically denied yes
terday TheEdelay in pushing tho matter
is said TO DO only temporary. and as
soon us the gas situation Is cleared up
and tho report OF the committee on In
vestlgatlon has been received and acted
upon, tho electric plant matter will be
taken up again and pushed to an issue.
The danger Of confusing the two and of
connecting the gas revelations with the
electric project is declared by Alderman
Dabney, who Is lending the fight, to be
one OF tho chief reasons for holding
further action at this time In allegiance.
For some time past Mr.. Dabney, assisted
by Engineer Trafford, has been engaged
in preparing his reply to the Gould Snrgu-
ment, as presented by Mr.. Anderson.
and tho work is nearing completion.
Under the circumstances, however, tho
reply will not be made for several weeks.
1T was simply a question of which
was the more urgent, the needs OF tho
gas works or the electric plant matter.
said Mr.. Dnbney yesterday, when qucs-
toned about the rumor that the new
municipal ownership proposition was
about TO die Il natural death. I'VE think
1t Is necessary first to re-cstnblish tho
gas works on q sound basis, ana hence
Will tnke no further steps until the
committee on investigation makes its re-
port.
You may say most emphatic that
am not giving up the fight, and that T.
will be prepared when l think tho proper
time arrives to make a complete reply to
Mr.. Anderson's argument"
Give Movement Setback.
1t Is unquestionably true that the gas
works situation, coming to public note
| at this time. has served to give the clec-
trio plant movement q setback, insofar ut
least rs public sentiment Is concerned.
| The argument Is being used III the public
| prints and elsewhere Alderman Dabney
3! points out that his proposition specifically
avoids ut the very outset the pitfalls that
| have tripped the gas works. 1t calls for
| a depreciation fund and makes every
/
| In thorough going condition. Failure to
make u similar provision In the case OF
| tho gas works Is said to be responsible for
! the troubles Of that institution.
] The report Of the Committee on Inves-
| tigntlon will be made in about two weeks,
| perhaps. What it viii be. GO outs:..>r can
| say positively, but It is apparently not
| difficult to guess. The report will GER
tainly call for n rehabilitation of the
plant on modern lines and under n new
| system of management Members OF the
| committee will not talk about it Mr..
| W. w. Morton, chairman OF the commit
I tee, .was seen yesterday MS he WIS prePar-
| Ing to leave the city for a trip, and was
| asked for sta tcnent of the attitude OF
tho committee.
Be Unanimous Report.
1T will be a unanimous report" said
Mr.. Morton, briefly.
To this statement Mr.. Morton had little
to add, except to emphasize that the
members Of the committee seemed agreed,
and would likely act with unanlmity.
"IIas the committee considered a prop
osition to sell the gas works." he was
! asked.
NS"Such a thought has never entered the
! head OF a. committeeman, so far as ]
| KNOW" he replied.
rs the same thing true Of the sugges-
| tion that the city might lease the plant?"
S$'T can't say that"
Mr.. Morton while unable to fix the date
| for the compile ton and presentation OF
the report, thought It likely that the doc
un1ent would be ready In two weeks