Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-27
AN INDUSTRIAL PLANT
BILL FOR IT'S INCORPORATION BE-
FORE CONGRESS.
Commissioners Report Favorably, But
Outline Additional Requirements
Other Measures.

The establishment of a community heat
ing and refrigerating plant In Washing
ton Is contemplated in bill recently In
PRODUCED into the Senate and reported to-
day by the District Commissioners. The
bill, Senate S24," proposes the incorpo-
ration of the Economic Heating and Re-
frfgeratfng Company" which has as Its
| object the installation of a system of
pipes beneath the streets to transmit heat
or refrigerating fluid to public places and
private consumers in a similar manner as
gas and electricity are now furnished.
The Commissioners state that similar
bill was introduced into the Fifty eighth
Congress and was reported on by the
Commissioners on February "a, 1905.
After calling attention to the fact that
the measure authorizes a capital stock of
$1,0OO,0OO for the company, and the is
suance of bonds to secure the same, the
commissioners state that they know of
no reason why, under suitable restric-
tons or regulations, such a system for
the use of private consumers should not
be permitted. 1t is stated that consider
able public inconvenience would neces-
sarily be incident to the cutting Of
streets, but it is believed that the adj
vantages to be gained would be ample
Justification. In other words, there is no
objection to the incorporation in the Dis
tr1ct of the company whose purpose 1t Is
to conduct such a business but the Com
missfoners call attention to several fea-
lures which they think should be includ-
ed in the bill. Among other things, they
THINK that such a corporation should be
subject to all the restrictions in the code
of laws for the District of Columbia in
relation to corporations organized for
manufacturing purposes; that the COM
pany should be required to submit to the
commissioners comprehensive plan of
the system proposed to be installed; that
provision should be made as to the price
f.p ho a,.fi al ~
ment should be made that the company
should deposit in advance all sums of
money necessary to provide for inspec-
ton of the work and for the restoration
of all pavements disturbed, and that the
provision in regard to taxation should be
amended so as to require the company to
pay not only per centum of it's gross
receipts, but also the regular prescribed
tax on any realty it may acquire.
Busy Preparing Report.
In addition to this proposed measure the
Commissioners have been busy for some
days preparing reports upon number of
bills, and many reports will go forward to
both houses as soon as Congress recon-
venes after the holidays. Two of these
which were introduced in the Senate provide
for amendments to the code-one making
provision for cases where a husband fails
to support his wife and children when able
to do SO, and the other more strictly de-
filming the meaning of the widows dover.
A street car measure relating to the misuse
of transfers, introduced at the request of
the Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany, is also under investigation, as Is
bill directing the Commissioners to inves-
tigate and report upon plan for the i'm
provement of the Anacostia flats.
Other bills under consideration are: House
resolution for the widening of Mills avenue
northwest, from Rhode Island avenue to
oath street. House resolution for the extern
sion of Meridian place; House resolution to
acquire certain grounds for government
reservation between 10Th street extended
and 14th street and Hartford place. House
bill for the relief of Mary S. Logan; House
bill for paving 23d street northwest between
s and U streets; House bill providing for
the sale of burial sites in the line of certain
streets.