The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-28
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER q. 1905
Shall We Drive Capital Away.

.''rhe city gas WORKS arc IN u most W.
plorable condition, and there Is grea.
Il danger Of d collapse at almost any tine
That Is the introduction to n locnl
story published in the News Leader OF
\ ast evening Vet we are told hat the
4 civ will soon undertake to put IN an
electric plant to supply the municipality
and the people with electric lghlts
cheaper than such lights can be supplied
ny The plant OF the Passenger and Power
q Company. It seems to us that the cry
had better demonstrate It's ability TO run
a gas plant before 1t builds an. electric
plant.
But granting that the city can operate
such a. plant successfully, what Is the
occasion for building 1t. There Is y
splcndld plant already here and common
sense tells us that 1t can furnish the
city With lights for streets, parks ana ana
public buildings cheaper than such lights
could be supplied by a municipal plant NJ
which should be operated exclusively scEl sly
for that purpose,
That much We believe Is conceded. But
it Is contended that If the city puts IN
large plant and goes into the general
business OF supplying lights to the pub
lie it can get its own lights at greatly
q reduced cost. Therefore, it Is proposed
that the city take advantage Of It's posi-
lion; take advantage Of the fact that It's
plant would pay no taxes and so Into
coo,uctltion with prlva tie plant which
N vas erected in good faith and which Is
giving employment to large number OF
men, 4. If that is to be the policy OF the
ri,y, why don't it so into tn business
Of supplying milk to the people? Why
rot 20 into all branches OF industry ana
y drive out private concerns?
Ylle whole principle is as wrong as II
cn1, be. and ii should not be tolera ed In
ii Democratic government.
A few years ago our electric car system
vas in the clutches OF man named
Fisher, who gave us u wrctched service.
pnd used his money to corrupt the city
II government.
In the nick of time, Mr.. Frank Gou.u
ana his sister came along and got con-
ID troll. Immediately there was a great
change for the better. The lines were
nut in first class condition, and since
then we have had first class service,
Better than all, the usual atmosphere
was cleared ms If by a timely storm.
j l,fs. ,rut
from this source since the Goulds took
j charge They invested millions of money
4 in Richmond, Manchester and Peters
burg. and in addition to the street car
lines, they have Invested in other en-
terprises They will soon build line
10 Ashland and another into the Tide.
water, through which a considerable
trade will be directed to Richmond.
There are other enterprises in contcm-
plation and more of the Gould wealth
will be invested here, Yet In the face OF
all this. the municipality proposes 10
put up an electric plant In competition
with Mr.. Gould's plant and destroy its
earning capacity.
That Is {, fine method. to be sure. OF
encouraging him TO continue his enter
prlsing work in this section! That Is
fine way to encourage other men o.
Mr.. Gould's class to make investments
here!
In the interest OF Richmond, We hope
the whole scheme Will he abandoned. a
least no definite action should be taker
until Mr.. Gould's representatives shall
have had an opportunity to be heard