The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-26
ADVERTISE FOR
GAS ENGINEERS.
Warm Meeting of Joint
Sub Committee Last
Night.
PoLLoCKAND fURPIN
FOR COMPETITION
Opposed to Selecting Hunt and
Company or Any Other Gas
Expert Until Many Are
Heard From-Decide
to Advertise for
Them.

After fiery session Of nearly two
hours. the joint subcommittee from the
Committees on Finance and Light last
night adopted a resolution offered by Mr..
Pollard, providing that the chairman adj
vertise in the leading gas journals for
expert gass engineers, who Will furnish
plans and specifications for modernz-
ing and completely rehabilitatng the city
gas works.
Those who propose to compete for the
work shall be Independent engineers, not
connected with any concern in the busi-
ness OF gas plant building, and they shall
report to the committee at o'clock on
June 1lth.
There was much cross-fring and de-
batting throughout the meeting, and it
could be seen at once that there was
sharp division of sentiment among the
members as to the best policy to pursue.
Councilman Gilbert X. Pollock, Of the
Finance Committee, led fight for the
broadest competition In the whole matter,
and about the only real support he had
was President William Turpin, who,
though ex-officio member Of all COM
Inittees, has no vote.
He proved ESPECIALLY valuable In back
standing" Mr.. Pollock, and bringing out
interesting matters by way of inquiry.
Mr.. Wood Presides.
Chairman James 3. Wood. who pre-
sides over both Light and Finance, occu-
pied the chair, and the following meHl-
bers were present. From Light, Mcssrs.
Miner Stein and Washer; from Finance,
Nressrs. Pollard, Pollock and Spence. Ab-
sent Mr.. CARRIER, from Light.
Chairman Wood stated from the chair
that he was opposed to appointing any
man connected with the gas trust as
expert engineer. He thought Mr.. How
ard Bruce, who made the recent inves-
tigation and report was 80 connected
MIR Wood asked Mr.. Turpin II ne
thought men who had been dlscrediting
/ the works should be allowed to cornpete
for the work.
.'If you refer to Mr.. Bruce. 7 would
saw YES" replied Mr.. Turpin, for we
are now proceeding on information fur
nished US by him."
"We should advertise to the world for
bids. and let them all come In"
There was a strong undercurrent in
the committee to select Mr.. Mc1lleheny,
the representative and engineer Of Rob
ert w. Hunt and Company. OF New
York, who has charge Of the building OF
the gas holder for the city.
Mr.. McIlleheny has been chosen once
by the sub committee. and the full COM
.
called for competition.
How About Bruce.
Mr.. Turpin wished to know how the
committee would know how Mr.. A or
Mr. B was a gas expert. and then he
asked: whats the objection to having
Mr.. Bruce down here again? Doesn't he
know more about conditions here than
any one else?
"He is prejudiced in favor OF the gas
trust" replied Mr.. Miner. Mr.. Pollock
made game fight for letting all gas
experts compete and declared that Hunt
and Company should not have a mo-
nopoly.
Some member said they had given sat-
lsfactlon in experimenting the work Of
building the holder, and that this was
a sufficient recommendation.
There is a difference between great
gas plant and gas holder" interposed
Mr.. Inrpin. "a man might select n
mule for you, but you would not trust
him to choose you a wife"
Mr.. Turpin interrogated Superintendent
Knowles as to whether he would rather
have the plans Of five gas experts than
one, but he never could get a direct
answer.
Has His Own Ideas.
IT have my own fixed ideas;'' he said,
Continued on Second Page.)