The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-17
.MUCH TALK..ABOUT
RI RICHMOND c IN. ] S. GAS.
Joint Finance and Light Commit
tees Go Up-E1ill and Down
Again.
REPORT IS RECOMMENDED Re:
Work Of Ecl1abilitatii,g Gas Plant
Remains III Hands Of tho
Subcommittee.

The Council Committee on Finance and
tho Committee on Light held d Joint
meeting last night to hear and act upon
the report OF the Joint subcommittee
which had been appointed to consider and
report upon Il plan Of action looking to
the rehabilitation OF the gns works. 1t
was expected that this meeting would
be an excecdinlyf important one, In that
1t would practically start the work OF
rehabiltating Rlclimords lighting plant,
but It did not turn out that way. Nearly
all the members of the two committees
were present, and II was d subject IT
remark that 1t was ono Of the best t.
tended committee meetings recently held.
This was sufficient! evidence that great
interest lis felt In the gas question, but
the meeting accomplished nothing. Thn4
committee simply walked up the hill
and down again. leaving the whole MAJ
ter where 1t has been for some timc-in
The hands OF the joint subcommittee.
AT the very outset It became manifest
that nothing could be accomplished. MIR.
G. IL. Pollock. OF the Finance Committee.
and n member of the Joint subcommittee,
claimed that lie had received no notice
OF the subcommittee meeting and in
making this complaint gave evidence that
he was opposed to the report, which he
knew the committee would make. which
report he would have opposed had no
been at the meeting.
Mr.. Pollock thought the subcommittee
had acted hastily and had not given tho
matter OF rebuilding tho gas works the
mature consideration Its Importance and
the amount OF money involved demanded.
Chairman Wood explained that he Ind
done his best to give all the members
OF the subcommittee ample notice OF the
meeting. He also explained his anxiety
TO get the work Of rehnbllitating the gas
works In some kind Of shape before the
present Council passes hence. believing
that such action is necessary In order
to avoid a years delay IN the work OF
giving ,ha people better light service
sub-Committee's Plan.
After considerable discussion in an
informal way and several propositions TO
rcconvene the subcommittee to give Mr..
Pollock a hearing. all OF which were
withdrawn at Mr.. Pollock's request, tho
subcommittees report was called for.
1t is as follows:
Your subcommittee recommends
that the firm Of r. ". Hunt and
Company, OF New York, be employed
& as engineers to report on the needs, "a
etc. OF the gas works, as per their
proposition under date OF May 18th. s54
with the distinct understanding that
they assign Mr.. James s. Mc1lhenny to i,.&
this work. who shall be Jointly as
ISOLATED with Mr.. ". p Knowles.
) Superintendent OF the Gas Works. IN
ascertnining the requirements, and re-
commencing such new construction i
and appliances ms they may agree upon
as necessary to put the works N a
ftrst-class up-to-tiate condition IN
every particular. and report to the
Joint special committee as soon as
practicable.i'
Robert ". Hunt and Company's PROPOSE
ton referred to In the report. was set
forth In a letter da ted May It'll and writ
ten from the Jefferson Hotel. The letter
covers three typewriter pages. but the
sum and substance OF 1t is that Hunt and
Company, who are gas experts. agree TO
Thoroughly examine the gas works, look
deep Into the needs OF Richmond and In
due time report to the committee Just
what is required in tho matter Of re-
building and rehnbilltating the gas works.
and to that end they will put Mr.. James
s. AfcIlhenny. the man who designed and
has nearly completed the new gas holder,
IN charge of the work. The charge for
this preliminary service Is to be $3.50.
After considera bic discussion INDUCED In
by Messrs Pollock, DahneS and White
in opposition and Messrs. Miner and Pol
lard in favor OF the sub-committee's re-
port, the nOuon OF MI WINS - 'etrA
tho whole matter back TO tho sib-commit-
tee, was adopted and the committee adj
journed. ail.
Under Mr.. Whites motion the sub-com-
mittee Ia instructed to invite bids from
gas engineers and experts for the work
OF Investigating the works and advising
Richmond what Is best to do and what
Is necessary to do in order to make the
gas works an np-to-date plant. .
The leading question was not referred
to during the meeting, but one reading
between the lines OF the discussion could
readily discover that the question Is nor
entirely dead. s,