The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-03

Tn view % the differences always de-
TF'oped by experts. pro and con. on Ques-
itons as 10 which they are called 20
testify and the Importance o. the PROPOSE
ton soon Co be offered relative O. tie
establishment hy the city 90 an electric
light as pumping station and an issue
~ bonds therefor. The Times-Dis patCh
has. 40 ifs own expense ana iu order that
the citizens os Richmond might have the
benefit % absolutely disiuterested expert
testlu olF. secured "a review 81 the re-
port OF NJ. Trafford on the project AT
issue Tho review is made bv Mr.. Edward
J. willis. an electrical engineer Of this
city ga no way connected with the project
~ with the Passenger and Power Com
pany or any other electrical plant.
For tile Information % citizens. and
particularly FOR the benefit ~ Colncilmen
ana Aldermen. who may soon he called
upon 70 pass upon the Dahney ordinance
Tor an issue ~ $3.50 n1D bonds for building
a municipal electric hight and power
plant. the report ~ ar. willis IS here
with printed I'm fun.
Space is also given % the report upon
Nj Trafford's report as 20 the Feasibility
and cost ~ the project prepared by Prof.
q p Sever. Of New York. who recently
testified before a Council committee on
the electrolysis matter Prot. Sever IS
director ~ public utilities In New YORK.
and IS also a professor Al Columbia Uni
vcrsity who IS regarded AS am authority
on electrical matters
Review by Mr.. Willis.
The review OF Nj. Willis OF the figures
and statistics prepared by Nj. Trafford,
IS as follows
Editor Dispatch. Richmond, Va;
Dear Sir-In accordance with your
request I have gon4 over carefully
the two reports of Mr. Tranord and
the discussion attached. The FIRST
OF these reports recommends the es-
adjustment by the city az the ola
pumr,-HOuse of a combined municlpa-
and commercial electric plant ttela-
tive u this report. / would say
First. II IS not In my opinion. ad-
visable Tor che city 70 build plant
u this character. Experience has
shown that water mains and sewers
should De unuer city control Gas
mains and electric wire must be under
municipal supervision. bat not neces-
sarilv control With present vested
rights 1t would be Impossible FOR the
city to obtain control ot the entire
commercial electric system for the
city. and competition in the case Of
such q plant as Mr. Tranord recon-
mends would be Immediate. severe and
continuous. Mum -ipal management
cannot compete WIKI corporate man
agenent in production of any article,
and electricity is no exception. Mu-
nicipal hours. pay. forms. etc, are
not suited 10 competition. Where
competition is blotted out by the
withholding OF franchises. as les fire.
quentIy the case with water and gas,
and sometimes with electricity these
departments may be made TO show
profits dependent somewhat on the
MANAGEMENT and largely on the book
keeping Such profts are, however.
always due and directly traceaoie TO
really but "a form of indirect taxa
ton. Furthermore. the New Pump
House does not. IN my opinion. offer
a power which could successfully com
pete with the present electric plant on
the James
Would Be Unwise.
This plant was established after most
careful consideration of the entire
river by competent hydraulic eng-
neers, and. In my opinion. does now
and will continue 10 command the
situation. l. therefore. conclude that
it would be unwlse and Improbable
for the city to enter the commercial
deId. as recommended In the first re-
port OF MI Trafords.
Relative to the second report OF
Mr. Tranord. IN which he recommends
that the city establish at the Old
Pump House an electric plant for mu-
nicpal purposes only, I would say
that this report is poi open 70 the
above objection. ] consider 1t advis-
able for the city 10 develop the water
power at the New Pump-fiouse sub
stantially as recommended by Mr..
Trlnord In his second report. This.
however. at such time as the city's
necessities really demand it, In this
connection the following facts arc TO
be considered.
First. The electrical situation as far
as the city's immediate necessities are
concerned. IS not urgent. since current
for its present wants can be bought
as cheaply as. In my opinion u
would De made by the proposed plant
MI Trafford. on page IS of his first re-
port. gives the cost OF current from
the proposed city plant al 272 cents
per kilOwatt hour. IL is my opinion
that II negotiations were properly con-
Quoted current for the city's present
needs could be obtained from the
electric company at this price.
! Second. ANY urgency now evident