The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-06

inlly and completely answers 70 was not
intended, nor did the city ask or expect
70 pay Tor, specifications OF an electric
plant. although 70 seems 20 have been
sufficient guide FOR Dir. Sever to closely
duplicate my results. IL IS 90 be consid-
cred as supplementary 20 nay former re-
port and other Information. plans and
specifications which the committees had
IN their possession, giving In fuller de-
tail the general engineering methods
which proposed 70 employ. u is. there
fore. unfair 20 judge by a portion Of the
work alone
ny relation 20 the city of RICHMOND
Is not that OF an advocate presenting a
proposition 20 capitalists. The credit Of
proposing this plant belongs % others.
and neither have Z sought 10 havo any
connection Herewith. 7 am rather ia the
pOsitlon 90 ono % whom business men
have referred proposition requiring 2
BURNERS answer. ana therefore have
eudoa vored 20 avoid engineering technt-
cahues except where they become neces-
sary.
r. J wlLLIs's REVIEW
Mr. Willis. employed by TIE Times
Dispatch. does not appear TO have been
50 successful as Mr.. Sever iu ascertain
ing facts FOR or against the proposed
plant He. however. endorses the plant
as tho proper thing TO do-some day.
M Willis gives his ideas Of municipal
ownership generally but this is matter
for those in charge OF the city govern
ment Too decide and has nothing 20 10
/ with engineering. / Judge that ne knows
little OF practical politics for whoever
heard committee trying to throw thu
responsibility OF expending an appropri-
auon ca some other commlttee2 And
yet this is the reason he assigns for the
endorsement Of the electric proposition
by tho water department.
Mr Willis thinks the plant unnecessary
( FOR the reason that II negotiations wee
] 10
would supply current At 272 cents Nor
| kio-watt hour" M Willis evidently
did not confer much thought on this or
he could have seen that AT this price the
cost 10 the city would be more than
double rat al which the eitv could mo
duce it for itself. including tho cosf 90
the plant and the maintenance OF the arc
lights.
NJ. Wills doesn't think the CITY should
hllld nov, because 10 Will Re cheauer
70 equip the New pump-house. bur no
neLrcs are given IN support Of his con .
/ tenuon. He also thinks the city should
Aol pullQ q plant now because the cost
OF labor and material IS high. II this
view We're generally accepted business.
instead or being as q now S. the best
u has ever been. would soon come ~ a
stanastil. end general prosperity would
give place 20 hard times We should
tren have the low prices and accomnanv-
iag poverty which prevailed twelve years
greater harm than ouch q policy as Nr
Wills advocates. and Ifs views are be-
I lHg generally disregarded for msrura C.
| turing interests are crowded with orders.
Fnd there are no indica tons. as Tar "a
can learn. of a change
Tie technical questions which Mr.
Ills suggests are not OF general inter-
est, and consist OF details which can re
hnally settled NJ the proper time Finally.
Nr WINS thinks the complete ulart
would cost 5000 asainst which Z would
say that the appropriation asked for Is
In conclusion. the confirmation oh
tanned from Mr.. Sever report as 70 the
cost Of the plant and tho substantial
agreement ~ his operating estimates.
When cleared or improper charges. amply
sustain the wisdom ~ the various cour-
ga committees f. giving the electric
plant method their endorsement a. IN the
/ interest Of public policy and superior 10
any other plan which has been suu-
eested for meeting the city's needs for
humping facilities and lighting Mr..
Nilliss general endorsement OF the
ethod is also OF value as corroboratfrg
/ the general methods which 7 have OUT
| lined.
Yours very truly.
r VI. TRAFFORD.
Consulting Engineer.
| Acdencgm.