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


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fully and completely answers. 1t was not
Intended, nor did tho city ask or expect
to pay for, specifications Of an electric
plant, although 1t seems to have been
sufficient guide for Mr. Sever to closely
duplicate my results It is to be consld-
cred as supplementary to my former re-
port. and other information, plans and
specifications which the committee had
in their possession, giving In fuller de-
tall the general engineering methods
which proposed to employ. IT is, there
fore, unfair to Judge by q portion Of the
work alone.
My relation to the city Of RICHMOND
is not that of an advocate presenting
proposition to capitalists The credit OF
proposing this plant belongs to others, !
and neither have 1 sought to have any |
connection Herewith. ] am rather in the
position OF one OF whom business men |
have referred n proposition requiring 2
bnslness answer, and therefore have |
endeavorcd to avoid engineering techn!- |
calties except where they become neces-
sary.
r. j. WILL1S's REVIEW.
MIR Willis employed by the Times |
Dispatch, does not appear to have been |
SO successful as Mr.. Sever In ascertain
ing facts for or against the proposed
plant. lie. however. endorses the plant
as tnO proper tnlnS 10 nO-3OIIle Gay.
Mr.. Willis gives his ideas of municipal |
ownership generally but this is n matter
for those in charge of the city govern
ment to decide and has nothing to do
with engineering. Judge that he knows
little OF practical politics for whoever
heard committee trying to throw the
responsibility of expanding an appropri-
alton Oh some other committee? And
yet this Is the reason he assigns for the
endorsement of the electric proposition
by the water department.
Mr.. Willis thinks the plant unnecessary
for the reason that II negotiations were
properly opened the present company
kilo-watt hour" Mr.. Willis evidently
did not confer much thought on this or
he could have seen that at this price the
cost TO the city would be more than
double that at which the city could pro-
duce 1t for itself. including the cost Of
the plant and the maintenance of the arc
lights.
Mr.. Willis doesn't think the city should
build now, because 1t will be cheaper
to equip the New pump-house. but no
figures are given in support of his con.
tention. He also thinks the city should
not build plant now because the cost
OF labor and material is high. II this
view were generally accepted business.
instead OF being as II now is, the best
1t has ever been. would soon come to
| standstill. and general prosperity would
| give place to hard times. We should
| then have the low prices and accompany
! Ing poverty which prevailed twelve years
| ago. Nothing could do the country
| greater harm than such policy as Mr.
| Willis advocates. and his views are be-
| Ing generally dlsregarded for manufac-
| turing interests are crowded with orders,
end there are no indications. as far as
| l can learn. OF change.
| rriNi nh Ir
/ WHILE suggests are not OF general inter-
| est, and consist OF details which can be
| finally settled Mt the proper time. Finally,
| Mr.. willis thinks the complete plant
| would cost $4,000. against which would
say that the appropriation asked for Is
$4,000
| In conclusion, the confirmation OBJ
tained from Mr.. Sewers report as to tbs
| cost of the plant. and the substantial
| agreement OF his operating estimates.
when cleared of improper charges. amply
| sustain the wisdom OF the various coun-
| eli committees in giving the electric
| plant method their endorsement as In the
interest of public policy, and superior to
| any other plan which has been sug-
| gested for meeting the cIty's needs for
| pumping facilities and lighting. Mr..
Willis's general endorsement of the
method is also of value as corroborating
the general methods which have out
| lined. EGt
Yours very truly,
e. w. TRAFFORD,
Consulting Engineer.
Acdendum:
1 have omitted to call attention to the
fact that Professor Sever. not content
with charging interest on the Old pump
house property and FALLING to charge 1t
against the water department in the al
tentative proposition. has charged It
I twice against the electric plant. See his
1 IA h,It Ia aS sta ar nj Into ort e{rk o
\ fund and depreciation. Amounting to a
total OF s34774. in which one OF the items
4 is interest on Old punp-house property,
5000. Then refer to his total cost of OPP
Grafton statement. in which he uses the
above total of s34.774. and again adds
thereto per cent interest on $4,000 or
5000.
The error against the electric plant In
this one item alone amounts to $4,000.