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

veioped by experts, pro and con, on ques--
itons as to which they are called to
testify and the Importance of the PROPOSE
ton soon to be offered relative to the
establishment by the city OF an electric
light and pumping station and an issue
OF bonds therefor, The Times-Dtspatcn
has, at Its own expense and In order that
the citizens OF Richmond might have the
benefit OF absolutely disinterested expert
testimony. secured a review OF the re-
port OF Mr.. Trafford on the project at
issue. The review is made by Mr.. Edward
J. Willis an electrical engineer OF this
city, in no way connected with the project
or with the Passenger and Power Com
pany or any other electrical plant.
For the information OF citizens. and
particularly for the benefit of Councilmen
and Aldermen. who may soon be called
upon to pass upon the Dabney ordinance
for an issue of $4,000 bonds for building
municipal electric light and power
plant, the report OF Mr. Wills IS h ere--
with printed in full.
Space is also given to the report upon
Mr. Trafford's report as to the Feasibility
and cost OF the project prepared by Prof.
G.. F.. Sever, Of New York, who recently
testified before Council committee on
the eIectrolyss matter. Prot. Sever IS
director OF public utilities in New York,
and is also professor at Columbia Uni
yersity, who is regarded as an authority
on electrical matters.
Review by Mr.. Willis.
The review of Mr. Willis OF the figures
and statistics prepared by Mr.. Trafford,
- January 1. 1907.
Editor Dispatch. Richmond. va:
Dear sir,-In accordance with your
r cqrefuIlYE
the two reports of Mr.. Trafford and
the discussion attached. The first
OF these reports recommends the es-
Establishment by the city at the Old
Punrp-House of combined municipal
and commercial electric plant Rela-
tive to this report, 1 would say:
First 1t Is not, in my opinion. ad.
visable for the city to build plant
OF this character. Experience mas
shown that water mains and sewers
should be unuer city control Gas
mains and electric wire must be under
municipal supervision, but not neces-
snrily control. With present vested
rights It would be impossible for the
city to obtain control OF the entire q
commercial electric SYSTEM for the
city. and competition in the case OF
auch q plant as Mr.. Trafford recon-
mends would be Immediate, severe and
continuous. Municipal management
cannot compete with corporate man
agement in production Of any article,
. and electricity is no exception. Mu-
nicipal hours. pay, forms, etc., are
not suited to competition. Where
competition is blotted out BY the
withholding OF franchises. as IS IRE
uuently 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 profits are. however,
always due and directly traceable to Z
the absence of competition, and arc
really but form Of indirect taxa
ton. Furthermore, the New Pump
House does not, in my opinion. offer
a power which could successfully COM E
note with the present electric plant on
the James.
Would Be Unwlse.
This plant was established after most
careful consideration Of the entire
river by competent hydraulic engi-
neers, and. In my opinion, does now
L and will continue to command the
situation. T, therefore, conclude that
it would be unwise and Improbable
for the city to enter the commercial
field, as recommended In the first re-
port Of Mr.. Traffords.
Mr.. Trafford. In which he recommends
that the city establish at the Old 4
Pump House an electric plant for mu-
nicipal purposes only, ] would say
that this report Is pot open to the
above objection. | consider 1t advis-
able for the city to develop the water
power at the New Pump House sub
stantially as recommended by Mr..
Trafford In his second report. This,
however. at such time as the clty's
necessities really demand It. In this
connection the following facts are to
be considered:
5 First. The electrical situation. as far
as the city's Immediate necessities arc
concerned, Is not urgent. since current
for its present wants can be bought
as cheaply as. In my opinion. it
would be made by tho proposed plant,
Mr., Trafford. on page So OF his first re-
port, gives the cost Of current from
the proposed city plant at 272 cents
X per Bkilowatt hour, It is my opinion
that IL negotiations wore properly cons
Quoted current for the, city, present
needs could be obtained from the
electric company at this price, a s3i
Second, Any urgency now evident