The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-12
CONF FERR|NG ON
INJURY TO MAINS
Representatives Of City and Troll
ley Interests Trying to Agree
on Sum.
COMPROMISE is NOW LIKELY
Councils Action in Voting Money
Expedites Conference on the
Matter.

The action of the Common Council on
appropriating $500 for the employment
of expert electrical engineers and scien-
lists to testify before the United States
Court in the prosecution of the claim of
the city of Richmond against the Rich
mond Passenger and Power Company
and tho Richmond Traction Company
for damages to the amount of something
like s172.OoO for injury to water mains by
electrolytic corrosion has evidently had
It's effect. Certainly one effect has been
to expedite a prospective conference be-
twcn representatives of the city and of
the trolley lines and affiliated interests,
looking to a compromise of the city's
claim.
Such conference was had yesterday
afternoon in the office of the City Attor-
ney with representatives of the Council
Finance Committee and Mr.. Pollard on
one side. and OF the bondholders and the
trolley companies on the other. The
conference was executive, and partici-
pants therein declined to give out any
information further than the names OF
the confereS 1t is understood, how
ever, that this meeting was merely pre-
liminary to negotiations which are likely
to result In some agreement by the
parties in interest.
Those Present.
There were present at the conference
Chairman Wood and Councilmen Cannon
and Pollock, of the Council Finance
Committee, and City Attorney Henry r.
Pollard, on behalf of the city; Messrs.
Frank w. Christian, William j. Leake,
Henry w. Anderson and Richard b.
Davis the last named OF Petersburg,
representing the bondholders of the road
and the Virginia Passenger and Power
Company, the Richmond Passenger anu
Power Company, the Richmond Traction
Company and other parties In interest.
Nearly two years ago the city instituted
suit by intervening in the chancery cause
OF Rowling Green Trust Company and
Others VS.. the three trolley companies.
the style of the case now in process of
adjudication in the United State Circuit
Court The city claimed that damage by
electrolysis to the water mains or the
city had been wrought to the extent OF
SlT2, 600 which 1t seeks to recover from
the trolley lines. The court ruled thar
it was incumbent upon the city 10 snow
what proportion of the damage claimed
il due to the Passenger and Power Com
many. and what to the Traction Company,
and thereupon placed upon tho city the
necessity of ascertaining, approximately
at least, the relative responsibility, 1t
was for the purpose of employing experts
in this work that the Common Council
voted $4,000 Thursday night,
For Future Protection.
Another separate and distinct matter
is the ordinance passed at the same ses-
sion appropriating another $4,000 to en-
ploy experts to appear before the JOINT
Committees on Water and Electricity,
which Is investigating, with view TO
whether or not the install
lation Of the double overhead trolley sys-
TEN Is the most cfficaclous preventive and
remedy of electrolytc injury to water
mains.
This action looks to the future, while
the other is to secure Indemnity for IN
Jury done In tho past. The Importance
of securing an effective preventive of
such injury is that unless some such thing
is done, q leaking water main Is apt to
develop when the tiremen respond to an
alarm and great damage may be wrought
because the main has been DESTROYED by
Superintendent Boiling, OF
the Water Department, Is greatly inn
pressed with this danger and feels his
responsibility kcenly