The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-02-18
ADVOCATE FRANCHISE
Information Furnished Committees
OF Council.
PLANS OF THE POWER COMPANY
Tho Electric Linz to rs brtsadsd &c Ffsdsicks-
bug, Etc Etc. Ste.

The Joint COMMITTEES of Ordinance and
Finance. Of the City Council, Messrs C.
r. Howard, W. >. Embrey, L. L. W
Green. ii. b. Lane. J. G. Melville aud w
f. Bradley, met In the Council chamber
Monday evening at 4 o'clock to give q
public hearing to all persons who either
fevor or oppose the granting OF fran.
chise to construct, maintain and operate
electric lines Tor the purpose OF supplying
electric light, heat and power 10 Freder.
icksburg. City Attorney st. Geo. r.
Fitzhugh was present to guard the legal
interests OF the city and bring out as
far as possible the aims and purposes oil
the company asking for the franchise
Councilman Clsrsncs X. Howard was
chairman OF the meeting and Mr.. W. 4.
Bradley secretary.
President w. q. Whitner, OF the Power
Co, was the first speaker. He stated
that about three years ago at the solici-
tation OF the late J. Is. Flcklen. he was
invited TO come TO Fredericksburg 70
make an Investigation OF the possibili-
ties OF the water power and that Ia this
connection be wished to state that the
credit Tor the conception OF this enter
prise Is due to that gentleman, that
when he came here he was surprised at
the greet possibilities he saw and be-
came interested. On investigation the
more he saw the more the advantages
appealed to him and he at once went 50
work to interest capitalists in the pro-
iect. he said; AS an evidence OF W hat we
thought OF the power OF the Rappahan.
mock river, we paid 1925 600 ia cash to
the owners OF the Water Power Co. FOR
what they had paid only $4,000 for a
year or two previous. At once we com
menced purchasing lands along the Rap
pabannock and Rapidan that would be
oyerflo wed by the building Of the two
dams above the present dam and IRON
100000 TO $50, 900 was spent in acquir.
ing these lands, 80 you see gentlemen, he
said, that we have come here among you
spent over 100000 In cash without
asking for dollar from anyone 10 Fred.
ericksburg This Is only a beginning OF
what we propose to do and all we want
lie franchise to develop the power we
have acquired and get results from our
Investments, which only can bs done 10
advantage to the city. for IN order TO get
practical results we must bring indus.
tries here. employ labor and make a
market Tor our power created"
Mr.. Whitner stated that Mr. Gould de
sired that the local supply OF electricity
should be the first obisct OF the company
This brought forth questions from Mr.
Fi,rhugh
q. What will be the probable power
created by the proposed generation o
thu Fredericksburg Power Cot"
A. about 80 900 horse power"
q what connection has the Powel
Co. with the proposed Electric r. R.?''
A. The fredericksburg Power Co. I,
owned by the Richmond aud Chesapeak
K X Co; that Is a matter OF record"
q. "Will that railroad be hnilt2"
A. feel certain that IL will be bull
at an early date.
q. "Will the power necessary to rul
that road take all the power OF the wa
ter power be re2"
| A. No. The X +. & l.. +. Il. cal
be run with 10000 horse power. whic
II less than a third Of what we will have
There will be left more than enough 70
every need OF Fredericksburg. Under tn
terms OF the contract between Mr.. Goul
aud Mr.. Van Dorm, fredericksburg Is L
have the fret call on the power create
by the company"
Tell Us about the proposed powe
house, Mr.. Whitner." said Mr. f'itzhugh
Mr.. W. said: The power house ait
Its machinery and distributing plant wi
cost about 1926, 900 aud will be eQuippe
with the most modern machinery an
up to date la every respect. Ii will be
credit to the undertaking.
I'VE have every confidence In Mr.. Va
Dorm since he was recommended and ell
dorsed In the strongest terms by Nj
Could"
Judge Embrey, attorney for the Powt
Co., read the proposed franchise In sc,
tions. each OF which was taken up an
considered he expected great result
from the development OF the water pow
er and asked the committee to weie
well the whole matter and deal as libe
ally as was consistent with the interest
OF the city towards the company. II
laid stress on the fact that money we
behind the development and that, thong
the owners OF the power had been anon
us for three years. they had not asked
dollar from any one, nor had they an
stock or bonds to sell. All they wante
was a franchise to develop their wor
and have facilities to do business
Judge Z. said Mr.. Van Dorm was bel
with money to carry out his plans q
soon as franchise was given his con
pany and that he could not reap fol
per cent. interest on bis Investment
from the present power used Ia Erede
, icksburg, and would have to hustle on
side and bring industries here IN order I
/. make q market for his product.
There was q number of prominent bu
iness men present at the hearing an
much interest manifested.
! The meeting adjourned to Tuesda
, afternoon at 4 o'clock