Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-29


1t is due to a mistake by some one
when the first bills were made out.
Question: In other words the AL
exandria Electric Company is charg-
ing less than they are entitled to
charge under the contract?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Do you know any OF
the experts in the Colorado Springs
case?
Answer: Yes, Mr.. Marks. l had
with him within the last
two weeks
Mr.. Fisher: That conversation is
not proper.
Mr.. Harlow: Mr.. Fisher cannot
get away from his legal habit Of OBJ
iecting to things. | take it that any
thing that will throw any light on the
subject | think it is proper before an
investigating committee. If the COM
mittee don't want to hear 1t, why 1t
is all right, of course.
Mr.. Spinks: | don't think that is
proper. You could have him come
here and make the statement for him.
self, If you want to examine him as
witness.
Mr.. Harlow: If the committee is
willing to hear it or if you want to
hear it. we will state it; l understand
that you want light on the subject,
we are trying to get it. If you don
want to hear it, that is something
else. :,
Mr.. Spinks: Our testimony has all
been from people who had knowledge
of the conditions. All your testi-
mony is from people who know moth
ing about it except the officials of the
company.
Mr.. Harlow: Experts don't have
to have personal knowledge. | want
YOU to remember that all the testi-
mony we have had has been from
personal knowledge. Who are the
present owners and directors of the
company?
The witness: T. C. Coleman, Pres
ident; J. c. NJ. Lucas, Vice-President,
H. B. Lucas, Secretary and Treas
urer, these with Mr.. Portner, are the
directors.
Question: Have any Of them know
ledge of or experience in electrical
matters?
Answer: Mr.. J. c. Lucas is the Dis
trict Manager for the Baltimore Dis
trict of the Aliss Chalmers Company,
and Fl. P. Lucas is the manager OF a
large electrical construction company
in Baltimore.
Questions by Mr.. Fisher:
Mr.. Fisher: You state that your
testimony being that of an expert is
impartial, and that you are here as an
expert State your experience.
Answer: l have just done that.
Question: Do it again.
Answer: | have been engineer for
a number of different cities and cor
porations, am engineer for the Ten
nessee Power Company, | am engi-
neer at the Wataugua River, | am
engineer for Bedford City Virginia,
that is building an electrical water
plant on the James River, and ] have
built a number of other plants in the
past eight years.
Question: You are consulting en-
gineer for five concerns, or cities that
are now in process of operation or
construction?
Answer: One is in process of con-
struction, one plant will be completed
in two weeks, the other one will be
begun in about two weeks.
Question:: They represent about
three million dollars?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Where did you receive
your experience in electricity?
Answer: In the construction Of a
--~ubvr- Ur plants in the last seven
years. | graduated from Columbia
in the department Of civil engineer
ing.
Question: You did not take cleo
trical engineering?
Answer: | took certain electrical
subjects.
Question: You say you are an ex-
pert?
Answer: | would not state that I
am an expert; but think that ! know
something about it.
Question:: You state that you made
an inspection, and make inspections
here in town?
the changes and improvements has
been under my supervision.
Question:: How often do you make
an inspection?
Answer: Every day in the week,
up to a month ago.
Question: How could you devote
so much of your attention TO AleXan-
dria when you are consulting engi-
neer for all these other things?
Answer: 1t might be difficult for
you to understand that as a lawyer,
but | think that any engineer can un-
derstand that it is a matter of suf-
ficient assistants.
Question: Your supervision, Of the
Alexandria company is not personal
supervision?
Answer: Yes, as much as any chief
engineer gives to the work.
Mr.. Harlow: You mean personal
supervision of what?
Mr.. Fisher: OF the whole thing.
The witness: Yes, | gave personal
supervision and attention to this
plant, this other work has begun
since the completion Of the installa-
ton Of the machinery and improve
ments here.
Question: When was that compile
ted?
Answer: I should say not finally
until the early part or the tenth or
fifteenth of November, about that
tim; the turbine was completed about
that time and I made daily trips to
Alexandria then.
Question: Have you ever been
around town at night?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: What was the hour Of
your inspection?
Answer: Practically at all hours.
Question: How often have Won
been in the city Of Alexandria since
the completion of the Installation OF
the machinery, between s and -
o'clock in the evening?
b,.u-or. A. Io,n+ onca q week