The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-23
MORE ELECTRICITY
DEMANDED HERE
Manufacturers Record Says Is
Enlistment of Power Plant
at Midlothian Imperative.
TEN YEARS OF GROWTH
Industrial Expansion Necessitates
Additional Power Facilities TO
Keep Up Pace

Under the heading. Industrial
Richmond the Manufacturers
Record. of Baltimore, comments edi-
toria'lv upon the project for establish
ing power-house for the generation
OF electricity from the Midlothian coal
mines to be transmitted to Richmond,
Norfolk and Petersburg as follows:
About the time when the Manu-
facturers' Record was developing for
its last weeks issue the suggestion
OF the use at the place of production
of coal. OF oil or OF natural gas In
the development of electric energy,
to be distributed for the use OF in
dustries of many kinds, plans were
making in Richmond for the carrying
out of that very idea at the Mid
lothian mines. IN Chesterfield coun-
y. These mines are in the field
where the first bituminous coal was
mined in this country more than
century ago. They lie within twelve
or fourteen miles of Richmond, and
the company which has been or
ganized by Richmond and New York
interests proposes TO esta blish close to
the mouth of the mines a power
house for the generation of electricity
to he transmitted TO Richmond,
Petersburg. Norfolk and other points
The purpose of the company is TO sell
power to manufacturing plants. and.
in that connection. ii is stated that
such is the growth oil manufa turing
In and around Richmond that there
will soon be in that city a demand for
three or four times rs much electric
power as is now available.
ImDreSses All.
The most casual observer. only
passing through Richmond on a rail-
road, cannot fail to be impressed.
not only by the evidences of q won
derful Industrial expansion In and
near the city during the past ten
years. but by the indications on many
sides of the soundnes OF the argu-
ments that have led to the new en-
terprise at Midlothian. For q while
in the fourth quarter of the last
century the tobacco and iron indus
tries led in manufacturing in Rich
mond. But right among the ruins
of the fire of 1865 a number of small
industries began life, and in the past
twenty five years have become leaders
Of their kind. Tobacco factories and
iron foundries have increased their
power, but, beginning almost as ad
juncts to them. many other plants
have risen TO greatness, notably the
cedar works. the greatest In the
country. II not in the world. and the
locomotive works, now a branch of
the American Locomotive Company,
But there are others. Richmond Is
( the home city. of one of the great
fertilizer corporations or the country:
II Is one OF the greatest distributors
OF shoes. and It's meat-juice factory
has made necessary a pioneer cold
storage plant and was largely respon-
sible for the establishment in that
! city Of a cattle market. The immense
water power of the falls of the James,
once almost monopoiized by great
7 Touring mills, that sent their product
I to Latin-American countries. has been
/ chained for the development of cleo
trioity for traction purposes. for light
ing and for industrial power. and yet
an immense amount of power still
seems to he running to wasles among
the rocks.
Needs More Power.
But all this power, as we'll as such
power as that to be generated at the
1 Midlothian coal mines, will be needed
I II Richmond maintains the pace Of
I the past ten years. Every year shows
I new smckestacks or new power
( plants where short xhile before were
I old fields on the outskirts of the city.
1 now brought within the limits by an
nexation: localities In the heart OF the
! city once the sites of old homesteads
have become bustiing business CEN
/ tiers. and for five or six. miles beyond
] the built-up sections development OF
handsome suburbs is under way.
I "Cheapness seems TO be the excep-
ton in this new hcme-building. and
though many of the younger indus
tries are SMALL they all seem to be
| flourishing end growing and. thereby.
carving Richmond through that
/ healthy industrial development which
has characterized the wonderful
| tContinued on Second PAga1