Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-10-19
Town Council Committee Recon-
mend Steam Lighting Plant


Council last Thursday night, at
which all the members were pres
eat, the special committee having
charge OF the electric light situa-
ton, made their report. which re-
port. after reviewing the entire
situation, provided for the estab-
lishment OF steam auxiliary plant
OF 200 horse power. within period
vi six months. Councilman Corse
was appointed a committee OF one
to negotiate with the Lexington
Light & Power Company along the
lines indicated in the report and to
report the result of his action to the
Council at the earliest possible time.
The committee summarized the
rights Of the town as follows:
(a) To provide for lights for it.
self and its citizens from whomso-
ever it pleases.
(b) To furnish such lights itself.
(c) To forfeit the franchise grant
ed said company (The Lexington
Light 81 Power Coz.
1t may exercise any two or all
three Of the above powers, as in it's
discretion shall seem wisest.
The recommendations of the COM
mittee are as follows:
While your committee are of the
opinion that the town has any or all
OF the powers above enumerated
they are reluctant to advise the ex-
ercise of any Of them if it can be
avoided
Their desire israthei to recommend
that an earnest effort be made to
provide at once for the needs OF
the town and it's citizens without en-
forcing such forfeiture, if that result
be possible. The Lexington Light
& Power Co. was requested when it
appeared before the committee to
advise the committee as to within
what time relief could be obtained,
but che only answer the Company
expressed itself as being able to
give was that it would relieve the
situation as soon as it could. but de-
clined to commit itself as to how or
when that result would be accom-
plished.
knowing that the Rockbridge
Power Corporation had electricity to
sell your committee sought to aseer-
tain whether or not that Company
would supply the Lexington Light
Il Power Company, and received a
communication from the former Com
pany saying that it would be able
deliver current here to the Licking
ton Light & Power Company within
three months from the time of max
ing contract for its delivery" An
inquiry of the Lexington Light &
Power Company as to whether it
had been negotiating with the Rock
bridge Power Corporation failed to
elicit a response.
They (the special committee) Sc
cured from Colonel Jones an esti-
mate of the power needed by the
Lexington Light a. Power Company
to safely provide Lexington and it's
citizens with light and the time with
in which such power could be Sc
cured. Colonel Jones estimated
that in addition to the power the
Company now has it would require
200 additional horse power to place
it in situation that it could proper
ly supply the town and citizens, re-
CARELESS of the weather, and that it
would not take more than six months
to have such plant ready for opera
ton.
Your committee would therefore
recommend that if the Lexington
Light and Power Company will fur
nish to the Council satisfactory as
surances that it will within six
months from this time, establish
ready for operation a steam plant
with 200 horse power, in addition TO
that it now has, and put and contin-
ne the said plant in operation SO as
to furnish the town and citizens of
Lexington all the lights they may
need, then that all steps for enforc-
log the forfeiture of the franchise Of