The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-15
GENERATE POWER
FROM COAL MINES
New Company Will Transmit and
Sell Electric Current in
Richmond.
o GET STATE C HARTER
Midlothian Mines Will Be Used
as Working Base by In
dependent Concern.

Competition In rates for electric
power for manufacturing purposes is
promised by a new company Which -
being formed for the purpose of gem
Grating electricity from the coal In the
Midlothian mines. The proposition Is
one on which engineers have been !
work for months, and reports just Hieu
show that the power can be generated
at the mines and transmitted 10 RICH
mond, Petersburg and Norfolk at
cost lower than current produced from
water power. a company mas been
organized, composed of Richmond ana
New York interests. and the charter
papers will be filed within the next
day or two with the State Corporation
Commission, when the amount of cap
ital stock and the names of the officers
and promoters will be made public.
Already the company has secured the
properties of S. Dabney Crenshaw ana
others at the Midlothian mines. in
Chesterfield county, along the right OF
way OF the Southern Railway Com
pany. about twelve miles from Rich
mond. The mines are among the old
est in the United States, and for more
than generation Afforded the only
coal supply for Richmond. They pro-
liar to the vein at Clayton, which Is in
Henrico county. on the north side OF
the James River
Abundant ConI supply.
Mining engineers have reported that
abundant coal can be obtained at Mid
lothian to supply for many years TO
come by the opening of new veins. The
mines have not been in operation for
the past year Or two, but workmen are
|
erty and putting the shafts in condition
for prompt operation.
The electric powerhouse, which viii
be erected close to the mouth Of the
Mines so as to save cost of transpor-
tation of coal. will be built on unit
system, It being the intention at first
to install a 10000 horsepower genera
tor, which can be added to from time
to time as the new company secures
contracts in this city, Petersburg, Nor
folk or other nearby points AS soor
as the City Council Is reor9anized in Sep
TENDER application will be made for the
! necessary franchise rights to bring the
! current into the city and distribute il
where manufacturing plants are To-
Gated.
For the present It is not the inten-
tion of the new company to go into
general lighting schemes. but to sell
power in large quantities to manufac-
turing plants,
Not Allied to Old Companies.
The promoters assert that they are
in no way allied either TO the Virginia
| Railway and Power Company or to the
new Richmond and Henrico Railway
Company, which is erecting power
| house In Fulton. They also claim thai
| they are not antagonistic to these
| properties, but that the growth OF
manufacturing In and around Rich
mond gives ample field for anothe,
| electric company which can sell power
at small cost.
1t is asserted that the present power
| houses along James River are taxed
almost to their capacity, and that there
is now or will soon be In Richmond
| demand for three or four times as
much electric power for business pur.
| poses.
Competent engineers, it is asserted
have been working over the plans since
last fall. and their estimates have beer
thoroughly checked over by consulting
experts. These reports show that this
Midlothian coal can be used to gen.
crate electric power at the mines at
cost cheaper than water generated
current
The new company will be headed by
s. Dabney Crenshaw, who will have {
number Of Richmond associates, and
VIII also have the aid OF large New
York capitalists. Major Miles M. Mar.
tin. general counsel for the company
would give no further details OF thu
] plans beyond confirming the fact tina
the charter would shortly be issued by
the Corporation Commission, and tina
the necessary capital had been Sc.
cured to begin immediate operation.