Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-10-05
THE LEXINGTON LIGHT AND
POWER COMPANY

luG I1lOClllS Nv NAN -
pany has fulfilled the condition i'm
posed by its franchise and are con-
sidering the question of annulling
the franchise, it is important that
the public should be informed as
to what the Company has done and
is doing.
1t is generally understood that
electric light companies in towns
under 5000 inhabitants do not pay |
and the only way for such towns to
have electric lights is for the stock |
to be distributed among public
spirited citizens who will be salts |
fed with a modest return on the
investment and the indirect benefits
that come from the civic pride OF the
people OF a town which is sufficient
" progressive to have electric
lights. In a recent editorial in tie
Engineering Record substantially
the above statement was made.
The Electric Light Company ad-
Illus ltdl IL 10 nOb lOA hAoh kOO0
lights at present, but asserts that
the water in the river is lower than
it has been in 20 years and the con-
dition in regard to the lighting is
similar to that in regard to the town
water supply, only the shortage OF
water in the reservoir is a much
more serious matter. Anyone not
satisfied with his light can light a
lamp and have good light, whereas
water is necessity and when
there is no water in the spicket we
must do without Should all the
water in the reservoir be exhausted
we would be in great danger OF de-
struction from fire.
Under the circumstances for the
Council to find fault with the Elec
trio Light Company is for the pot t,
call the kettle black. About L
years ago. at the request OF tn
Town Council, l made report OIL
municipal lighting plant to be rul
by steam. associating Prof. More
land with me. After mature con
sideration the Town Council decid
ed it would not pay to build an
operate a plant, and they decide
not to go into the municipal ligh
ing business. At the conclusiO
of the report | called attention I
the 1st Lock Dam and stated tina
power could be gotten there NOR
economically than by burning Goa
Two of our then citizens, Messr!
Waddell and Shelton, secured
franchise from the town and takin
my report as a basis succeeded
getting up a company in Baltimore
Mr.. CarichOtf a recent graduate
Johns Hopkins, having assisted n
in getting the information on Whit
TO base my report, presented Il
matter to two of his former profes
ors, Rowland and Duncan, famo
names in electrical developmer
and each took stock, attracted
the prospect of cheap electric
from water power. Hydro-elect
development, now SO fashiOnab
being then a new thing. Attract
by the example of such men oil
gentlemen of small means and lii
money to invest took stock, amC
whom was Mr.. Huttons fat
whose two sons had just GRADUATED
the Electrical Department of 10
Hopkins, and his partner in D.
ness, Mr.. l.. H. Latham, who
made president OF the company
position he has held on a small S
ry every since.
TIE business of the Company
been we'll and economically mana
by Mr.. r. E. Hutton in spite of {
icisms to the contr9ry from {
who do not know the difficulties
fronting a manager of small 7
in a small town with very Ii
means at his disposal. All M
taken in over and above runnin,
penses has been invested in enls
ment and betterment OF the p
The original dynamo for incar
cent or house lighting soon pr
to be too small and larger one
put in.