The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-29
REPORT ACCIDENT
AT LIGH T PLANT
Mr.. Trafford Tells Committee
He Found Defect in One Of
the Turbines.
REPAIRS WILL COST $500
Councilman Radcliffe Exhibits
Pictures Showing Unsightly
Poles.

Although the municipal electric light
plant has not been in even partial OPP
Grafton for ten days, an accident, COST
ing $500, is already reported. The
plant was cut in merely to provide cur
rent for the Broad Street lights, the
general distribution system throughout
the city being far from complete, and
OF the Virginia RAILWAY and Power
Company for street lighting, and will
probably continue to do so until March
or April
a written report from Consulting
Engineer e. w. Trafford, submitted to
a called meeting of the Committee on
Electricity last night showed that a
defect had been discovered in one of
the turbine wheels, resulting in an
accident to the plant. the damage from
which was estimated at $500
Hold Up Contract Money.
Mr.. Trafford reported that at its for
mer meeting the Committee on Elec-
tricity had authorized final payment
to the S. Morgan Smith Company of
S4.326 for the turbines in question, and
on advice of Chairman Lynch and City
Attorney Pollard payment of the draft
OF the S. Morgan Smith Company was
held up. pending examination of the
accident
Mr. Trafford was of the opinion that
the draft might be safely paid as
the company was under bond of $4,000
FOR one year. On advice of the City
Attorney the committee rescinded its
former action, allowing the company
payment In full. and authorized a
warrant for s3,S2s. deductins $500 to
cover cost of repairs.
Consulting Engineer Tratford was
authorized to report on the progress
of wiring and pole setting for the
municipal plant, now far behind con-
tract time and as to the character of
the poles used
Complains About Poles.
Mr. Radcliffe, of the committee, pre-
sented several photographs of crook
ed wooden poles set in the middle of
parks and grass plots. regardless of
ter disregard of any ideas of civic
propr.ety 1t was stated that under
the contracts Engineer Trafford and
City Engineer Boiling had to approve
the payments for all poles, and Mr.;
Bolling has announced that he viii
not approve some of the locations Sc
lected while Mr.. Lynch Is more em-
phatic in stating that he will not sign
vouchers for payment for crooked and
unsightly poles, many of which have
been used, according TO members of
the committee.
Chairman Lynch and Mr.. Jones were
appointed a subcommittee to appear
before the Committee on Finance. as
to the installation of a distributing
system for street lighting in Washing
ton Ward, from the municipal plant,
in accordance with the annexation
agreement which guarantees a great
er number of arc lights than are now
in place.
Reference to back minutes showed
that Chairman Richardson, recently re-
signed had failed to observe an order
of the committee for a formal inspec-
ton of the plant by the full COM
mittee, previous to the time of turn
ing on of current for any lights Mr..
Radcliffe held that the committee
should have gone over the plant and
Professionally accepted 1t before the
lights were turned on. 1t was agreed
that before any additional lights were
turned on, an inspection should be
held