The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-15

there was nothing over which to con-
fer. tho relations OF tho electric plant
to the Water Department being fixed
by city ordinance. which neither COM
mittee could alter. The ordinance es-
tablishing the electric plant requires
1t to furnish power to pump not less
than 100000 gallons OF water each
twenty-four hours. Chairman Mills
said the Water Department had never
called on tho Electric Department to
furnish that much power.
~ letter was read from the Commit
teo on Electricity inclosing a copy OF
report submitted by a subcommittee,
consisting of Messrs. Jones. Cowardin
and Seaton. Leaving the chair, Mr..
Mills asserted that the Committee on
Electricity had merely asserted its
Ignorance. 5 1t had exceeded Is prov
ince in criticizing the management OF
tho Water Department.
Can Save $4,000 a Year.
IF they are sincere in this matter"
said Mr.. Mills. they can save 5000
year to the city by consolidating the
departments. That amount could read :
lily be saved if the Water and Elec-
tricity Departments were operated to-
gether. The water plant by ordinance
now has the first call on three-fourths
OF the current generated. The charge
this subcommittee has made as TO
burning coal is not borne out by the
facts.
Il am willing to cooperate with any
committee for the good of the city
but they ask for a conference on a
n "a re
committees"
In reply to a question from Mr.
Adams as to whether there was really
anything in the matters complained OF
in the report, Superintendent Davis said
he could see nothing in it-that steam
had been used but five or six days. and
as soon as he was notified he began
using the water pumps. having told
Mr.. Trafford not to burn coal to furnish
pumping power; that he could make UP
any deficit over what the electric
plant could supply by the old water
power pumps. He presented a report
to show that during June the water
power pumps had pumped about CO.,
100000 gallons, or about four days
supply.
That's just what thought" re-
sponded Mr.. Adams. That subcommit-
tee went Off half-cocked. and didn',
know what they were talking about.
move to table the whole matter. 1t is
useless agitation"
No Idle Men, snys Mills.
I'VE have no idle mon at the pumr
house." responded Captain Mills, who
enumerated the various kinds of ma
chinery to be taken care of there
saying that not a man more than the
force at the electric plant was employ
ed. while there was three times the ma
= n ira Of ha.
Mills also called attention to the emer-
gency features of water pumping, say.
ing that whether utilized or not, there
should always be in reserve for ar
emergency OF duplicate pumping power
whether the electric plant was call.
ed on to deliver 1t or not. 1t should
always stand ready TO furnish the pow.
err for the full 100000 gallons daily
guaranteed in the ordinance. that there
might never be a shortage
I'VE gave up to the electric plant
he continued, the old pump house
valued at 100000. and which could
have been sold for 100000. The
criticisms of that report are unfair
and unwarranted, and due to lack OF
information"
Mr.. Davis explained how the men al
the pump house were engaged in re-
pairing and cleaning old machinery
when not otherwise occupied.
Would Give Them Information.
Mr.. Boschen thought the subcommit-
tee had acted honestly with the ligh,
before II, and favored granting the
conference asked for. that the Electric
ity Committee might be given all the
information 1t didn't have gumptior
enough to secure for itself" The vote
on Mr.. Boschen's substitute motion to
grant the conference committee was
reieCted. n e. folIowe
Ayes-Boschen, Huber.
Noes-Adams. Butler, Gill. Mitchell
Powers. Mills
The Adam motion to table was Their
adopted, TO 2, by the same vote