The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-16
G|vESCUT RATE0h
WATER-PUMPlN
Electricity Committee Recedes
From Effort to Lay Burden
on Water Works.
TOTAL OUTLAY $618,304.98
No Figures Yet Available to
Show What Street Lights
Cost.

Reviving a proposition which died
with the old Council, the Counci
Committee on Electricity yesterday al
ternoon recommended to the Council
an ordinance creating the position or
Superintendent Of the City Electrical
Plant, fixing the pay Of the employees
Of the works and directing how the
plant shall be operated. To meet OBJ
jections raised in the old Council by
Captain Morgan r. Mills, chairman OF
the Committee on Water. the rate TO
be charged for electrical current for
pumping water was cut from cents
TO / cent per kilowatt. The election
OF the proposed superintendent, whose
$50, is left to the Administrative
Board.
The management Of the electrical
plant has been a perpetual bone of
contention. Up to this time no definite
action has been taken by the Coun-
ell. and since its completion the plant
has been operated by Consulting Engi-
neer +. w. Trafford. who planned and
supervised it's erection. The Commit
tee on Electricity has paid him $500
per month for his services as super
intendent, allowing him to take out
side electrical engineering work. anT
construction work.
The number and pay Of employees Of
the plant has never been fixed by
ordinance, and has been increased from
time to time by the Committee on Elec-
tricity as far as funds at its disposal
would allow. In lodging his protest
against the old ordinance. Captain
Mills charged that the cost of building
and of operation of the electric plant
had been excessive, and that 1t was now
proposed, by an unreasonable charge
against the Water Department for pow
err used in water pumping. to make it
appear on the books that the electric
plant was a prosperous undertaking.
No annual report of the electric plant
was submitted to the Mayor last year,
nor is any report of its operations in
cluded in the bound volume OF city re-
ports for the year, SC that it is difficult
at this time to arrive at the cost Of
lights furnished under municipal own
ership.
Promised Cheaper Light.
While the cost OF construction near
ly doubled original estimates, il is also
true that the number of lights has been
increased. and large number of orna-
mental lights added. not included in
the original calculations. 1t is re-
called by many that when the bond is
sue for erection Of the electric plant
was pending before the Board of Alder
men in 1908. Mr.. Trafford was invited
on the floor and made the statement
that the S250.0G0 TO be provided would
pay for all costs of a plant on the site
of the Old Pumphouse, which would
pump all city water as a by-product.
and furnish street arc lamps at not
more than $36 each per year. The city
was then paying $5475 each per year
for arc lamps to the Virginia Railway
and Power Company. and the prospec-
tive saving seemed considerable. Bonds
We're issued TO the extent of $350.oeo,
covering the cost of the plant as estl-
mated and setting apart 100000 Tor
establishment OF electrical pumping
machinery for the Water Department.
Additional annual appropriations have
been made each year since from cur
rent funds.
Up TO October ! last. the grand total
Of all payments made out of the city
treasury on account OF the electric
plant has been So; s,3ci.9S, divided as
follows: Plans and preliminary en-
penses, S!,353.s3: machinery for Water
Department.. sIos.eS5.46; electric plant
ard distributing system. $i25,596.si
Broad Street lights. s26,0oo.93: pay roll
and maintenance since operation began
TO October /. s53.2S,.Se.
No appropriation was ever made for
the Jefferson Avenue ornamental light
ing, which was ordered by the com
7nittee and paid OUT of other funds
without authority of the Council The
above figures do not allow for the
valuable site and water power rights
turned over by the Water Department,
known as the Old Pumphouse assessed
by the State at s35c.@o0, and said by
some to be worth pearly s1.oGo.0oo. The
rights are owned by the city in per-
petuity. and nav. recently been fully
confirmed III court proceedings
No; until some definite from Of ac-
counting has been established. after
the manner recently recommended by
the Special Accountant for the Gas
Works. and allowances made for in
tcrcst. depreciation and other propc?
charges. will the city bc able TO tell
what il is costing il to light ITS
streets. Meanwhile. III" committee goes
steadily on. adding TO the number -
I lights
In the annual ruIG.; for this year
there was appropriated for the cleo
trio plant sSi. 900. as follows. pay rJli.
Sc. 0"r. expenses. SD. 900. extensions.
81. """. the total being \ larger amour.
! than wsS over :'a3d hy the city Cor
street lighting ~ any OF" y"s- under
/ the contract system. though it Is true
: that ih.r.. w"r" :heu a fewer Number
. ~f lights and =" SCALED Ornamental!
. Iarar posts IN Broad street There are
no avaflaEI" reports ." indicate -
what cNj~ut "Icrrrlc current mas been
: III b, -.---.. Mn 8. KALI