The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-23
WANTS TO SUPPLY
GAS TO S0UTHS|DE
Manchester Light Company
Would Enter Into Compe-
tition With City.
HAS THIRTY-YEAR FRANCHISE
Files With Street Committee
Plan Showing Proposed
Mains and Pipes.
HAS THIRTY-YEAR FRANCHISE

The long pending case OF tho Man
chester Light. Heat and Power Com
pany took another turn yesterday with
the fling with the Council Street Com
mittee of n map showing the location
of pipes and mains which the company
proposes to lay in the principal streets
of South Richmond in the exercise OF
its franchise granting 1t the right to
engage in tho light and power busi-
ness.
With tho blueprint Is filed state
ment, signed by a L. Adamson, presi-
dent of the company, declaring that
the Manchester Light, Heat and Power
Company proposes to operate a coal
gas, carbureted water gas. OF mixed
water and coal gas system, In substi-
tuition Of the acetylene service here
tofore supplied.
The plan showing tho location of
proposed pipes and mains Is submitted
with the request that 1t be approved
by the Council The communication to
the Street Committee declares that 1t
is the understanding of the company
that the city is contemplating the paw
ing OF certain streets in the section
mentioned and that it hopes. there
fore. that the plan submitted will re-
ceive prompt consideration.
Has Thirty-Yenr Franchise.
On the face Of the communication
to the Street Committee it appears
as If the Manchester Light Heat and
Power Company intends. after permit
ting It's franchise to lie practically un-
exercised for thirteen years. to enter
into active competition with the city
OF Richmond in the business of sup
plying gas to the Southside For sew
erai years past the owners of the fran
chise have made repeated efforts to
sell 1t to the city
Tho franchise was granted by the
former city of Manchester on Feb
| runry 20. 1900, and expires in 1880. The
provisions arc extraordinarily liberal
permitting the owners to engage in
the business Of supplying electric
light and power as we'll as gas Since
its granting it has changed hands and
Is now owned by a syndicate of South
Richmond men headed by a. l.. Adam
son. Other shareholders are A j. Daft
from. George l.. Gary estate Angus
tine Royall & Co. a. A. Adkins. L. II.
wells, Clarence Walden ana w. p. Mat
thews.
The company has now in operation =
small ncetylene plant with n limited
equipment OF small-bore pipes and
mains In several OF the more prominent
streets In South Richmond 1t serves
about 100 consumers-chieny stores
and shops. The proposal Is now nc
q.
TO abandon this enterprise and engage
| In the business of supplying regular
coal gas OF the quality now supplied
| In Richmond.
City Hns Lnid Mains.
onoer the consolidation agreement
between Richmond and Manchester tho
citS undertook TO supply Manchester
with gas upon the same terms at which
II supplies II in Richmond TODAY. Tho
cause bearing upon this matter reads:
crowded, further. that within two
years next after consolidation shall
| take erect, gas shall be distributed in
mains throughout the territorial limits
OF the said city of Manchester as far
as the Council OF the consolidated mn.
nicipality deems practicable and rea-
sohable, and furnished to takers MT
rates charged other consumers within
the consolidated municipality"
consolidation went into effect April
10 1910. More than three years have
elapsed, but no gas has as yet been
supplied to South Richmond. a fairly
complete system of mains and pines
has, however, been installed, and the
actual turning In of gas waits upon
the construction of connecting links
south end OF the new Mayo Bridge and
across the dock on the north side
System Cost $4,000.
Tho system already in place in
south Richmond" said Superintendent
Knowles. Of the Gas Works, has cost
the city more than $4,000 It en-
braces most of the important streets.
There is sixteen-inch main across the
new Mayo Bridge which will supply the
Southsidc This main is extended
across South Richmond to almost it's
corporate limit With the laying of
connecting mains at the south and
north ends Of the bridge we will be
ready to supply gas to the Southside."
| Councilmen In touch with the situa
ton declined to regard seriously yes
terday the proposal Of the Manchester
| Light, Heat and Power Company to
compete with the city In supplying gas.
An application for thirty-year exten<
sion of the franchise has been pending
before the Street Committee since
March 3, but has not been acted upon.
! When negotiations were in progress
looking to the purchase of the fran
chise by the city, the old Council Light
Committee recommended that the CITY
take over the companys holdings for
about $4,000 The sum was declined.
A later proposal directing purchase at
the company's valuation was rejected
by the Council.