The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-09-18
MAY ENJ0IN THE
CONSTRUCTIONS OF
CITY GAS PLANT
Alderman Heritage Must Be
Convinced 1t Will Not Af-
feet Adjoining Property.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE
OFF ON A JUNKET
Plants in Iowa and Illinois to be
Given the Once, Over This
Week.

Unless he is convinced beyond reas-
enable doubt on his present trip as
chairman of a special committee of
which the other members are Alder
men Harvey and Murray, that the
municipal gas plant proposed to be
located or Block 33, near the present
light and power station, will not give
off offensive odors, result in the de-
probation of property values in it's
vicinity and increase the fire risk,
Alderman A. D. Heritage will petition
for an Injunction in the district court
restraining the water and light COM
mission from proceeding with the
construction Of the gas plant at Block
33.
Mr.. Heritage authorized this state
ment last night before leaving with
the special committee on trip to
Iowa and Illinois to look over various
gas plants with view Of determining
the conditions as affecting adjoining
property which attend their operation.
Members of the committee refused
to divulge their destination. "We
want to make an independent inves-
tigation," said Mr.. Heritage. "Prac-
tically all of the gas plants of type
like that proposed to be built here, IN
this immediate section OF the north
west are owned by the American Gas
Construction company, who are IN
terested in this contract, and who
naturally will be anxious to give us
a cordial reception. For that reason
we are not divulging to anybody
turn to Virginia Saturday,.
eff I am not convinced beyond
reasonable doubt that the construction
of a gas plant on block 33 will not re-
suit in a depreciation of propert!
values and a raise in the rates OF fire
proceedings against the building OF
the plant upon my return. The papers
are all ready to file and am prepared
to take immediate action.'
Before leaving the city last even
ing the special committee of the coun-
ell tried to get a meeting with the
water and light commission and rep
resentatives of the Oliver Iron Min
ing company, the object being to learn
whether or not site near the mem
orator plant, which Alderman Herr
tage favors, might not be available.
Members of the water and light COM
mission, according to Mr.: Heritage;
declined to meet with the special
committee. They took the ATTITUDE
that the matter Of the site was settled
and that it was not the affair of the
council. Discussing their attitude
Alderman Heritage made no effort tc
conceal his indignation. "Nobody is
going to get anything like this
through under the circumstances
said Mr.. Heritage, "without opposl
ton from me. The site at the inciner-
ator is the best in any event and its
choosing would result in removing
this matter from further controversy.
Among the water gas plants the
council committee may visit on its
trip are those at Newton, Dixon
Grinnell, Abba, Iowa; Watertown, 5.
D.; Glendale, N. D.; Independence
Iowa; Pana and Hillsboro, III: Alder
man Heritage stated last night the
council would visit several, but de.
clined to state what the destination
of the committee was or what ltln'
erary was proposed.
The committee left at noon today.