The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-09-18
MAY ENJ0lN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF
CITY GAS PLANT
Alderman Heritage Must Be
Convinced It 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 special committee of
which the other members are Alder
men Harvey and Murray, that the
municipal gas plant proposed to be
located on Block 33, near the present
light and power station, will not give
off offensive odors, result in the de-
probation of property values IN ITS
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 a 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. 1--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
where we will go. We expect to re.
turn to Virginia Saturday.
"If l am not convinced beyond a
reasonable doubt that the construction
of a gas plant on block 33 will not re-
suit in a depreciation of property
values and a raise in the rates OF tire
insurance I will institute injunction
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-
Gil 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 lnc1n-
orator plant, which Alderman Herl-
tage favors, might not be available
Members of the water and light COM
mission, according to Mr.. Heritage
declined to meet with the specla
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 inclner
ator is the best in any event and Its
choosing would result in removing
this matter from further controversy
Among the water gas plants thf
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, Ill: Alder
man Heritage stated last night tn
council would visit several, but dc
clined to state what the destination
of the committee was or what ltln
erary was proposed.
The committee left at noon today.