The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-31
MCCARTHY BEl|TTlES
LEASE OF GAS PLANT
Administrative Board WIN Not Re
commend to Council Acceptance OF
Southern Proposition.
COMMISSIONERS SARCASTIC
Expresses Himself While Hearing
Arguments by Reiratcntaelvo Of
Those Who Wish to Lease Works,

Captain Mccarthy. representing the
sentiment OF the Administrative Board
yesterday afternoon. Indicated that
the board had no idea of recommend
ing to Council the lease of the city
gas works.
The board met at sac o'clock to hear
from representatives of the Southern
Gas and Electric Company concern
Ing their proposition to lease the gas
plant for term OF thirty years
Vice-President NJ. II. Evans. OF the
Southern Company. presented his sida
of the case. He was backed up by
Lawyer Sands and MIR. Poiiitt. officials
of the company.
Statistics were presented to show
that the gas works was not giving
the people the right Kind OF gas.
nor was IL giving the cheaper sort
In calling the meeting to order Com
missioner Hirschberg stated that both
sides OF the question would be con-
sidered. and that anyone who wished
to speak would be given q hearing.
Vice-president Evans stated that he
would like to present the case from
the southern Company's standpoint.
Bidder's Standpoint.
AaS EEAu N P3pFI. WniNu mas AiFEMQy
been referred TO In the press. as nav
ing been presented to the Council
Committee on Utilities. This paper
showed that the company could give
better and cheaper gas than tho city
Is now giving.
While MIR. Evans was reading the
paper. Commissioner Mccarthy inter-
Jected a number of questions. His
questions indicated that there was no
10 n .f..e~ a. II N
would recommend to Council that the
gas works be not leased
In his criticisms of what had been
said by Mr.. Evans. Captain Mccarthy
grew emphatic, and said that Mr.. Evans
had. In representing his company. made
statements that were not Ia confcr-
nifty with the truth.
These advertisements which you
are placing In the papers," said Cap
tain Mccarthy, ARE untrue. You Say
that you can furnish better gas TO this
people of Richmond than In now beine
furnished. Can you prove THAR
Can you give better gas than tho
city Is now giving / defy you 70 say
that you can. Your advertisements
state that you will give the peopls
better gas. How are you going 70 do
so-'
Mr.. Evans attempted TO explain that
Southern Company would do their best
to preeent kicks on the service.
But" said Captain Mccarthy, you
say you will give better gas. but you
do not say how you are going to do IT,
To this remark. Mr.. Evans had nc
reply
Then Mr. Hirschberg asked Mr.
Evans a question.
You say that you do not thing the
.f-s T.
Mr.. Hirschberg. and that when you
lease 1t you are going to spend large
sums. But you indicate In your prop
ositior that you will spend only about
800 600 on improvements to the plant
itself. and half a million on mains to
give suburbanites sufficient supply
Of gas.
Hirschbergs Question.
"rf, under your calculations the gAs
plant is not good enought TO supply
the people of Richmond with kns
why do you declare that only sfAO,-
600 is necessary to repair ther wotkA
in order to supply this whole terri.
tory with good gas?"
Mr.. Evans was unable to answer.
excert to saw that his company would
give the people the best gas ohfa'nabie.
He indicated that the company was
in the business to make money. ana
that In doing so 1t would give the
best service possible. IL
CAPTAIN Mccarthy ridiculeef every
point brought out by the representa-
t,ves Of the Southern COMPANY. He
said that the company was in the
business for what they could get out
Of It, and had falsif,ed their position
nv making statements in advertising in
the newspapers. which were calculat.
ed To lead the nt1h}tC axtray
After the arguments had closed. The
board directed the representatives. OF
the conirsnv to turn over all pa r,yrs
concerning the matter to the clark,
40 tina. when the report IN hended to
the Council Committee on T1t,lities.Sall
information may be at hand.