Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-05
BOARD TO ADVISE AGAINST
| LEASING OF Gas PLAN
Will Put Finishing Touches To-Day
on Report to Council
Committee.
WILL QUOTE ARTHUR GLASGOW
Board VIII Draw Literally From
recommendations OF London Gas
Expert and Forestall - Robin
Son-Committce Meets To-NiOrrow.

The Administrative Board will to-
day put the finishing touches on its re-
port to the Council Committee on Public
Buildings, Properties and Utilities
bearing it's recommendations on tho
proposal to lease the Gas Works to tho
Southern Gas and Electric Corpora
ton, of Baltimore a conference on the
report was held by the board Satur-
day morning and n final conference will
be held to-day.
1t is an open secret that the board
VIII recommend II rejection Of the lcas-
ing proposal. This was made clear at
the hearing of the gas lease application
that was held last Tuesday The temper
of the questions put to ice-President
Evans, OF the Southern Gas and Elec-
trio Corporation. and the skepticism
with which the members received his
claims that lease will result in better
gas and better service to the consum-
ers. Indicated clearly the hostility Of the
board to the pending proposition.
COMMITTEE RECEIVES
REPORT TO-MORRow
The Public Utilities Committee Is
called to meet 1T o'clock tomorrow
night. The board will return TO 1t at
that time all the papers turned over 10
II by the committee having TO do with
the gas leasing offer. together with the
report carrying it's recommendation
While 1t is probable that the commit
tee Will want to hear further from the
city gas authorities before making up
its own report on this matter, n def
N FAP Il To-,
on the question of the lease Is not un-
likely.
In the preparation Of it's report to the
committee, the board will draw liberal
iy from the exhaustive report on the
local gas situation prepared by Fore
stall " Robinson. who were employed
by the board to make a complete exam
nation of the works both plant and
distributing system. The voluminous
report OF these engineers has guided
the board in its gas plant Improvement
work OF the past year or two.
1t is understood. also, that the board
will quote literally from the report OF
Arthur Glasgow. the London gas ex-
pert. who made an examination OF tho
works about two years ago. The sub
stance OF Mr.. Glasgow's findings was
that the local gas plant was abreast Of
the best practice as late as ten wears
ago In the matter of machinery and
equipment. and that complete sub
stitution of The present plant machinery
with appliances Of more recent type
would he inadvisnble.
GLASGOW RECOMMENDED
MORT: MODERH FINTURES
Mr. Glasgow found that while he
qna.!ty OF the gas made ut the mu-
nicipal plant was good. the chief dis
ability Of the gas system in this city
VAS the faulty distribution. This weak.
n"ss. he told the board. was traceablc
TO the Anticipated fixtures. which were
employed in many honses. With these
nNtures ana appliances modernized. he
said. most OF the trouble would dis
appear
An adverse report from the board
on the advisability of leasing the works
Will carry due weight with the commit
tee 1T will not. however. preclude n
recommendation by the committee that
the leasing question he submitted to
ne people If. In its opinion, Il sufficient
~ attractive offer were submitted by
the company to warrant its considcra-
ton by the voters
On the point OF the form Of subrnis.
sion there aIiN appears to exist con.
siderable diversity of opinion. The
hriefs submitted by the officials Of the
southern Gas and Electric Corporation
Indicate their belief that the question
"f lease or no lease may properly he
submitted TO the voters without its be-
Ing accompanied by a detailed state
inent Of the terms OF the propos ed lease
MUST SUBMIT COMPLETE
PLAN TO CITY'S VOTERS
In the opinion OF the City Attorney
however. q SUBMISSION on these lines
would be unjust to the voters. II is
his belief that If submission of the
leasing question to the voters is de-
cided upon. it will have to be accom-
panied by u definite and ictailcl form
OF lease executed in blarI:. but carry
ing all the restrictions and provisions
that will he a part Of the lease when 1t
IS awarded. on this basis, ONLY, II Is
believed, will the citizens be able 10
vote inteiligcntlv upon the lease
In the city at large the proposal to
lease the works has found fair support
among many business men OF standing
large proportion Of the citizenship.
However Is outspokenly against the
lease. Most of the members of .he
present Council are publicly pledged to
oppose lease or alienation Of the Gas
Works. The question was one Of the
campaign issues of the last council
manic election.
There can be no submission Of the
question to the people without the
Councirs consent. This body, as vel:
as tho public Utilities Committee. will
first have to be convinced that n Lease
VIII he for the best interests of the
city before an election on this uues-
ton Will he ordered.