The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-01
QUESTION u LEASE
UP TUESDAY NIGHT
REPORT OF sUBCOMMIrTEE WILL
BE RECEIVED AT FULL
=. MEETING.
COUNClLMEN SlLEN T
KEEP ON SAYING NOTHING As TO
THEIR STAND ON PROPOSAL
TO LEASE CITY GAS
WORKS.

AT the meeting OF the Council Com
mittee on Utilities tomorrow night.
the question OF lease Of the gas
works will be brought up, through a
report from "a subcommittee.
The subcommittee last week heard
President Homer. of the Southern
Gas and Electric Corporation. On the
proposal of that company to lease
the gas works for u period Of thirty
years. at an annual rental of 500. 900.
He set forth very clearly his case. and
after having heard him. the subcom
mittee. on motion of Mr.. Nielsen, de-
cided that il would be proper for the
whole committee to consider the mat
ter, In committee of the whole. in
order, mainly. to minimize time in
discussion.
1t was pointed out by Mr.. Nielsen
that what discussion, or argument. or
debate might be had before the sub
committee would have to be gone
over again at the meeting OF the gem
eral committee. because Of the great
importance of the question Mr.. Ho-
mer asked permission to address the
full committee at the proper time.
This request was granted.
The company, besides offering to
pay a rental OF 100000 a year. de-
clares that II will spend at least half
a million dollars in improvements
within the first three years OF the
cents to so to the home consumer,
with e. gradual decrease to 10 cents a
thousand feet, within the first ten
years. the price not to go above that
during the life of the lease. In it's
statement to the people and the Coun-
Gil the company says:
The Company's Offer.
ITO encourage manufacturer to
locate in the city OF Richmond. we
will agree, within pne year to pro-
vide a sliding scale por large consum-
ers Of gas. This scale will provide a
reduction from so cents a thousand
cubic feet % 70 cents a thousand Gu
bic feet. according to the quantity OF
gas used by manufacturers.
The rate to the city. for all gas
used by 1t. shall be 75 cents a thou
san1 cubic feet, from the time OF the
acceptance of the lease.
We are prepared to provide gas
mains and service pipes that will give
you. the citizens, better lighting and
better cooking results.
We are further prepared to give a
private operation OF your municipal
gas plant that will eompale more
than favorablv with that OF any other
NsAs IA AAr tpuhitS' JaS iAbHt1nS rs
recognized as being superior to any
other lighting for reading. sewing or
office work, It's reliability and supe-
riority for cooking fs recognized in
every city where good service is rem
dered."
Arc Noncommittal.
Members Of the Council will not
commit themselves az to their stand
CONCERNING the sale or lease OF the
gas works. They say they prefer to
keep their ccunse! to themselves until
they have heard all sides Of the uues-
ton
It ~ Understood that at the meet
ing G: the committee tomorrow night
date will ne fixed at which the pub
lie generally. and all interested PER
sons. will be invited to appear and
express themselves on the subject
The company has secured a large
number Of expressions from citizens
who favor the placing of the plan be-
fore the people.
The question came up In the City
Council two years ago, but did not
reach the floor for discussion. It was
said at that time that there was not
vote In the Council favorable TO
the sale or lease OF the gas works.
A similar question was brought up
in Council ten years ago. commit
tee from thai body took tour of In
spection. Some members Of that
committee favored the sale OF the
works, while others did not. The
pressure against the sale was too
strong. and the matter died aborntrr