The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-10
lnllISIllIlVE D1llD
'EAv0Rs coal els Punt
PnoE OF on GOING sl<YwARD.
City Now Proceeded BY Years Con-
ts~os On Oh. hut Would Have -
! Pay COnsldsrably More Aaoshr
Yeas.

Commissioners H3rochborg ana no.
earthly are enthusiastic In their sf-
forts to bring the cost Of gas to tins
consumer TO much lower iigurs than
that now prevailing. Although the
price OF Sas today 10 ten cents fhoue-
ana loaa than IL Wns last year.
The Administrative Board yesterday
discussed report presented BY Sup
Ferlntsndent Knowles. 70 the eneot that
inc tro0tI0n Of . coal gAs plant BY tne
city would result IN the production
Of high-claas gAs ct Z price one hum
drsd pef csnt less than now prevails.
Win On gan
Superintendent Knowles made II
clear TO the hoard that with the high
price ct al and the ohanoes that It
Will sttil Soar. the best step to take
would b 10 revert to the manufacture
OF coal eas, The city now has an oil
contract, 70 run another year. which
protects Il from any early increase In
the prioe Of oil.
But q the expiration of that CON-
tract the city viii have to pay the ad-
vanoed prices now being paid BY
others.
According to Mr.. Knowles. with .
sufncisnt appropriation. the proposed
plant can be constructed In time to
prevent the renewal OF any large-sixed
oil contracts.
Gan Issue Bonds On 4aiants.
The CITY charter provides that the
city may issue bonds for the improve
ment Of the ga and water plants,
without infringing upon the bond limit
OF the city. The plants themselves
represent the collateral of any loan or
bond issue which may be made.
Acting under the provisions of this
section of the charter. Commissioners
Mrschbery yesterday moved that tho
Finance Committee be requested to
recommend an issue OF bonds to the
amount Of 3400. 600 for the erection of
coal gas plant on the site Of the
ried unanimously.
Following this Captain Mccarthy
sought TO have a resolution adopted.
providing for the Independent work.
Ing OF the gas. water and electric
plants. and the elimination of the
schools from the assistance OF the city
through its annual Income from rev
enaes. placing instead special tax
fer thar purpose upon the people.
captain Mccarthy was the only sup
porter of this proposition on a vote.
but when he eliminated the portion in
reference to the schools. the board
unanimously agreed to the proposed
plan.
Independent Plants.
The plan is TO have the Finance
committee devise ways by which the
municipal service plants--water. gas
and electricity-~may be conducted In
y. f.s4stieHtiisS. r VIII relieve the eit y
largely of appropriations for the i'm
frosements and extensions. that
money going to some other necessary
measure or Improvement
While IL was said by a high Official
IN City Hall yesterday there Is no oc-
,asion for this proposed action. as tho
city is still within $4,000. o00 of its
Fond issue limit. still the fact that the
h ity has such valuable collateral. will
eanduce to the floating without trouble
81 any sized bond necessary for the
Improvements and extensions needed
by tee city at this time.
This proposition Will 20 to the FL
nance Committee at Its next regular
meeting. MAY rs. In the meantime.
Beck and Hirsch befs
s.anaed by the board as a com mittee.
will confer with the City Attorney. rvr
he purpose of securing all data. and
framing up all possible plans for the
PRONUNCIATION of tho project.
Forbes Gets Property.
The board yesterday authorized the
Mayer 10 convey 10 w, s. Forbes the
property on y Street and on Thirty.
fourth. i7s fee, by 100, for $4,000,
This is the old lakewood School prop
81
Drx. @ G. Ground, Joseph Heyman
rua w. &. The mas were appointed as
intcrncs at City Home. to All va
.aneies
". i DOYLE, Waterman on Ninth
street Erid.e.- Who appeared before
the board yesterday to answer Ques-
lions concerning q report that he had
been intoxicated while ON duty, gave
i good explanation. and he WAS retain
I'D on the Job.
On the recommendation OF Super
fntendent Cohn. Of the Street Clean
inE Department. three men--W. O.
AscKim. ]. r. Wright and Oscar
Rhodes--were laid Off by the board,
and &. A. Mckinley. ii. T.. Atkinson
and r.. A. Cornett elected In their
s,J