Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-07
WANTS CITY TO PURCHASE
!. 1 H!!E|NR|C0 Gas EQUIPMENT
Garnett, Retiring Member of Cor
ssi poration Commission, Says
49,. 1t Is Duty.
SEIZURES PAY HIGHER PRICE
Gintcr Park. Barton Heights and
Highland Park Have Poorer Ser
ETfce and Pay Morc-Dickerman
rrTkinks Deal Advisable


lit Is the duty Of the, city OF Rich
Gas Works and operate the property
upon fair appraisal said Chairman
Ghristopher 3. Garnett. Of the state
ea,report given the public relating 10
thus sntility concern. He holds that iii
the Henrico County Gas Company he
toTcompensate ii for it's service TO the
North Side. which includes Ginter Park.
!. the citizens of these communities will
have to pay an undue tax for the use OF
gas as compared with other members
ef-the community served by the city
1t will be remembered that the State
Corporation cer,mission recently held
the Western Electric Company that it
dtd not have the. power 20 increase
rates were fixed by franchise contracts
AStdistinction was sought 10 be made
IN the case Of the Henrico County
ton Heights because in that franchise
no" maximum rate was set. But it
has been discovered that the bid of
i tes public utility contained a "aSi"u"
sit is also true that the franchise
contract applies only 20 some parts of
iSSthe room for unfair discrimination
against those citizens not protected by
the franchise. which condition is re-
sf areo - '"'au''A''s because ''
COMPANY NOT AS WE'LL
SITUATED TO GET OIL
Since the annexation of the town
OF Ginter Park by the city of Rich
mond the taxes on real and personal
property has been increased from SO
time the citizens of Ginter Park have
been required TO pay sllo for gas,
while other citizens Of Richmond have
paid 80 cents. AT the present time
the cost is 90 cents as against so cents,
8 difference of IL 1-2 per cent
Mr.. Dickerman. engineer for me St IL,
as fthe city. and Judge Garnett adds
operated with the same degree of GER
tainty, from the fact that the city is
in much better position to obtain IN
aeserious fuel shortage for the neY;
winter, the citizens Of Richmond should
not be subjeced TO the uncertainty OF
means Of cooking. During their recens
troubles one of the causes was asSisned
to poor quality OF fuei oh, w Mas used
because the company was unable to
get any other. While this plant was
taking a long chance, judging by the
various troubles of the past few weeks
10 let the matter rest
NnT tINPRoPER TO MAKE
STATEMENT on EVE OF LEAVING
Commissioner Garnctt said he thought
twas not improper for him TO make
this statement as he was ABOUT 10
have before linn for decision any OF
The questions relating to TINS suhJe ,,,
AIR. Dickerman,s report 10 inc com
Problems in illuminating gas ser
vice have been prominently before the
commission during the past year ear, 10.
plications for substantial increases IN
rates. but numerous complaints nave
MIG In many cases 20 absolute temper
aFy fcutting off of supply of gas 70
Whole communities. This particularly
applies TO the Henrico COUNT Gas
Company, in the northern part OF Rich-
p,ond. as well as several others in the
State.
vice given by the Hcnrico County Gas
Company. is complicated by its possible
future relations to the Richmond mu-
nicipal gas system.
1.-THE Henrico County Gas companys
sales and the extent of territory COW
cred. have apparently grown far more
the company was first installed. The
recent heavy demands for gas IN this
system to be- inadequate in certain i'm
pprtant particulars. 10 maintain reas-
opably good pressnres, and that the
holder capacity is utterly too small 10
furnish a reserve necessary TO continue
the supply during temporary Interrupt
tons in gas making.
LARGER STORAGE SPACE
NEEDED TO TIDE OVER TROUBLE
The gas making equipment in rated
capacity is fully adequate, and in gen.
cral. installed in duplicate. Neverthe-
less. shortages of fuel errors of judg-
ment on the part of the operatives at
the plant, and sudden breakdowns,
have compelled cessation OF gas MAX
Ing for periods so long that the, supply
and service suspended. The remedies
required would naturally he a larger
new and larger mains. probably in
length from two 10 three miles.
..4-Under the conditions prevailing dur
ingsthe war period. il is both financially
an undue burden and from the stand
point of conservation of national re-
sources. unpatriotic to require this
company 70 attempt o install this new
equipment Particularly is this fur
thers-intensited by the patent fact that
IBIS tbs company has no marked future.
The sensible and proDcr solution of
poos service conditions in the Henrico
plant is the taking over % this system
toto, or, failing in that, tho physical
connection of the two systems which
can be quite simultaneously done not
far from the West End holder. which
would insure a supply Of gas for the
citizens in the northern part Of Rich
mond whenever trouble at INC Heurico
Gas Works prevented the y, nufacture
and distribution from i, o' adequate
f sinn Xo OF gas as This ply a onnsc
to mains inadequate to meet the grow
Ing demands, but would be a great i'm
proVement OYER the present situation
and remove undoubtedly some occasion
winter.
AFFECTED TERRITORY ENTITLED
TO RATES OF CITY At LARGE
1t would seem as if the citizens Of
Eichm ond living in the Henrico County
Gas Companys territory we're entitled
to|this much assistance from the Rich
mond municipal plant, which. a. FAR
aEpossible. is presumed 70 he operated
Tor the benefit Of the community al
sFtIt IS evident that the gas.making
iyosks OF the Henrico County Gas Com.
pany, because Of their small size in
proportion 10 the city WORKS would be
ofy;no value TO the CITY other Than
could be cttained for the .Lutnlncui
whsn sold second band while Tie
eqm pment In the Henrico Colnpa;,v's
plant. as long as it maintains service
inSsuttable for that service and worm
ttssfu1l value s Installed nj opcratinp
equipment.
I'm my opinion, the city of Richmona
snonio not hesitate 10 pay q reasonable
( value for the gas works. as well Az nc