Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-13
BOARD MUST WAIT FOR
PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE.
Cannot Consider Sale OF Electricity
Until Council Finance Commit
tee Acts on Measure.
WILL BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT
May Ask Immediate Action and Call
Special Meeting of Council to
Carry Out Request of Fuel Adj
miniStration.

No definite action on the request OF
the Uaited States Fuel Administration
that ntercommunication be established
at the earliest possible moment be-
tween the municipal electric plant and
the powerhousc of the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company can he taken
by the Administrative Board until tho
ordinance permitting the city to buy
and sell electricity is passed by the
City Council. The request OF the fuel
administration will probably he taken
up by the board at it's meeting this
morning. but will necessarily have TO
be tabled until the required legislation
is enacted.
The ordinance permitting the pur-
chase and sale of electricity by the
city is now pending before the Coun-
Gil Committee on Finance, TO which
body IL was referred by the Common
Council last Monday night. The meas
ure has already been approved by the
Committee on Public Buildings. Prop
critics and Utilities. Because of the
need for immediate action. the Finance
Committee will probably be asked to
make n special order of the matter
The regular meeting of the commit
tee Will be held tonight ut o'clock
and the ordinance could be reported to
the Board OF Aldermen tomorrow
night. If approved by the upper
branch. it was believed last night that
special meeting OF the Common
Council could be called for one night
message, and the decks cleared for
immediate action.
BOARD TO DECIDE TO WHOM
SURPLUS POWER WILL BE SOLD
After the passage of the ordinance
the Administrative Board would de-
termine whether the city desired TO sell
its surplus current, and whether It
would sell TO the Virginia Railway and
Power Company or TO some other con-
sumner. About two years ago the trac-
ton company offered TO purchase cleo
tricity from the city, but the offer was
refused by the board. However. the
request of the Fuel Administration is
taken in certain quarters to be the
initial step towards the conservation of
, coal. and If such action is necessary,
the administration will direct that the
surplus current be sold 10 the CONNER
Cial company.
There exists at the municipal plant
from time TO time surplus water power
which under present conditions goes
TO waste. BY connecting the two Sys-
TENS all surplus electrical energy gen
Grated by the water power section of
the city plant would be thrown into
mains Of the Virginia Railway and
Power Company and would thereby en-
able a corresponding deduction in fuel
consumption at the steam plant of the
traction company. Through this ar
rangement 1t is estimated that a saw
ing of from 5,00o to 5000 tons of coal
per year would be Effected
The fuel administration also points
out that through this interconnection
there would be added TO the power sup
ply of Richmond a badly needed sur
plus. Another factor to be cons dered
is that the chief war industry centers
OF the country. such as New Jersey.
Delaware and Pennsylvania. are all
NJ Nd I
here would be OF material assistance
70 other sections.
RICHMOND WOULD SET
PRECEDENT FOR SOUTH
In requesting the city of Richmond
and the Virginia Railway and Power
| Company 10 concur without question
and Immediately to an arrangement OF
this character" said Charles f. Stuart.
chief Of the power and light division of
the fuel administration. I'VE also have
N mind that an extremely valuable
precedent will be established for the
many similar cases which exist
throughout this section Of the coun-
try. and the efforts of the fuel admin
| istration in these communities will be
| both minimizcd and expedited. Rich
| mond is the first city in the South
which has been approached"
| The accommodation between
the two plants would exist only for
d!vidualitr of the power houses would
! In no way he disturbed The fuel adj
m:nistration suCgests that board Of
arbitration he formed to adopt "A fair
| rate At which the surplus electricity
! VIII be sold TO the traction company
and offers 10 place priority orders for
all equipment needed TO effect the con-
ncction.
| In certain quarters I suggestion
has been favorably received The sale
Of electricity by the city has been wide
| " discussed since the matter was
| brought up recently by the Admins
! trative Board because Of the $4,000
estimated revenue which would be re-
! ceived. However, there was some doubt
as to whom the city would sell its
/ current. and 10 whether n distribution
system would not be necessary. Many
! officials believe that the fuel authori-
! ties hay" practically solved the prob
. lem.
WILL AWARD CONTRACT
FOR RIG NEW GAS MAIN