The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-26
WANT CITY TO BUY
HEMR|C0 GAS PLANT
Northside Citizens Appear Before
Utilities Committee Asking I'm
mediate Relief,

Representatives. from the citizens OF
Highland Park, Barton Heights and
Ginter Park appeared before the COM
r,fstee on public buildings, properties
and utilities last night with a plea
that immediate relief be given them
by the city either purchasing the plant
of the Henrico Gas company or con-
Meeting UP the Nortside mains with
the municipal works TO protect the
consumers from n breakdown. They
did not criticiae the gas company,
wfaarh, they said. had done its best to
serve the people, and were not com
planning of the present service, with
the exception Of the northern portion
of Highland Park. but they did want
the city TO make some provision for
taking care of them in case the Hen
rico plant should close down and their
gas be shut off entirely.
On motion of Councilman John r.
Rose, Jr., the committee dcided that
after an estimate had been made by
, Superintendent of Public Utilities
Trafford on the cost of a thorough in
vestigation OF the feasibility OF pur-
chasing the Northside plant. a called
meeting would be held before the next
| regular meeting of the council to con-
slider the matter more fully. Mr.
| Tragord said that it would TAX two or
three engineers &, month or more to
make a complete survey of the prop
erty, at a cost of several thousand dol
lars.
A. II. Sands presented first to the
committee the case of the Henrico Gas
company. The company Is ready 10
sell out TO the city at a price of $3.50
| 600. which is the amount that has
been expended for property and equip
ment; said Mr.. Sands. He realized
that the corporation was in a position
! where it could be forced to the wall
by tho city laying mains parallel to
its own. but thought the citizens OF
Richmond would give them a fair
price for their investment
Mr.. Sands admitted that the service
was not giving perfect satisfaction in
Highland Park, but said that prepa-
| 900 for new pipes III tnSr section tf1iis
ditions. He pointed out that tse de-
velopment OF the Northside would be
/ tremendous in the next FIVE years To
take care of this growth in population
tn gas company was prepared to ex-
pend 100000. The stock holders did
feel. however. that there should be an
agreement with the city whereby they
would be reimbursed If the works
were subsequently taken over by the
city. The company now has 1850
| consumers. he said, which number is
steadily increasing.
City bonds, stated Mr.. Sands would
be acceptable to the company for the
purchase of its holdings. He pointed
out mat for what 1t would cost the
city to duplicate the mains, which
were built when labor and material
were much cheaper, it would make
money on the investment,
The first delegate from the North
side citizens to speak was DR.. Kosher
INV. Miller. He said that he did not
kppear in spirit antagonstic to the
gas company, but he wished to en-
phasize threa points, first, that High
land Park does not get sufficient pres
sure: second. in case of a breakdown
there would be no relief, as the houses
nearly all have gag stoves; third, II
there was a breakdown there would
not be enough reserve supply to take
care of the consumers for a few hours.
He was of the opinion that this stu
alton could be relieved for the time
being by the city running pipe from
the lower works connecting up with
Highland Park and one from. the
upper works connecting with Barton
Heights. 41.. -
II. Lee Roden, Of Ginter Park, rec
commended the purchase of the gas
works at once as purely business
proposition. He declared that the
city would earn per cent on every
bond that was expended, and that II
1t did not make the purchase now
1T might have to pay double for 1t
later.
w. c. Carpenter. of Highland Park,
made IA plea that the city imm ediately
connect up a pipe with the mains of
that section in order TO increase the
supply
When asked his opinion on the pro-
posed purchase. Mr.. Trafford stated
that the estimated expenditure that
would accrue from making the re-
ouired extensions would be ssO,75n,
using the present mains installed by
the Henrico company, and s155.S60
without using the mains The plant
itself would bes of no practical use
He said, the city could supply the
Ncrthside with gas, but it would be
taking over the troubles OF the Hem
rico company. and Immediate extern
sions would have to be made.
The nrfra 40 "a drink rourar fra.n, y