Evening star., 1947-07-02
|CourtAidSought
ByA|exandria in
vepco Smoke
Warrant to Be Asked
Against Firm in Failure
To Abute Nuisance

Alexandria will institute court ac-
ton against the Virginia Electric &
Power Co. for alleged smoke ordi-
nance violations, it was announced
at a meeting of the City Council
last night.
City Attorney Joseph Pancoast
told the council that unless there
was objection he planned to swear
out a warrant against the utility for
not abating smoke nuisance at its
South Lee street generating plant.
There was no objection.
City Manager Carl Budwesky
joined Mr.. Pancoast in assailing the
utility for alleged repeated failure to
install smoke treatment equipment
at the plant. Mr.. Budwesky said he
had been informed equipment was
to be shipped today but that the
company several times previously
had assured the city that the alleged
condition would be remedied.
Materials Hold Up Delivery.
R. c. Hopkins of the company said
today mechanical precipitators cost
ing $85, 900 were ordered last fall for
the five high-pressure boilers in the
plant. Ever since it was built, he
said, the plant has been equipped
with electrolytic precipitators which
DO not remove the larger particles
passing out the smokestackS.
Mr.. Hopkins said the manu-
facturer of the new precipitators
had been unable to obtain some
necessary materials and that Vepco
had obtained some of this material
for the manufacturer. The first
unit is expected to reach Alex
andrla in few days.
The council failed to take further
action last night on its plan to
purchase the Alexandria Water Co.
Additional studies of the cost,
methods of financing and earning
power Of the system under city
control are to be made.
Opposes Fairfax Service.
Mr.. Budwesky, however, expressed
opposition to plans of the company
to extend service to unincorporated
areas in Fairfax County.
Il don't think it is in the in
terest of Alexandria to let Fairfax
County use our facilities" he said.
Councilman Charles A. Nash said
he was not completely sold" on the
idea of city operation of the private
utility. Councilman Paul Delaney,
however, contended that the coun-
ellis discussions had accomplished
some Improvement by apparently
prompting the company to an
nounce $1,000,000 expansion pro-
gram.
Arlington System Cited.
Mr.. Budwesky said the company
has for years failed to provide ade-
quate fire-fighting facilities and
that under private ownership, the
firm must pay Federal and State
taxes which are reflected in con-
sumner rates. Under public owner
ship, Mr.. Budwesky contended,
there would be no taxes to pass on
to the consumer. He cited the pub
licly owned distribution system Of
Arlington County where, he said,
rates are lower.
On motion of Councilman John
Tulloch, the council directed its
police and fire chiefs to wear uni
forms for at least eight hours each
working day beginning September l.
R. Samuel Luckett obtained ap-
proval of a resolution authorizing
the city's historic weights and meas
ures standards, which were sent
from England in Colonial days, to
be displayed in the George WASH
ington National Masonic Memorial.
The council also approved res
olution by Mr. Delaney to advertise
the vacancy in the Office of inspec-
tor of weights and measures. An
amendment appointing Gordon
Sanders to the post, temporarily,
was approved.