The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-18
American Electric and illuminate
ing Company.
The First Medal of Cincinnati Exposition
Awarded TO Their System-Removal OF
Of1ces-Other Interesting Facts.

(From N. Y. Electrical Review. Oct. IL, 1889
| Frequently during the last six months we
| have mentioned the prominent events that
have marked the progress of the American
Electric and Illuminating Co. Of Boston,
To the Electrical Review must be given
the credit Of first bringing this company and
4 its work before the readers Of electrical
newspapers in this country. In their early
struggle for a foothold among other electrical
1 enterprises of similar character their progress
was necessarily slow. Mastering the situ-
alton Mr.. Edward FL. Goff soon had his COM
| pany started on the road to success. Never,
under the most intense strain of competi-
tion or vilifying comment of jealous rivals,
losing sight of the public demand for
good electric light, and one that could be
run upon economical basis, it was no near
sighted policy that prompted Mr.. Goff to
select and test the system which he finally
| adopted and the one used by the company
| with such eminent success. With like care
| every movement was made and each stone
| of the structure from the foundation up,
| laid one upon another with attentive fore
thought, upon broad-gauge principles. 1t
would be an extreme oversight IL we di
not chronicle some of the events that mark
the progressive steps of this company from
its obscure position of year ago to the
commanding position it now occupies among
the great electrical enterprises OF New Eng
land today, and we take this occasion to
speak OF two events OF recent occurrence,
and at the same time give a brief mention
| OF others, for the information of our readers
| The most prominent Of the former took
| place in the Cincinnati Exposition at Cincin-
natl, Ohio, a few days since, when the
Thompson Houston Electric Light was
awarded the first prize for the best system
of arc lighting. From all other competitors
| the New England Company had taken the
| first medal after exhaustive tests had been
made by thoroughly capable and competent
| jury, and this fact confirms the Judgment Of
| Mr.. Golf when he chose the Thompson
| Houston system as basis upon which to
| build a reputation not alone for his own
company, but for the excellent system Of
| lighting which he has done so much to pro-
mote and extend.
| In our issue of June 14th, we gave an ex-
| tended account OF this system, which consists,
briefly stated, OF the ordinary sizesof dynamo
| machines for generating the current; simple
| and easily regulated lamp; and regulator
| that adjusts the current to the required guam
tity, automatically, at all times and under all
circumstances The inventors have displayed
unusual skill in the construction of all their
machinery. and have combined the elements
OF simplicity with good electrical laws, and pro-
duced system that more than justifies the
opinions we have expressed, and which have
been corroborated by the award mentioned
above. In the light Of these facts, Mr.. Goff
has shown commendable business ability in
taking system that combines all the best ele-
ments of electric lighting.
The second event we wish to chronicle is the
| removal of the American Electric and Illumi-
mating Company from their old headquarters
| at % School street to new and elegantly ap-
| pointed offices at 234 Devonshire street, on
| Winthrop square, Boston. The removal from
inadequate and contracted quarters was fore
stalled conclusion for some months past, and
its timely occurrence places the company,
whose business has outgrown the limited room
formerly occupied, in more favorable position
TO handle the daily increase of work made
necessary by the extension of their system into
new localities, and to readily supply the grow
ing demand for machinery and supplies to
their numerous plants already in operation.
In the basement OF the new building the
company have ample room for the storage of
materials used in constructing their stations
and running lines, etc., and also have reserved
a portion of the space for repairing and testing
the machinery and lamps. All this portion Of
the bnsiness has formerly been done at some
disadvantage, but the new arrangement
will bring this essential department under the
eyes of the managers, and secure, IL possible,
better results than were attained before.
| The offices on the first floor are conveniently
arranged and tastefully fitted up. To the
| right on entering is the main office, with its
most conspicuous occupant, Treasurer II. e.
Ervine, and a corps of able assistants In the
further end OF the room President GoH sits In
| neat office, calm and collected, but ever on
| the alert to open new campaign in some
| favorable locality, and by energetic efforts add
another victory to the many already won.
On the left are the offices OF the Merchants
Electric Light and Power Company. Here
President WIN. A. Hovey presides over the
destinies of one of the most successful local
electric light companies in the East The
latter company, it win be remembered, pur-
chased the contracts, lines, machinery, and
other property OF the American Electric and
illuminating Company's initial plant in Bos-
ton, and organized with capital OF $500 600 in
shares of $40 each. AT a meeting on October
3, the directors passed the following resolu-
lions:
Resolged, That in view of the large increase
in tue companys business, which practically
than anticipated when the company began
business this board reserves the right either
to Withdraw the stock from the market alto
gether, or to advance its price, after giving
due notice thereof.
1t was then voted to advance the price of
the treasury stock from $10to S12.50 per share
after Saturday, Oct Is, 1888, aud notice given
to that effect The price Of their stocks have
advanced in consequence OF this action and
are selling quite up TO that price now.
The history of this plant will Pive an idea of
the progress made Dy this unequaled system of
arc lightning, and will be of interest at this
time. When it first came into possession of
the American Electric and Illuminating Com
pany, about one year ago, there was scarcely
20 lamps in circuit. During the fall and win
ter this figure was run up TO 400, and when
the parent company sold its rights to the
Merchant Electric Light and Power Company,
it numbered $780, There are now orders for
over 150 more lights upon the books of the
latter who are now getting good rates for
furnishing $50 lights to illuminate the New
England Institute Exposition, and for lbs
lights at the Worlds Fair in Boston.
The increase of business as shown by the
records of the American Electric and ulumin-
ating Company are substantial and exceedingly
encouraging, and when fully carried out will
provide New Eogland with more and better
electric lights than any other section of the
United States.
The Hartford Company have been running
plant of 100 lights, and at a meeting Of the
local directors last week, passed resolutions
ordering $50 additional, making $50 lights fully
equipped.
The erection OF 2OO-light plant at worces-
ter, Mass, and the completion of a similar one
at Providence, r. l.; the addition of 30 lights
to the Lowell companies 150, and an order for
100, to be shipped at once, are gratifying
| events
The Wachusett Electric Light Co., Of FGsch-
| burg, Mass, have an exceedingly capable man
agement, and include among its directors the
! following prominent business men OF that
| place: o. Ii. Lawrence, President Wachusett
| National Bank; George r. Clifford, Cashier;
James L. Chapman, Treasurer Fitchburg Ma
chine Works; L. j. Brown, Director Wachu-
\ sett National Bank; Walter A. Fairbanks, Di-
| rector Wachusett National Bank.
| This company are forming a syndicate for
promoting the electric light. aud propose to
| erect central stations at Leominster, Gardner,
| Clinton. Marlboro, North Adams and Green
| field, Mass, and at Keene, N. H. To do this
WORK In the usual complete manner, 1t will re-
quirs over 800 lamps and equipments. The
Portland (Maine) Company will soon add l2o
lights to the 75 already in operation, and are
laying their plans to build plants IN nIteen
cities and towns In their State. The company
is entertaining proposition to Light the cities
| OF Biddeford and Saco, Maine, and Will doubt
less put in plant of 200 lights.
with this remarkable showing Of prosperity,
the opening of the season, when illumination
OF ali descriptions are the most lucrative. and
the euergetic efforts of President Gotf behind
an wa do not hesitate to pronounce for the
American Electric aud Illuminating Company
a continuance of its phenomenal success.