National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-26
rative practice in New York city of twenty years
ut the call Of his country Oh d single
Death and Burial.

From lfOntU.
Not quite two years ago, for il was in the merry
May of 1ss2-and q very merry month II was for
some people--a great company was brought out.
Its capital was 81 100000, of which 100000 was
first issued: the neat little sum of G25o,0OO being
payable on the allotment of shares. The COM
pany was started for certain not unambtious pur-
poses II proposed to supply, end TO enable others
to supply, the great and rapidly increasing de.
mand for a certain magnificent invention, having
secured the license for its exclusive use for the
whole metropolis, and suburbs comprised within
the extensive and densely populated area known
area contained, besides the cities OF London and
Westminster, and the river Thames, 1854 important
S whs6 nmd SiSts AL S1y ss1 lSr b P ~
Georges, Hanover Square gently touched the
Crystal Palace and the Victoria docks, and ended
at remote Crouch End. One of the principal
sources OF profit was to be the granting Of sub.
licenses for the use Of the invention which, hav-
ing the desirable elements of being sure, brilliant
and healthful. would, 1t might safely be assumed,
be In demand. not only in the private houses and
churches, the hotels, and the workshops, but also
In the picture galleries and theaiers the railway
stations, docks, and Offices, and also the many
thousand miles of roads and streets of the vast
metropolis, with its population of upward OF
100000 souls. by its aid too manufactures were
then, and were to be subsequently, kept vt work
all night Central depots were to DO established
for the purpose of supplying all classes of custom
ers, i having been proved that there was hardly
vention could be applied.
The grand invention, the monopoly of which
the company had secured. as set forth above was
account of its brilliant qualities, but also because
OF It's great economy. such was its power that
from one center IL could be used over a vast dis
trct extending in circuits of many miles. II had
further been proved by official statistics that its
substitution for the articles in use would effect
saving TO the government OF more than 42l6 per
cent of the existing expenditure. Furthermore,
a perfect system was approaching completion
which would greatly enhance the value OF the
invention, whose success was already proved by
the extensive business dOno in IL In Great Britain,
the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. The
public appreciation Of the invention was also
proved by the extraordinary prices paid for
chance to share in the profits made
by those using II. The profits of the new company
were to be derved-frst, from granting licenses,
for the use of this invention; second, by contract.
ing for its supply 10 the streets, theaters railway
stations, and private houses as aforesaid; third,
from the sale and hire ofall anything connected
with it; fourth, by supplying the whole metropolis
with motive power-probably the largest and most
profitable portion OF the business. SO highly did
that they had agreed to pay for IL $4,000, and !,
further little trte of 100000 to the public spirited
persons who acted as go.betweens in the matter.
We have not been quoting, No some might
imagine. from the programme Of Drury Lane
pantomime, but from sober business prospectus.
But even as in a Drury Lane pantomime there is
bowels of Erebus; So too, dark to follow light,
In the brief existence OF this promising under.
taking. The prospectus appeared, as we have,
said in the merry month of May two years ago. In
the Advertisement columns of the daily papers OF
the present March may be seen an announcement
that the wonderful invention, the steam and gas
engines, several miles of cables, instruments,
overhead poles, chairs, and stores, 'all available
for immediate use ut reduction of cost, are for
sale on application to the iquidators of the con
Germ; and the ulluring promises Of the prospectus
have gone like beautiful dream" from the en-
raptured gaze of the once elated but now un-
deceived and despairing shareholders. with the
N n n n
mains OF the splendid vision Is the liability to pay
G2000 900 more.
question is the Metropolitan Brush Electric Light
company, and the sufferers the shareholders in IL.
We decline, however, to fix the responsibility for
The directors are primarily to be held liable in
this respect. There was, too, II we are not mis-
taken, good deal of engineering" If we may SO
term it, in starting the concern; but decline to
award the honor of having been chief engineer
TO any one In particular All we have to note is
that the business has come to utter and unmiti-
gated grief. and that we suppose there is some re-
sponsibility attaching to somebody somewhere
for something in connection with its downfall.
We have taken the collapse of the metropolitan
as the death and burial of electric Lighting in the
form 1t has TO this point assumed. Otherwise, 1t
Is a matter which we can afford to pass by. When
the thing came out we denounced 1t as tho "big
brother OF that venomous family to which the
parent Brush gave birth. When 1t was in 1t:
death throes we advised the sufferers through IL
Ths passing bell of Of lights has has now beer
tolling some time, and the few rem
nants of the breed linger in extremity. The
great Brush is kept together by the loyal but sim.
Pile faith of a few open-hearted gentlemen who
made money in II, and, we assume, think 1t NEAR
to leave it. The Hammond and the Swan compa
mics are occasionally quoted, but seldom heard Of
while the quotations portend imminent dissolu
ton. Your Psens, Maxims, and Gulchers are
with the Metropolitan and its younger brothers
already decently. if scarcely reverently laid under
the sod. News comes from Paris that La Force {
IA Lumiere, the Faure company, tostered by Phil
lipart, which few months since published u bal
ance sheet showing assets In millions, has beer
deereed bankrupt. Another item of news from
South America states that the attempt to Light Ri
de Janeiro by electricity during which the share
holders in the gas company have beef
kept in suspense) has proved an utter fail
ure. In short, the boosted placement of gas ant
triumph of electricity has not come off. We d.
not say--we should be sorry TO say-that the latte
light has not future We do not know that if
company were started in a modest way (say with
capital Of 10000 designing to work the best OBJ
tainable electric light on low royalty, will
liberty to change for any better light that nigh
be produced, and oticered by honest men of bust
ness) IL should not have our good word. But tn
days Of the companies started with capitals @
hundreds Of thousands of pounds, and aims TO ef
face gas and enrich their shareholders, are mum
bered. There is nothing left for these concerns bu
| TO die and be buried, aud remembering the atti
tude we have always taken, II is with some gratif
cation that we give them parting kick.