Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-27
ADD1oKs $40 VS. ms HAND.
A Rival sas Company 30 &c started
HfeFA.

financial circles over the announcement
that new gas company was already
organized and was about to establish
its plant here as competitor to the Will
ming Coal Gas Company. People opened
their eyes when they found that ]. Ed
ward Addicks was this prime mover In
the new concern and his sudden activity
In this new field has net the stockholders
of the ges company to thinking what
might be his object.
The new company has obtained control
OF the oxy-Hydiogen Oompany's charter
which WAS granted by the Delaware Leg
islature on April Sd, 1878. The incor-
porstors were Thomas r. Bayard, Victor
dupont, Jesse Sharp, William Dean,
George Gray and others and the compre-
hensiveneBs Of the charter and its priyi-
leges can be appreciated from the follow
ing extracts from the charter. Itempowers
them to purchase hold, lease, receive
licenses, sell and dispose of any patent
or patent rightA under any pstent or
patents for the manufacture Of oxygen
and hydrogen gas, or either of them and
their combination with other gaaes for
Illuminating, heating and all other
purpose and to issue its stock
at par IN payment for such
purchase, lease or license and to
grant licenses under and dispose OF said
patents or rights under said patents
within this State or elsewhere, and to
make, manufacture, use and sell such gas
for the purpose Of Illuminating, heating
or for any other purpose within the State
OF Delaware or elsewhere. And
that the said corporation is hereby en-
powered to lay pipes and conductors
with all appurtenanoes thereto and erect
the necessary posts and lights In any and
all the roads, streets, highways and
public roads in the State OF Delaware;
and do all things necessary for the pur-
pose of lighting the same, and all DWELL
| ings, stores, mines, tunnels and other
places. Provided that public travel shall
not be unreasonably and unnecessarily
DISTRACTED thereby. and the said corpora
ton shall put such streets, roads, high
ways and public grounds in AS good con.
dition az the same were before laying
said pipes and erecting said posts"
This charter has never been practically
utilized although an organization Of the
company was effected two yesrsago when
officers were elected. John G.. Baker
and others became interested in the COM
psny although Mr.. Baker was not the
sole owner of the charter. AddicEs has
visited Wilmington several times recently
and tried to buy the charter. Mr.. Baker,
however, offered ID first 30 the Whining
ton Goal Gas Company for $4,000, so II
Is alleged, but the directors Of that COM
pany refused 10 buy at those figures.
Mr.. Addicks then bought a controlling
interest at the figures already mentioned
and reorganization of the company was
effected. Mr.. Baker retained some
interest and was elected president, and
W. II. Miller of Boston was made score
tary and treasurer. The company, 1t Ia
stated, has all of Its capital stock paid
up and is ready to begin business al
once. Mr.. Addioks has already an
nounoed that he would have 1000 mer
at work on the streets of Wilmington by
midsummer, laying gas mains, and thai
$500, 900 would be Invested In plan
here which would be we'll under way BY
fall. II is even stated that the oompan,
is now looking for suitable site or
which to build.
John G. Baker was seen bv GlzEIIl
reporter yesterday morning and asket
az to the truth OF tue mRtler. de wa
somewhat nettled at the public announce
ment of the new concern and said tina
sit Is all premature" He confirmed tn
statement that q new gas company was 7
be started here In the near future but dc
MED some of the details Of the affair 0
! announced. He said that the origins
: company was chartered mainly for tn
purpose Of furnishing fuel gas for hesf
, ing and cooking purposes and that th
new company intended to engage in II
manufacture"
"Do I understand you to mean this
: the new company would not compel
with the present company In furnishin
|. Illuminating gas ?" asked the reporter.
Q ave have mot decided that point,
7 replied MIR. Baker. "We may decide
i make illuminating gas, too"
The stockholders Of the Wilmtngto
L Goal Gas Company regard the advent I
8 a rival concern IN different lights. IT
It larger stockhold pooh-pooh the idea thu
Q there is any serious intention Of startin
n another gas works here to compete #
n the local patronage which has alread
n been considerably cut into by the rivall
of the Wilmington City Electric Cor
= pany. They think that Mr.. Addict
), proposed gas works Is only scheme
. s'bear" the Wilmington Goal Gas Cor
II psny's stock and when frightened al
d timid stockholders begin to unload the
shares on the market in sufficient guam
ties to force the prices of the stock dow
Mr.. Addicks and the capital behind hi
will step In and purchase the stock Will
will then be "bulled" to its former figure
Failing in this, some profess to belle
that the new company will mako Sta
- towards erecting plant with view
q effecting a consolidation with the o
y company and thus secure q slice OF I
, pie. This WAS done In Reading SOL
" years ago when a new company "
:. started and the old company became
~ frightened that it consolidated with t
new concern, with the result that
y latter finally swallowed the old compa
W as soon as It obtained foothold and nj
controls the gas supply of the Der
county capital.
Tboae who are informed on the subje
- express the opinion that the Standa
~ Oil Company is back of J. Edward a
. dicks. The stories Of the latter's fa
y ulous wealth are now known to be mytl
40 although it is fact that Mr.. Addicks b
y, made considerable money in recent yes
=, by his shrewd Investments. But t
70 backbone of all the big speculatio
70 which Addieks has engineered CON
~ from some other source, which is thong
% to be the Standard Oil Company. III
~ company, it is evident, has cast longi
u eyes for number of years on the lot
!, gas company. They tried to obtain
=: charter from the Legislature two ye'
~ y, ago, and even made more determiu
a. effort at a previous Legislature. A
dicks secured the passage OF
~ charter, but 1t was 30 amend
Q. and ont that IL is said his wings are pr
" tically clipped. He will not use
:, charter which he obtained last winter,
OF organizing the new concern but has 60
=. TO the extra expense of buying the o.
or n.z-o..nx, oha,tar xuhioh nranta Y,ri