The morning news., 1889-04-23
AN ELECTRIC LIGHT MUDDLR
The Oglethorpe Company to Fight

The Oglethorpe Company to Fight
the ThOmson-Eouston Company.
As a doubt seemed TO inger in the minds
of some of the aldermen yesterday, that
the Thomson-Houston project to estab-
lish an electric light plant here
has teen swallowed up by the Brush
company, it may be proper to say that such
is q fact, and that a mu bigger fight is
likely TO follow the swallowing process,
than the wrangle in the city council yester
lay. as big legal fight appears to be i'm
minent
In February VIM. A. Robinson. repre-
senting the Thomson Houston system of
electric lighting, visited Savannah and
enlisted some of the business men OF the
CITY to form a company for the establish
ment of a Thomson Houston electric light
plant The proposition was received in
good faith under the promise that il the
citizens would take SIS, 900 capital stock of
the $50, 900 for which a company was TO be
capitalized, the Thomson Houston Company
would locate the plant here. Under this
arrangement on Feb. %, p. L. Peacock,
Lawrence Mcneil, c. s. Ellis, j. r. Young,
T. H. Williams, II. c. Houston and j. P.
Williams of this city, with VIM. A. Rob
inson and the Thomson Houston electric
company Of Connecticut, petitioned the
superior court for the Incorporation Of the
"Oglethorpe Electric Company" and in
due course of time the charter was granted.
Meantime Mr.. Robinson left the city,
under promise to return, at which time the
company was to be organized and new
electric light plant was to be established.
Instead of coming back, Mr.. Robinsoa's
co-incorporatorsh heard no more of him, but
Mr.. Potter, southern agent Of the
company, came and had confer
ence with the Brush company; and
ba
pany had secured the sole right for the city
for the Houston-Thomsou system and on
the other hand in the exchange for some Of
the Houston-Thomson esectric apparatus
the Thomson-Houston electric company it
is is said was some $50, 900 or $4,000 in
pocket. The company paid the bills made
by Robinson, such as lawyers fee for draw
ing up the petition for charter for it's pub
hcatlon and the court costs, and Mr.. Potter
passed out as silently as Mr.. Robinson.
The real music is to come The Savan-
nah members of the Oglethorpe Electric
Company have the charter, and it is said
they propose to organize the company just as
II Robinson and the Connecticut company
were not off, and see if they cannot compel
the Thomson-Houston people to keep their
promises, or they will know the reason why.
They say they don't propose to be used as a
cats paw to pull chestnuus out of the fire
for the Thomson-Hous.on company.
AS matters now stand the savannah IN
corporators look upon the action Of the
Thomson Houston company as a shrewd
dodge to bring the Brush company to a
trade, but they claim that in that case it
took three to make a bargain, and having
acted in good faith in joining with the
Housten-T Thomson company to get a char
ter for the Oglethorpe Electric Company,
they propose to hold the latter to the
strict letter of the pledges made
yhaz1 Infn in hn
Looking to this end a meeting of
the incorporators will be held at an early
date, and an organization will be effected.
OF the nine incorporators seven of them
are citizens of Savannah who meant busi-
ness when they applied for the charter, and
1t looks as if they mean business now. They
have the charter and propose to make the
most Of it. It was said Yesterday by one
of the incorpOrators that the Thomson
Houston company Lad no right TO dispose
Of the exclusive right Of their system, or
any part Of it, to the Brush company.