The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-03
A BIG THING FOR EDISON.
Startling Effects Of the Recent De-
cisi0n Of the Supreme Court.
n. y. EYening sIila iIan. 2ll.

n. Y. Evening snla tIaa. "a.
The decision OF the supreme court
of the United States in the celebrated
patent case OF the Bate Refrigerator
Company against Hammond, deter
mining the relations OF American and
foreign patents Is one of the most inn
portant decisions rendered IN many
years, and will be most startling In its
effects upon the business community
of this city.
In the electric lighting business
alone the decision affects millions OF
dollars.
OF all those who will be benefited
by the decision the Edison Electric
Light Company is unouestionahly the
greatest gamer. A large number OF
their patents OF five and six years ago
have been invalid under the former
construction OF the law on account OF
prior patents granted In foreign count
tries
BY the decision q number Of Edison 81
patents heretofore thought to be value
less are now OF fabulous worth. The
patent alone on what Is known as the
system cf electrical distribution BY
cent electric light plant in the coun-
try, as II Is impossible to run an in
candeseent plant on any other prin-
ciple.
This patent was regarded as void
from the beginning, because OF pre-
vious Italian patent. Now IL is good
for a monopoly of the incandescent
electric lighting business OF the whole
United States until liSa5. Not only
does IL cover the future but the past az
well, for the Edison company can col
lect whatever royalties they choos
from every other company that have
used this system during the past two
years.
The state capital building at Albany
hereafter cannot use the plant put
into the building by a rival company.
at an expense of millions of dollars of
the peoples money, unless the Edison
company say so. and the result is that
our solons must use gas-light, unless
the Edison company are willing To be
ienient with their rival.
There have been numerous r;inors
in Albany that there was an immense
amount of Doodle distributed among
the members OF the legislature for
votes granting the electric franchise
for lighting the capital to rivals of the
Edison company. Now this company
has ii IN It's power to bankrupt its
rivals or force them 10 confess TO the
sum used TO influence the state legis-
lation which at the TIME OF the fran
chisc was decided against the Edison
company. Here is state of things.
Ii Is said that the Equitable Life
Building hold mortgage of $40 COO
ON the plant of an electric lighting
company, and to secure the interest
on the money allowed the company 10
put their machines and plant through
out the binding. The Edisoas can
place the company in such a position
as to ma them practically bankrupt.
and IL Is An interesting question
among lawyers as To what the value of
the mortgage on the plant Is now
worth.
The New York Is1sea adyertises that
they ARE now prepared 10 arrange for
allotting and renting space in its new
building. IL is expected that the
premises viii be ready for occupancy
about March /, but possession by
| Nav IS guaranteed. A COM
plete electrie-light plant viii furnish
light. No extra chargis viii be made
I for heat or light in ordinary business
| hours.
The Tfssss people have already lea sets
a number of apartments guaranteeing
the foregoing. vet without an agree
aent with the Edison company they
/ cannot carry out their contract with
their tenants, because Mr. Pride. the
! representative OF rival company.
wired the building. their estimate for
the work being tFiise lover than that
/. of the Edison
The rev steamboat Connecticut Of
1 the Providence line, the Fields build
| ing. and many other buildings and in.
situations are in the same presiicA-
F0eus
A representative al the Edison com.
| panys when questioned on the subject
! this morning, said; We are really at
a loss 60 know just what 60 do under
the sudden and uuie,okesi-sor eondi.
ton 81 Affairs have no doubt. how
ever, that nssr company viii he fnerci-
tGl 90 eur rivals. Ii viii teach the
owners OF many large buildings in this
and other stiles, however, one bitter
lesson. l. e, the cheapest i nas alwavs
| the most inexpensive Ia the end -