Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
an ELECrRIc DUEL.

WestlnghOuse Challenges Edlson for Rn kx'
pert Investigation Of the Merits Of Their
Respective syutems Of Electric Lighting.
To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
An open letter, ofwhich the following is 9
copy, was sent on Friday, December 20, 70
the Edison Electric Illuminating Company
by the q. Electric Light and P. Company
and o. s. I'll'g Company:
Office of the q. e. L. & P. Co.
To the President of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company, Of New York:
Dear Sir-You have for some time, BY
sending your officers and agents to our
customers with incorrect and misleading
statements, and spreading broadcast through
your agents and paid agitators grossly In
correct and even absolutely false informs
tion, been attempting to prejudice the pub
lie against the converter system OF incandes-
cent lighting as used by us in this city.
You have even gone so far as to attempt to
influence the Board of Health against us.
We are opposed to any warfare except that
which is open and straightforward, and
therefore to settle the question to the salts
faction of the insurance companies, the
users of incsndescent lamps and the be-
wildered public, we make the following
challenge:
First-We challenge your company to
full and careful investigation of the relative
economy and safety to the customer of the di-
rectcurrentth three wire system of incandescent
lighting as used by your company and the
Westinghouse converter as used by US. The
Investigation to be conducted by board OF
seven experts, three to be chosen by each
side and the seventh by the six so chosen;
one on each side to be familiar with insur
ance matters and the others practical
electricians. We expect 10 prove by such
an investigation that conductors carrying
high tension alternating currents have been
and are being safely and successfully
operated underground.
Second-That the Westinghouse converter
system as used by us insures absolute safety
to the user of incandescent lights, as the
converter or transformer placed on the
premises of each of our customers serves as
an impossible barrier against fire or acci-
dents and reduces the current of the street
mains to harmless current, usually of 30
volts, or one-iourth the intensity of the cur
rent introduced into the premises of the
consumer under your system.
Third-That the converter or transformer
accomplishing as it does a complete separa-
tioG of the currents in the street from the
wires on the premises of the consumer, is
absolutely essential for safe incandescent
lighting.
Fourth-That under our system, the guam
tity of current used by the consumer can be
measured by our meter with the greatest ac-
curacv and that the measurements on the
meter can be read by every customer.
We will be glad to submit to the COM
mittee other questions ac to the relative
merits of the two systems which you would
wish to have investigated. In order that
our position may not be misunderstood by
the public We have sent copies of this letter
to the daily papers for publication. We do
not fear publicity as we feel confident that
the converter system which has come into al
most universal use in Europe to the virtual
exclusion of the Edison direct current sys-
tenn will not suffer from fair investigation
by fair-minded men.
Very respectfully yours,
The UNITED ELECTRIC AND POWER
COMPANY.
THE UNITED STATES ILLUMINATING
COMPANY.