Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-20
SPECIAL NOTICES.

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SPECIAL NOTICES.
E~EDIsoNs SYSTEM CHALLENGER.
THE EDISON SYSTEM OF INcANpEscENr
ELECTRIC LIGHTING CHALLENGED AS
DANGEROUS BY THE UNITED ELECTRIC
LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND THE
UNITED STATES ILLUMINATING CON-
PANY. WHO OFFER. IN AN OPEN LETTER
TO SUBMIT TO ARBITRAToBs FOR IN
vEsTIGATIoN THEIR CLAIMS AS TO THE
GREATER ECONOMY AND SAFETY TO THE
CONSUMER OF THE WESTINGHOUSE CON-
vRRTER SYSTEM AS USED IN THIS CITY
BY THEM.
An open letter. Of which the following is COPY
sent Friday. December 90. to the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company by the United Electric Lish.
| and Power Company and the United States 1uumin-
atne Company:
OFFICE OF THE UNITED ELECTRIC LreHr AND
PowER COMPANY, SO LLBERrY ST.,
NKw YORK, Dec. 20, 1889.
TO the President of the Edison Electric illuminating
Company Of NeW York:
DEAR SIN: You have for some time by sending your
officers and agents our customers with incorrect
and misleadins statements and spreading broadcast
through your agents and paid astators grossly inco
rect and even absolutely false information been a.
system Of incandescent lighting as used by rs in this
city. You have gone far to attempt to in
nuence the Board of Health against us. We are op-
posed to warfare except that which il open and
straightforward and therefore to settle the question
to the satisfaction Of the insurance companies, the
users Of incandsscent lights and the bswldered public
we make the following challenge:
We challenge your company 70 . full and careful
investigation Of the relative economy and safety to
the customer Of the direct current three.wre system
Of incandescent lighting used By your company and
tho Westinghouse converter system used by US; the
investie to be conducted by board Of seven
perts three to chosen by each side and the seventh
by the six chosen one on each side to be familiar
with insurance matters and the others practical cleo
triciana
We expect to prove by such an Investigation.
LIST. That conductors carrying high tension alter
mating currents have been and can be saely and sue
cessfully operated under ground
I'd. That the Westinghouse converter system, %
used by u.s. insures absolute safety to the user of in
csndescent lights. as the converter or transformer
placed the of each of our customers serves
impossible barrier against IRE or accidents and
reduces the current of the street mains to harmless
current usually of SO volts or onefourth the inten
sty Of the introduced into the premises of the
consumer under your system.
Sd. That the converter or transformer accomplish
ing does complete separation of the currents in
the street from the wires the premises OF the con-
sumer. il absolutely essential for safe incandescent
lighting.
4th That under our system the quantity Of current
used by the consumer can be measured by our meter
with the greatest accuracy and that the
on the meter can be read by every customer.
With regard to the Edison system we expect to
prove:
LIST. That the Edison underground system is danger
ous in the extreme because Of its leakage which may
at any time cause fire on the premises of the con-
sumer. as shown by the large number of fires which
have been caused by that system In this and other
cities
I'd. That your business can only be rendered safe
and the great fire risk incident to its use removed by
the adoption Of the converter transformer system
I'd. That your company has NO meter which is re-
toners are largely matter Of guesswork.
We will be glad to submit to the committee any
other questions to the relative merits of the sys
TENS which you would wish to have investigated.
In order that position may not be misunderstood
by the public have sent copies Of thsetter to the
daily for publication We do not fear publicity
feel confident that the converter system. which
has into almost universal use in Europe to the
virtual exclusion Of the Edison drsctcurrsnt system
will not suffer from fair investigation by minded
men. Very respectfully yours.
THE UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT POWER CO.,
THE UNITED STATES ILLUMINATING 90.
RSREPoRT OF THE CONDITION
ARLINGTON FIRE INsuRANCE COMPANY
For the District Of Columbia the Close Business
December 81, 1889.
omce-No. 1905 Penn. ave., north Of q. Treasury.