Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-21
SPECIAL NOTICES.
SYSTEM CHALLENGED.

K~EDIsoNs SYSTEM CHALLENGED.
THE EDISON SYSTEM OF INCANpEscENr
ELECTRIC LIGHTING CHALhENoED AS
DANGEROUS BY THE UNITED ELECTRIC
LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND THE
UNITED STATES ILLUMINATING COM.
PANY. WHO OFFER, IN AN OPEN LETTER,
TO SUBMIT TO ARBITRAToRs FOR IN.
vEsTIGATION THEIR CLAIMS AS TO THE
GREATER ECONOMY AND SAFETY TO THE
CONSUMER OF THE WESTINGHOUSE con-
vERTER SYSTEM AS USED IN THIS CITY
BY THEM
An letter. Of which the following is copy, was
sent on Friday December 20. to the Edison Electric
| Illuminating Company by the United Electric Light
and Power Company and the United States nlumin.
atins Company:
OFFICE OF THE UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT AND
POWER COMPANY, 80 LIBERTY ST.,
NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 1889.
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 agents and paid sgitators grossly
rect and absolutely false information been at
tempting to prejudice public against the converter
system of ncandescent lighting as used by us in this
city, You have even gone so far as to attempt to in
nuence the Board of Health against us. We are op-
straightforward and therefore to settle the question
to the satisfaction of the insurance companies the
of incandescent lights and the bewdered public
we make the following challenge:
We challenge your company to q full and careful
investigation of the relative economy and safety to
of incandescent lighting used by your company and
the Westinghouse converter system used by US; the
investigate to be conducted by board Of seven ex.
per three to chosen by each side and the seventh
by the six chosen; on each side to be familiar
with insurance matters and the others practical cleo
tricans.
We expect to prove by such an investigations:
1st. Tha. conductors carrying high-tension alter
mating currents have been can be safely and sue
cessfully operated under ground
2d. That the Westinghouse converter system, as
used by insures absolute safety the user Of in
candescent lights. as the converter or transformer
placed the of each of customers serves
as impassable barrier against fire or accidents and
reduces the current of the mains to harmless
current usually Of so VOLTS or the nten
sy of the introduced into the premises Of the
consumer under your system.
Sd. That the or tran sformer accomplish
ing does complete separation of the currents in
the from the wires on the premises of the con-
sumer. is absolutely essential for safe ncandescent
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.
prove:
1st That the Edison underground system is danger
GUS in the extreme because of leakage which may
at any time fire 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
sd. That your company has no meter which is re-
liable and that result its bills rendered to its Gus
toners are largely matter of guesswork.
We will be glad to submit to the committee any
other questions the relative of the two sys
TENS which you would wish 70 have investigated
In order that position may not be misunderstood
by the public have sent copies Of this letter to the
daily papers for publication We do not fear publicity
feel confident that the converter SYSTEM which
has come into almost universal in Europe. to the
virtual exclusion Of the Edison directcurrent SYSTEM
will suffer from fair investg by fair minded
men Very respectfully yours.
THE UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT POWER CO.,
THE UNITED STATES ILLUMINATING CO.
03SREPoRT OF THE CONDITION
ARLINGTON FIRE Insurance COMPANY
For the District of Columbia. at tie Close Business
December 81, 1889.
Ofhce-No 1905 Penn ave-, north of U. 8. Treasury
RESOURCES.
loans...... S1T945g 40
i>llls recclNaDie. lOSl0 40
F1rnitur,. and ti1tur;as
Accrued interest and rents.............. 4,2S6 63
Premiums due aId III course collection. 90 .,l
Cash IN bank and company's office. 5,059 60
s2s5,a5s 25
LIABILITIES.
Capital 900 90