Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-24
SPECIAL NOTICES.

SPECIAL NOTICES.
~ED1soN's SYSTEM CHALLENGED.
THE EDISON SYSTEM OF 1NcANpEscENT
ELECTRIC LIGHTING CHALLENGED 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 ARBITBAToRs 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 open letter. of which the following is . COPY was
sent on Friday December 90 to the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company by the United Electric Light
ating 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
off
and misleading statements and spreading broadcast
through your agents and paid agtaors grossly incor
rect and absolutely false information been at
tempting to prejudice the public against the converter
system of incandescent lighting used by this
city, You have gone SO far as to attempt to in
fuence the Board of Health against u.s. We op-
posed to warfare except that which is open and
Straightforward and therefore to settle the question
to the satisfaction of the insurance companies the
of incandescent lights and the bewidered public
we make the following challenge:
We challenge your company to q full and careful
investigation of the relative economy and safety to
the customer the direct current three-wre system
of incandescent lighting used by your company and
the Westinghouse converter system used by us; the
investig conducted by board Of seven ex-
per three to be chosen by each side and the seventh
by the six chosen: each side to be familiar
with insurance and the others practical elec
tricians
We expect to prove by such investigation:
1st That conductors carrying high-tension alter
cessfully operated under ground.
I'd. That the Westinghouse converter system, as
used by us, nsures absolute safety to the user Of
candescent lights. the converter or transformer
placed the premises each our customers serves
mpassable barrier against fire or accidents and
reduces the current of the street mains harmless
current usually of so volts onefourth the inten-
sy of the introduced into the premises of
consumer under your system.
ing it does complete separation of the currents in
the street from the wires the premises of the con-
sumer is 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 that the
on the meter can be read by every customer.
With regard to the Edison system We expect to
prove:
1st. That the Edison underground system danger
Gus in the extreme because Of its leakage which may
at any time a 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 only be rendered safe
and the great fire risk incident to its 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
toners are largely matter of guesswork.
We will be glad to submit to the committee any
other questions to the relative merits of the two sys
TENS which you would wish to have investigated.
In order that position may be misunderstood
by the public have copies of this letter the
daily papers for publication. We do not fear publicity
feel confident that the converter system. which
has into almost universal in Europe. to the
virtual exclusion of the Edison direct-current SYSTEM
will suffer from fair investigation by minded
men. Very respectfully yours.
THE UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT POWER CO.,
THE UNITED STATES ILLUMINATING co.
RSASSIGNEE SALE
49, The Stock Of Mems Furnishing Goods and
Hats contained in Store 1928 + st. n W. must posi-
lively be turned into money before February ]. No
AARON BRUNN. Assignee.
1a236t 1223 + st. n.