The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-05-29
The Old and the New.

lar.
The Old and the New.
The organization of a new water COM
, pany has set some people to thinking and
a few to talking, or more properly speak
ing to writing, and there has already been
considerable newspaper correspondence.
with more to follow.
The old company has been defended,
and the new company frowned upon by
two writers who cannot be called disinter-
ested, as they own nearly one-third of the
stock of the old corporation. In fact
nearly ] 200 of the 1900 shares are held
by two families in Mount Holly.
The two writers who are opposed to a
new concern have no hesitation in sign
ing their names-Rey. A. Crawford and
Charles w. Brown, hence 1t is not i'm
proper to deal with their communications
personally.
Mr.. Crawford writes a very fowery
article on the investment of capital, IN
which he claims that "no man will invest
his money where it will yield no return"
"it is no true friendship to the interests
of Mount Holly to encourage questionable
ventures" that rival water company is
suicidal" and so on.
1t has not yet been proven that the new
venture will not yield any return. There
is not chance for denial that the pres
ent water company has for long time
paid large dividends-not less than ten
per cent-and it is not at all wonderful
that person with large holdings of such
character should suddenly warn the
dear public against suicidal" investments
that would tend to reduce this income.
On the point that it is mo true friend
ship to the interests of Mount Holly to
encourage questionable ventures" every
body will agree. Show that this new
movement is questionable venture"
and it will be doomed at once. But it is
town been in the power of monopoly
whose answer to complaints has too fire.
quently been, "What are you going to do
about II ?" Hence any move that will
remedy this state of affairs will be hailed
as true friendship in the broadcast
sense.
The writer says there are means of re-
dress;notice has been given of a"grievance
committee" who will listen to complaints,
but does it not appear as if this awaken
ing is rather sudden, the result, possibly,
of the formation of a new company?
With all it's facilities for making big divi-
dends, the present company has never
had an Office. Its treasurer, F. B. Lewis
has been allowed to use his own Office for
the company's interests, and eonsequ emit
ly has been the recipient of many COM
plants and unjust fauIt-fnding for some
thing not in his power to remedy. If
the services of the grievance committee
were desired, the aggneved must take his
own time to look up the committee,
which had no permanent location.
If nothing else happens the agitation of
the subject is conclusive in showing that
the people OF this town are awake to the
fact that a long-existing injustice may
now be righted, and will probably accept
the chance offered. Time and time again
has the old company been appealed to for
lower rates, and always has the answer
been that it "is impossible to furnish
water cheaper" yet now we hear of a dis
position to grant almost anything, with
an earnest appeal not to threaten inter
ests without a hearing" 1t seems to
have required just such action to get de-
sired hearing.
The writer deprecates the threatening
of interests" and in the same breath de-
clares that "our capital will be with
drawn" on certain conditions, which lit
orally means that If the corporation-iD
which those with whom he is connected
own about one-third of the stock-is not
/ allowed to do as it pleases and continue
to pay large dividends, then out goes the
capital. This is infantile and the only
answer to such argument is that this
town existed before the gentleman came
here and has managed to worry along
since he left, and if the new movement
t carries to completion, the benefits de-
rived will be ample compensation for any
possible happening as suggested.
n The new company will have many OBJ
=. stacles to overcome. With a thorough
knowledge of the objections to the old
I corporation it should not have any trouble
e in starting right, and putting in plant
l. that will give satisfactory service. AL
n ready it is predicted that two companies
Is cannot live and that one must 90 under,
y and that then there VIII be monopoly
just the same. The argument is that il
: the new corporation should be the sur
) viyor it would not better things. Some
l. assurance to the contrary must be given.
II Then there are rumors that a syndicate
of capitalists, for their own aggrandize
ment, are pushing this new movement
Is and that when their aim is accomplished
nothing more will be done This is de
MED by these gentlemen, who discaim
any intention of doing an underhand or
" mean act They desire to be interviewed
u upon any phase of their venture. They
owe it to the people to make everything
- clear beyond the shadow of misunder
m standing. Public confidence is certainly il
their favor now; it should not be abused
,t MOOrestOwn.
Ia AT the sale of Edward Perkins property
last week. local stocks sold as follows
At Moorestown Electric Light, Heat and Pow
or Companv etoek moi aold Monrpatnur