The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-18
ELECTRICITY LAWYERS,
Whose Speciality Has Arisen With
the Economic Development of Elec-
From the New York Sun.


stricity.6 lGW IA
From the New York Sun.
There has long been a marked tendency
among lawyers to abandon the wide field
of general practice and take up with
"specialties," some devoting themselves
to merchantile, others to accident, to
corporation, to insurance and to criminal
cases.
Within a comparatively short time there
has sprung up in New York if the term
sprung up'' can be used in reference to
anything connected with the red tape of
the law, class of practitioners known as
electricity lawyers" These are either
young men who, coming to the bar, find
the field of professional employment
crowded, or men of middle age. who, re-
aimed in cases wherein electricity fig
ures, have become experts on similar
questions.
The field is a comparatively new one,
and there are few precedents to guide the
lawyer. Electricity, indeed, is prac-
tically new branch of law business, and.
as the matters in dispute are generally
important, this branch of legal practice
is quite lucrative. At the beginning of
the present year it is computed that no
less than 81 900, 100000 was invested in
the electrical industry of the United
States.
This was divided as follows: Electrical
light and power companies, 100000 600
electric railroad companies, 5000, 000, 900:
telegraph companies, $50, ,000 cleo
trical supply companies, $3.50, 600, 600, and
telephone companies, 100000, 600
The General Electrical Company has
an authorized capital of S50,0O0,000 S35,-
QUO, 900 of which has already been issued,
irrespective of the large bonded debt.
The American Bell Telephone Company
has an authorized stock debt of 100000
O00 The Edison Electric Company has
stock to the amount of $780, 900, and
bonds authorized TO the extent of IS COO,
00O The Westinghouse has $40. 600 900 of
stock and the Western Union Telegraph
Company has bonds to the amount of
sis 100000 and stock to the amount of
500, 100000, exclusive of guarantees.
Last year it transmitted 66,00O.0OO mes
sages, maintaining 81 600 Offices. The tel
ephone company paid over 81 100000 in
dividends last year.
There are 500 electric railroads, having,
as before stated, capitalization of $780,
000, 000 and operating nearly 5000 electric
cars.
The protection of electric patents-a
very large number of them nevis very
important branch of legal business at
present, for large sums are paid for royal
ties where such patents are held intact,
and suits for damages or infringements
are many There has been a great in
crease in the number of patents applied
for in Washington for various electrical
devices or Improvements of late. The
relations of the various electrical COM
paniss. too, have not been friendly, and
taxing commissioners in various states and
cities have disagreed about the valuation
to be put on property in electric concerns.
All this makes large amount Of bust
ness for lawyers, and has developed a
great amount of skill and knowledge
among those VINO have applied them
selves to this branch of Jurisprudence ex-
clusively.
Another mark of the rapid growth of
the electric interests in the United States
and abroad is found in the great increase
in the mum Der of books published on the
sub ect OF electricity and its employment
as a motive power.
According to recent statistics there are
more telegraphic messages sent IN rance
in year, with population of 3o,O00OJO,
than in Germany and Austria combined,
with a collective population of 50, OO0,O0O.
There are 10000 employees of the tele-
phone companies in the United States and
250, 900 subscribers.
ITS queer what good luck Trotter has at
the races
SHas he neen winning again."
II should say so. / saw him buy 2cent
paper just now and pay for 1t. '-Chleago IN