The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-13
AN ELECTRIC LIGHT WAR;.
The Newly Established Com
pany Will Soon Be a
Competitor.
P. B. CORNWALL AT ITS HEAD
J. 3. Stetson Says His Company
VIII Meet Cut With Cutie
Talks of the Franchise.

Electric lights will be cheaper pretty
soon. because war of competition In the
supply of this modern necessity is 1mml-
nent. The invader who will soon enter the
field is an electric light company, with
Pierre B. Cornwall at the head OF the
concern.
Cornwall, who was formerly president OF
the California Electric-hght Company,
had business dispute with Roe, the
general manager, and some time before
the latter died Cornwall sold all his stock
in that company and retired.
Cornwall is the gentleman who sees a
profitable investment in competing cleo
tric-light plant, and he is pursuing the
idea in practical way.
For some time past the work OF placing
the necessary machinery of an electric
plant on large scale has been going on,
and the work will be completed in few
DAYS. The plant is located on portion OF
the site of the old Church of the Advent
on Howard street, fronting on the south
ern terminus of New Montgomery street.
The engine and part OF the machinery
was used as an electrlc-ngnI planI az the
Midwinter Fair.
Cornwall was seen and questioned on
the subject of the new enterprise yesterday
afternoon. lie SAID:
81 am not now in position to give full
details of the business we expect to do;
but I will say this, our plant, when ready
for work, will be in position to compete
with anything in the electric light line in
San Francisco. We are putting in the
best and latest improved machinery, and
our facilities for future supply of electric
lighting is practically unlimited, because
we are putting matters in such shape
that we can add to our power supply to
| correspond with the demands from time to
time. When we are ready for work and
open up for business-which will be very
soon-we will be prepared to fill all de-
mands and compete with anything in the
electric light and electric power lines.
This is not an experiment with me, it is
matter of pure, cold, unsentimental bust
ness"
Have you taken any steps toward seeur-
ing a franchise?" was asked.
Il have nothing to say on that subject
as vet" replied Mr.. Cornwall. ''There
will be no trouble about a franchise when
we are ready to show what we can do and
will do. You can say this much, however.
| We will compete for business in business
way and in a manner that will appeal to
| the public as business proposition on an
economic basis. No doubt there will be
reduction in the cost of electric-ighting,
! but it is impossible for me to say at the
present time what the amount of that re-
duction will be- There is ample room in
| this City for fair competition in the.supply
of electric-lights, and | consider that the
investment of money in such an enterprise
is absolutely safe and will be highly profit
able"
The advent of the new light company is
a matter of great interest to the public of
this City. 1t will doubtless result in the
saving of many dollars to those who use
| electric lights or gas, for if the tariff on
electric lighting. falls in a considerable
| degree the price of gas will have to fall
with it.
J. B. Stetson, president of the Edison
| Electric Light and Power Company, in
speaking of the subject last night, said:
eff the new electric light company does
what has been said it will do, if 1t has suf-
| ficient capital and puts up plant with
capacity large enough to enter into full
competition, the people will get their
| lights very cheap, that is certain. In
| order TO secure patronage the new company
will have to cut the rates. and every cut so
made will Immediately be met by our COM
! pany. | think we are in position to stand
the strain as long as any OF our COMPETE
tors. Our plant is thoroughly equipped
with the latest improved machinery, and
our business and wire connections extend
| over the entire City. This fact alone places
us in a position to make strong COM
| petitive fight"
"How much of reduction can the cleo
| tric-light business stand and still remain
| paving investments" was asked.
THAT is something l could not speak OF
at present" Mr.. Stetson replied. Il would
rather not discuss the profits OF the bust
ness"
1.-The profits at present are large, are
| they not?'
"Wen, yes; they are fair-very good
| but l can't mention any figures. l will
say, however, that the business can stand
considerable reduction from the prevail
| ing rates"
Would reduction of so per cent still
| leave it as a paying investments"
NO, it would be losing game under
such reduction-at least it would be a
| loss to any new concern whose equipments
are in their infancy and whose business is
not yet secured. Much depends on what
| kind of a franchise the new company
secures from the City.
eff the franchise provides for the placing
| of wires underground it will cause great
| outlay of money. The best and most eco
nomic underground system, the Edison
patent, is held by us, and of course no new
mitted to be strung overhead-which is
| doubtful-the new company will be subject
| to great loss of power by waste. The loss
| of power in overhead wires is about 48 per
| cent. In the latest improved system of
underground wires, the Edison patent, the
| loss is less than 20 per cent. Our company
has many miles of underground feed-wires,
| and this is in itself considerable saving
in power and fuel. On the whole, am in
clined to think that the new electric light
and power company will have a hard time
of II ~