New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-14
ELECTRIC LIGHT PRICES.
,.,ssTATEMENT REGARDING THE Ed
soN COMPANY CORRECTED.

sur PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY whiiI@ 4"
rur TRIBUNE REGARDING CITY CONTRACTS
AND OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST.
~. story in yesterdays Tribune relative to
49,. connective fight between the Edison Electric
,r,r,,neting Company, Of Brooklyn and the
20 state Electric Light and Power Com
NV was the principal topic Of discussion yes
..rdav among the electric light people Inc
ra,.on people were quick to note misstate-
.nt with reference to the price which the city Is
NV paving them for lighting. The article as
..r,.d that the rate was 50 cents lamp night,
> ~h,,. AZ a matter Of fact the price Is IS cents.
~. old rate two years ago was so cents lamp.
49,, his was reduced to 40 cents In 1894. and to
& cents In 1895
m. information that the company had been
,onAed and was ready to start Its plant in the
r.rt.rn District did not reach the Brooklyn de-
,.&,msut of the Tribune until late on Sunday
n,vht It was then too late to zee any OF the city
nn,e,.s with reference to the exact price the city
vas paying for the lights
The following letter, prepared by the president
=, the Edison company, gives a clear and explicit
statement Of the case:
70 the Editor OF The Tribune.
a., The article in your Brooklyn edition OF to-
al on headed "A Pretty Fight Coming. The Profits
.: Electric Lighting Plants in Danger" is SO CON
psu0iI IN YOUR usually reliable columns. when the
:S siec II is matter Of historical record in this city
You sla'e for 5na lighting the With what
Called 100 candle power lights The city has not not
reduced to 40 cents per ngn and ~ n c iS
E cents per t nign sted in hs report that this
scion has saved the city in the two years over
SSM The credit has usual been given to the the
sssl s time in Isl IN TIE bids for street lighting and
S.r.ng reduced the price voluntarily in 1879 AS 10
Uh
,si.s at between 800 and 400 only, we would answer
the 1 W Ine cry with eaeh lam lamp ex
ssDi thai the Edison COMPANY contracts 10 iu'n Sa
anal nTmPeT ec @ to Inspect these and
- are moi aware that these inspectors have ever
sesd ag sq White dns Ii. tsrm Of
and has been continued TO the present aay VINE ans
aa eon.snly reported that those tested show that
each COMPANY is gyng more .nan me s co give
he full cal die power the Commissioner has the
power deduct from the contrac pricSes . roar,na
,ion in stating that the Edison Company has paid
for the privilege Of 6sns aoes no know that
has been taken into the combination ana Ger
W ala not pay ANYTHING fSr any snchie IN rs
and Immediately proceeded to lay Its undergrouna
tubes through the streets IT. was actSe Ss
and forced way to the front FSr various n, r tS
q ,Ss sS f1T 'as
being liberal reduction from the preVaiing az rs
Its service satisfactory tldl ~ IeVe.J Vs..
contract for the year. and subsequently; n.y., as
YOU state. absorbed the Citizens company, ouyims
and paying cash for the entire stock OF that com.
the profits Of eeciric Lighting were diminishing, anu
required the most careful manage ment o. eHpe d,
10 meet the reduced rates and still a1ord any dV'-
bends to the stockholders .,.,,ss can n.
puN upon wind II requires distinct ootiahE g,
cask-a.d OF a great amount Of cash,-to essa '
cs IN hsh,ne "a. has
Of sharp quite as SHARP 1ee as ade fre
ausnt:y. and senesaiiy by parties who not con.
rersant with the business. that there are large
profits IN street shns 1t s t a0uSdu i ises o
the plants Of the details OF the business or even OF
The amount Of taxes which these companies have to
pay TO the city and state as part OF .her
Sy the authorities in this city. ,crn,s,
6is,-cass salary. II he Will apply to this company
and give the benefit OF his knowledge and ser
Vices but this situation has been open for years 10
ths best experts in the country, and we are still
unable 10 find any better system than that we use
Than those know about but II the statement as to
The State Electric Company have no more founda-
ton than the balance OF the paragraph IL must DC
II will be news TO your readers that the Edison
Company s ring company; HOW mucn OF a fi m,
company Is may be judged rom Inc names h o. rs
L. Grand peers Charles F.. Crowell Julian d. Fair
child &. r. Hoagland.. DARWIN r James. :; g
Jenkins Martin yoos, Pe% haar earr. II South
ard and ETHAN ALLEN DoTY. President,
Edison Electric Illuminating Company OF Brook
Hn April ls 1886
regarding the electric light question and
through that misirformation having published
anything In the slightest degree incorrect, or
unfair to either Of the companies