The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-28
Take utiCura Resovent

] spent my time on three propositions.
First gave one day to the East Jersey
Water Companys plans and structures.
and by combining railway and horses,
managed before dark to get over their
wonderful system and see where they have
last eight years In betterments only.
Next / took up the matter Of electric
lighting. OF which ] have obtained vast
amount OF information which I will make
use Of later In my report In reference 10
the city plant. Although light subject
In name. II Is a heavy one In fact.
Next ! took up with the Edison peotle
and with the National Tube and Conduit
Company the subject OF underground
wires. / have from them combined a vast
amount OF information, but in order to
see weli-constructed system In actual
operation. II will be necessary for me TO
go to ST; Louis and spend three or four
days. and as soon as ! give the steel men
ono more round here tomorrow I think
they have allowed the various electric
companies 10 install an Underground sys-
tenn which at the end Of nifty years be-
comes property Of the city. This was
limited franchises and things OF that Kind.
Meets OLD Acauaintaaces.
From New York ! went to Boston.
where ! spent three or four days on num-
cipai matters with Mr.. Jackson, their city
engineer. Two days OF this time was CIV
en- exclusively to electric lighting and con-
ION my way back here l stopped of
again at Washington and spent little
while with Gov. Mc3raw and Mr.. Par
ry;., They are doing good work for US.
II was much surprised with the intelli-
undertaken their mission. While IN New
York city l took occasion TO visit the
cafe of the WNdorf-As.orta hotel one
evening and stumbled upon quite a crowd
evening In discussions more or less profit
able. Just how mellow some Of my COM
radcs were before leaving would not like
walk home with me In their ordinary good
condition. We sat around the same able.
each man drinking his own particular po-
Henry watterson. of the Courier Journal:
J; X Mcdonald, formerly OF Seattle: ID.
II: Gilman. Mr.. Lodge. Of New Bruins
wick, myself etc. An evening later I
Virgil q. Bogue and Mr.. Gilman. where We
met quite number OF prominent mon all
interested In our city and each one having
his own criticism 70 make OF our public
later
street Railway lnvestors.
While In Boston l was found out by
the kidder- Peabody bank and by the Lee
Higgfnson bank, both of which are inter-
ested In our street railway purchases
They took mo TO dine at the Union League
Club OF Boston, where We met Secretary
Long OF the navy. These parties held onto
mo for more than a day. asking ques-
tons relative To our city. the temper OF
the people In II, the tendency OF public
thought and saking my ideas relative to
the soundness of their Investments, both
those already made and those proposed
to be made ! was very cautious In all
my replies, and felt that perhaps woas
onending them by my extreme reticence
and hceitancy in making answers. but be-
fore leaving the city was surprised to find
that they valued what had said much
more highly than they otherwise would
because or the hesitancy and conservatism
OF my antwerA II In my private opinion
that they will not be willing to surrender
their S-year franchise on the consolidated
line after spending about one-half q MIL
ZION In betterments ana adopt geA-
eral and liberal transfer system and the
other concessions which we are demanding
unless they can obtain a franchise longer
than thirty years for the consolidated sys-
deed In reference 10 the franchise simply
stating that that was matter which at
the proper time they would submit to the
council and that they had never failed 10
md that when legitimate investors did
right and fairly by the city and gave the
service which they promised to give in
return the city was ready 90 deal fairly
with them.
II have much more that might saw To
the old timc postscript, III you dom; hurry
you.ll go dead before you get this letter
read
with best regards am. very truly
yours. "R II. THOMSoN"'
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