The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-01
MAY BE Big COMBINE
CONSOLIDATION OF ELECTRICAL
INTERESTS IN SAVANNAH.
SEEMS TO BE ON FOOT.
STREET RAILWAY AND ILLUMI-
MATING COMPANY AS ONE.

Conferences still ON Between on
GERS of savannah, ThunderbOlt
and Isle of Hope Railway COmpa-
ny and Parties From Chicago anG
Northumberland That n Company
Is Being Formed to Absorb the
Electrical interests of Savannah.
Organization Is said to Be Near
ing Observation-Disclosures Parsons
of the Railway Company May
Have Thought of the Plan N Year
Ago.
The deal believed to be on
foot whereby part of the
stock of the Savannah, Thun-
derbolt and Isle of Hope Railway
Company will change hands, mention
of which was made in the Morning
News, has not yet been completed.
This statement was made authorita-
lively last night and those interested
refuse TO discuss the matter or to say
just what the plan is.
There appears to be no doubt that
the scheme is one of much importance
and that it is nearing completion.
Daily conferences are being held, but
the strictest secrecy is maintained by
those known to be interested. Blue
prints have been used at the confer
ences and it was stated last night that
matters will reach a climax by the
early part of next week. The plan is
said to be an extensive one and there
seems that much work must be done
before the deal can be openly made. 1t
is believed that in the main an agree
nent has been reached by those in
terested and that minor details are
now being worked out.
1t is stated that the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company will figure in
the deal. The generally credited rumor
is that the Edison Company and the
street railway company are to consoli-
date. Whether new capital will be put
in and the new company run an cleo
trio Illuminating plant and a street
railway system, under one manage
ment, does not appear to be plain.
The fact that G. o. Nagle of Chicago,
G. E. Trip of Boston and A. r.
Patterson of Boston have been in con-
ference at the De Soto for several days
with First Vice President J. H. Fall
of Nashville and General Manager Nc
Intire of the street railway company,
gives color to the story that additional
capital is to be invested under the re-
organization scheme. Both Mr.. Trip
and MIR. Patterson refused to be seen
last night The railway officials were
as mum as ever and beyond the state
ment that nothing has yet been done
no information could be obtained. The
local stockholders and directors claim
10 be in the dark and not to know
what is happening.
1t is not known whether the city's Of
fer for a franchise for another street
railway company is being considered in
the negotiations now on. 1t was ru-
mored that a wealthy company with
much Eastern capital might now be in
the course of formation and that the
new organization might purchase the
franchise, absorb the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company and the Savan-
nah. Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope
Railway Company and have monopo-
ly of the electrical industry in Savan-
nah. There are some who believe that
a combination of large proportions is
being formed with this object in view.
1t is said that the question of the
new franchise offered by the mu-
nicipality is not being considered
for the reason that company such as
is said to be now in formation would
be able to crowd any smaller corpora
ton out of the field. The Savannah,
Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope Railway
Company has added much to its sys-
tenn under the management of Mr. Nc
Intire, who came from the North in
the interest of President George Par
sons, as general manager, less than a
year ago. The rolling stock has been
increased, double tracks have been laid
and new machinery has been put in
the power house. The Casino at Thun-
derbolt and the double track to that
resort have been built during the year.
II Is thought by some that the deal
now on foot was on the mind of Presi-
dent Parsons year ago and that for
several months quiet preparations have
been made for what it is believed will
be stupendous consolidation of cleo
trical interests in Savannah