Evening journal., 1901-10-07
ADDICKS THREATENS WAR
ON CITY GAS COMPANY
Could Not Buy Controlling Interest in Plant
So Will Try to Get Even
Warns Stockholders to Exercise Care
in Investing in Securities.
Some of His Letters

J. Edward Addicks, the Gasman, not
satisfied with mis- attempt to control
the State of Delaware by political trick
cry, has again assumed the role Of die,
tator, and now seeks to intimidate a
private corporation, the Wilmington
Coal Gas Company, by warning pros
pective purchasers of the company's
stock "'to carefully investigate the gas
situation in Wilmington before doing
So"
1t is an old story dating back as far
ais 1890, when Addicks, in his mad de-
sire for dictatorship first proposed to
bus outright the stock OF the gas COM
pany, and, falling in this, sought to
force a sale by threatening to operate an
independent gas plant and furnish gas
at seventy-five cents per Thousand, and
eventually concluding by Offering the
entire stock Of the Oxy-Hydrogen Com
pany to the Wilmington Coal Gas Com
Iany in exchange for $500 shares Of
stock Of the par value of $50 each.
How well Addicks and his followers
have succeeded is a subject Of history.
He is as far from his goal at this time
as HE was when ne first planned to grab
the city streets for his use.
Today he has again renewed his
bluffs which, like the utterances of the
weak-minded, pass unheeded. The fol
lowing advertisement appeared in the
Addicks organ this morning, setting
forth his plans, and renews his threats
against a private company doing a le-
gitlmate business:
CAUTION.
All parties contemplating underwrit
ing or purchasing securities based upon
THE property of the Wilmington (Dela-
ware) Coal Gas Company are warned
to carefully investigate the gas situa-
tion in Wilmington before doing so.
The Oxy-Hydrogen Gas Company. Of
Wilmingon. Delaware, is owned by my
friends. It's works are practically fin
ished, and it will ultimately lay its
pipes in the city of Wilmington. The
result will undoubtedly be a prolOng-
ed gas war which will prevent the Will
mington Coal Gas Company from max
ing any net earnings applicable to divi-
blends or interest.
]. EDWARD ADDICKS
When seen dhis morning regarding
the above notice, officials of the gas
company treated the matter in the light
of a Joke. adding that 'its the same
Io.d game" not worthy of attention. In
AsubstantiatiOn of their opinion. officials
declared that Addicks. ten years ago
attempted a like scheme. but was foil.
ed. The Wilmington Coal Gas Com.
pany lives and hourishes, while the Ad
dicks Oxy-Hydrogen Company. more
appropriately termed the "Oxy-Wind
Company" has faded into the dim dis
tance, and is practically obsolete. hav
ing been overcome at every turn, ant
finally ruled out by a decision Of TIN
courts.
ADDlcKS' LETTER
The letters which follow are Officia
copies addressed to the Wilmingto,
Coal Gas Company by Addicks, an
cover a period of four years-1S90 Z
1S94-and are worthy of careful con
sideration, as they clearly set forth th
aspirations Of the Gasman at that time
There are several features in the lei
ters which are worthy Of attention.
The first place, John Edward says tha
the Oxy-HNdrogen Company belong
to him as contractor In his notice {
| to-day Mr.. Addicks says. "the Oxy-Hy
drogen Company, of Wilmington,
owned by my friends" This statemer
alone indicates that since the tryin
~ period of ten years. Mr.. Addicks hs
given up his pet hobby and kindl
PASSED it over to the hands of h
Friends. whoever they may be- Just
3this connection it is not made clef
why john E. Addicls has caused a n,
tice to be issued above his signatur
s.
are the owners OF the mythical concerl
Another touching feature in J. E. Az
diclSs' letters is his statement that h
desire for the success of the Republ
can marty in Delaware" led him
confer a econd time with the dlrecto
of ffne gas company regarding the sa
of the Oxy-Hvdrogen Company. Thos
Indeed. must have been touching tim,
with John. that his heart was so mel
ed that he put love of party above pc
scnal gains. But alasl he has fall'
from the pedestal.
That Mr.. Addicks' offer was not pa
ticularly fattering, and that the ccr
pany refused to deal with him, not fro
lary personal or political feeling again
khim. but purely from a business poi
Of view. is made clear by the fact tn
Addiclzs offered first but s65 per shai
Icaeh payment. second. for per Gel
Ebcnds. SIS ner share. srd third, for
rer cent bc-ds $50 rer share. whi
8tha company recently disposed at
corr- sale The entire stock at SIG
share.
ns-. Addicks' letters on the subie
Xfcllow:
rhilasalrhia Ion. *. 1900.
4 Fdwo~7 Posts. F7T Chairman o. Pn
Cnmusttee wilmington Coal G.
Co. Wilmington, Delaware.
- CT. ~..oI~o xrost fho fo11oxrf