The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-23
EDISON IN CONTROL
WILL OPERATE SAVANNAH
STREET CAR LINES.
PARSONS GOES OUT JAN. 1ST.
ONLY MINOR DETAILS OF DEAL TO
BE ARRANGED.

Consolidating Lighting and Troll
lev Interests-New Machinery and
Rolling stock VIII BE Purchased
which viii Make the Cost of the
New Venture Run over 100000
G. ID. Wyman of Boston Inspected
the system-Edison People Ac-
auired Houston Road and Elected
George J. Baldwin President.
Following its policy to consolidate
lighting and street railway interests
where it is interested in either one or
the other the Edison Electric Illumi-
mating Company will assume control of
the Savannah. Thunderbolt and Isle of
Hope Railway Company, Jan. l. For
some time negotiations in this direction
have been going on, and the holdings
of President George Parsons of the
street railway will pass into new hands
by New Years.
When the purchase is made it is said
that over s.. 600 900 will change hands.
Within the last year in the neighbor-
hood Of 100000 has been expended by
the street railway company on equip
ments and other improvements, and
with an increase in the travel, about
as much more will have to be ex
pended during the coming year.
che rolling stock of the company
will have to be increased, and it is I'M
derstood that it is the purpose of the
purchasers to add other equipments.
While the purchase price is not
known, it will cost the Edison people
considerable over $4,000, 900 to get hold
of the Parsons holdings, and make the
additions to the system now contem-
plated.
Price Agreed Upon.
The price at which Mr. Parsons will
release his stock has been agreed upon,
and there only remain a few minor
matters TO be arranged before the
transfer will be made. Everything
else has been settled during the
various conferences that have been
held in this city and elsewhere. New
cars will be purchased by the Edison
Company, new machinery will be
bought for the operating of both the
trolley cars and the electric lighting
system.
The stock of the Savannah, Thun-
derbolt and Isle of Hope Railway Com
pany is put in at 81 900 900, with out
standing bonds amounting to 1,250, 900.
The company has declared no dividends
since the consolidation of the street
railway interests in this city, and all
of the earnings have gone for inn
provements and additions. In addi-
ton of this. President Parsons, the
majority stakeholder, has within the
last five years spent nearly 100000 on
the system. it is said Money has been
spent in adding to the service each
year. and the Edison Company will
have to pay out large sum, above the
purchase price.
Messrs. c. D. Wyman and F. H.
Keyes of the Edison Co, with headquar-
ters in Boston, reached the city yes
terday from Houston. Tex, and reg
istered at the De Soto. Mr.. Wvman
looks after the street railway inter
ests of the corporation. The Edison
Company purchased the Houston
Street Railway at a receivers sale
last week. and Mr.. George J. Baldwin
was elected president of the new prop
erty of the Edison concern. The COM
pany also quite recently purchased a
mule line in FL Paso, and is now equip
ping it with electricity.
To See Mr.. Baldwin.
Mr.. Wyman talked freely with a
representative Of the Morning News
about his company, and some of it's
holdings, but stated that he knows
nothing of the change that is about
to take place in this city, and that his
presence here is not due to the deal
which now needs little more than the
signatures of the persons interested
Mr.. Wyman stated that he decided to
stop in Savannah several days on his
return trip to Boston for the purpose
of looking over the city, and talking
with President Baldwin, who was not
in Houston when he was placed at
the head of the Houston Street Rail-
way Company.
Mr.. Wyman did not see Mr.. Bald
win yesterday, but visited the plant
of the Edison Company. With Mr..
keyes, he also called upon General
Manager Lucien McIntire of the street
railway company, and went over the
system Thunderbolt was visited, and
the barn on Gwinnett and OFT streets,
and the power house on Bolton street
were inspected. Mr.. Wyman also look
ed over the rolling stock
The head of the street railway de-
partment of the Edison Company stat
ed that wherever he goes he looks over
the railway systems and the facilities,
because he is particularly interested
in that branch of the electrical in
Justly. ne Woulu not ADMIT tndt MS
inspection of the rolling stock and
machinery here was prompted because
of the purchase that is about to be
made.
To Add New Machinery.
Mr.. Wyman said that he looked over
the Edison plant here carefully and
stated that some new machinery will
be purchased. He did not say
the purchase would be made
because of the property that his COM
pany will ACQUIRE within the next
thirty days. The Edison Company has
lighting and trolley car plants in every
section of the United States, and the
fact that the purchase of the Savan-
nah street railway line will
make the third plant bought
recently. makes it plain that
the company intends to make
its electrical interests through
out the country OF gigantic proportions
the company operates both the light
the two branches are being consolidat-
ed wherever possible. The same condi-
ton of affairs holds good in many OF
the cities where the Edison people are
interested, although Houston has an
independent lighting company at pres
ent. 'Isbsa
Mr.. Parsons has been Identified with
Savannah's street railways for over
score OF years. and at one time had
competition OF the warmest sort. That
was when two rides could be had for
penny, and when the tag of a GER
- 80.