The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-07-10
ATTEMPT TO BREAK
ELECTRIC MONOPOLY
Independent Lighting Plant For
Salt Lake.
TO START NOVEMBER |
REDUCTION OF 80 PER CENT IN
PRICES.
TO START NOVEMBER 1

A new electric light company is to
be Incorporated in Salt Lake with a
capitalization of $4,000 and the prom
lse Is made to have the plant in opera
ton furnishing light for this city by
the first of November of the present
year. The new organization is to be
known as the Merchants Lighting
company, backed by unlimited eastern
caplIal, and the enterprise is being
promoted now by Attorney H. G. Ed
wards OF the firm of Prick K Edwards
The electricity TO be furnished BY
the new company viii be generated by
steam plant to be located in the west
ern part of the city; the intention of
the men at the head OF the enterprise
IS to furnish light for the central part
OF the city, in other words. to take the
cream of the business, and leave the
balance of the district for the present
at least, to the Utah Light & Power
company. The boundaries of the dis
trlct to be taken in by the new COM
pany cannot be stated, but il is init
mated by men who claim to be on the
inside that the business district and
the central portion of the residence
district viii be included. The promise
is made by representatives OF the new
company that light viii be furnished
the people of Salt Lake at so per cent
and 20 per cent of the rates now
charged by the Utah Light & Power
company If the right ARRANGEMENTS can
be made.
Very few of the details of the new
enterprise would be given out for publi-
cation last evening by the local par
ties interested; but they were frank to
admit that the preliminary steps had
beer taken looking 20 the INCORPORATION
OF the Merchants Lighting company
and the prompt establishment of
power house and lighting plant. The
capitalization is to be at least $50, 900
and the expectation is to be incOrpO-
rated Oct. 1, and have the plant ready
for business Nov. 1.
Eastern Capital.
It was also stated that the capital
for the enterprise is coming from the
east, from a syndicate of capitalists
that made a strong bid for the DUR
chase of the Rapid Transit Street Rail
way system, but was overbid by A w
McCune. This syndicate is said TO have
abundance Of capital to back any rea-
sonable enterprise, and is anxious to
get money invested in Salt Lake. hav-
ing absolute confidence in the growth
of the city.
Attorney II. c. Edwards would DENY
none of the facts stated above when
seen regarding the matter iasU evening
but would give out - definite state
ment in regard to the plans of the
who are backing the enterprise He
did say that he was the only local man
who was particularly Interested in the
promotion Of the interests of the new
company.
Electric Light Octopus.
we are not yet ready to talk of this
enterprise for publication" was Mr..
Edwards statement; there is not
more complete octopus in the United
States than the light company now
furnishing electric light for the cftf-
zens of Salt Lake. 1t would be wrong
To make public the names of the local
men interested in working I'D the new
enterprise and subject them to the
/ hardshiDs that might be put upon them
by this company that now has absolute
control of the situa ton. Every good
citizen should be interested in the de-
structiOn of such a monopoly but few
men can afford to sacrifice their bust
ness by making an open fight We in
tend to establish an electric light plant
in Salt Lake and you may say if you
wish that we will furnish light from 20
to 80 per cent cheaper than it is being
furnished at this time. That is all
there is to be said at this time When
we are ready to act we shall have more
to saw