New-York tribune., 1901-01-21
LIGHTING WAR IN ROCHESTER,.
STANDARD OIL INTERESTS BELIEVED rC
BE IN RECENT DEALS.

Rochester N Y. Jan. 20 (SpeciaD.-This city
stands the verge OF a war between the two
companies upon whose pleasure II depends for light
and power. The outlook is not viewed with any
particular apprehension by the citizens. before
whose eyes float visions of cut gas rates and rock
bottom prices for electric Illumination Roches-
ter's lighting and electric power are practically
controlled by two companies. These are the ROch-
ester Gas and Electric Company and the Citizens
Light and Power Company. Both rely largely upon
water power furnished by the Genesee River TO run
their dynamOs- A week ago financial circles were
surprised to learn that the former company had
purchased Touring mill adjacent to its power
plant. This purchase included of course, the water
rights belonging the mill property Two days
la,er the proceeding became clear.
The announcement was made Monday that the
stock OF the Citizens Light and Power Company
mad been purchased by syndicate, which planned
to enlarge its facilities and make competition about
as lively as Rochester has seen it. The names
of the promoters who engineered the deal lent
significance TO the situation. Anthony y. Brady is
one. He possesses extensive interests in power
companies in Albany and New-York William K
Archbold and Paul T. Brady. of the Archbold-
Brady Company. of Syracuse. are two more. The
former is nephew of John d. Archbod. who Is a
friend OF John ID. Rockefeller Of the Standard OH
company A. NJ. Young. OF No 100 Broadway.
New-York is another stockholder and the West
lnghOuse Company, of Pttsburg completes the
roster of the financial army which has invaded the
Flower City
IN the deal, and. 1t is said has been staying In
hochester for the last few weeks
Inc Iact that the promoters who have obtained
cohtrOi OF the stock interested in electrical
railroads. power companies and lighting plants in
many other parts of the State leads many to be-
heve that this last move is another step toward
including all the companies of the State in one
immense syndicate
Inc news Of this operation had hardly been an
nounced when. day later. the Rochester Gas
and Electric Company. the Citizens powerful
rival. came up smiling. Those who knew" shook
thelr heads ominously when they heard of the
change In the Citizen holdings, and prOphesied
uIsinal calamittes for the Rochester company. The
aHhOuIlceInent that II had quietly been negOtfat-
ing Ior the purchase of three big milling properties
up the river toward GeneSeO made the brokers
practically place in the Rochester Gas and EIec-
TIC COmpanys hands the control of the upper
tennessee, and eventually. perhaps. force the Roch-
ester users to unite in the construction of
proposed storage dam at POrtageville. Although
tIlS great scheme has been completely
2 Dill allowing Its existence two years ago has put
a stop TO it's active furtherance The estimated
cost OF the undertaking was placed at s.. 10000.
AS matters stand now, without the purchase OF
the upper river water rights. the control OF a
nttle over half of the city rights is in the hands
or the C1tlZens company. The power house, which
was recently damaged by fire. will be in readiness
FOR city lighting the real battle will begin 1t is
thought by many that the power and lighting rates
for private users will be cut to a figure never
BEFORE known in Rochester