Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-22
POWER PLAN LOOKS BIGGER
In the Eyes Of President Mash it Means
Doubling Of Omaha Census.
sPHlSx-lIKE on RAILWAY INTEREST
hfr. Wells, However, Expresses Conf
denee In Consolidation Plan, and
Speaks 81 Improved Omaha
service 80


Fred A Mash, president OF the new
Omaha Thomson Houston Electric Light
company. has returned from New York to
resume his interesting game Of checkers
with those iaterests which are combating
his scheme to promote the Platte river
power project
Mr.. Nash is net. however, making any
advance announcement Of his next moves.
The game is taking his whole attention, and
all he gives TO the public Is a laconic
declaration that so far he is well satisfied
with the way II is going. His trip to New
York and to Boston. where the heaviest
capital Of his company A.. was confessedly
q business trip, and made in fulhllment OF
his promise that II his company was granted
the desired franchise by the city council
he would be able to interest capital in
the power plan He says now that his
trip wssafrulafui OF more than he had an
Gicipatpd and that he has not the slightest
doubt Of the schemes being realized in
reasonable time. Moreover, he predicts
that after this $4,000. 900 investment has
been made the city will reap an immediate
benefit in q doubling Of its present popu-
iation.
Coy About Disclosing Details.
But when he has said this much Mr..
Nash becomes mute. Requests for details
are met with an invitation to wait until
q later time when the thing takes more
tangible form, and remarks concerning the
street railway company's interest in his
doings are met with an invitation to have
q fresh cigar. The interamural trafac mag
mates don't seem 20 be causing him any
loss of sleep or daylight perturbation. and
he only smiles at mention OF their names.
He considers their supposed scheme to
consolidate and absorb the Electric Light
company az out OF the question. declaring
that the corporation Of which he is the
president is not on the market and could
not Be bought by those who have proposed
10 do SO. Evidently all negotiations Of the
future are to be on the checker board, with
the Electric Light company playing alone
against the Street Railway company. the
latter directing It's efforts toward prevent
tng the realization OF the power project,
which would threaten It with the compe-
tition OF inter-urban electric lines@ COM
petition which might be worse than that
threatened by the merging of the bridge
line and the Electric Light company, to
prevent which tieup the Omaha Street
Railway company became 50 active when II
was under consideration.
Revival OF old Merger Plan.
That project fell through. but It has LEFT
Ats mark in a revival Of the old scheme &c
merge the Omaha and Council Bluffs Bridge
and Railway company in the Omaha Street
Railway company. n. II. Wells of the former
company. said last night that he fully ex'
pected this scheme to be realized within
year and possibly within two months. HI
states that Of the twelve stockholders II
his company not one Is opposed. and 50 IA
a he knows thu discrimination Of the dea
Is merely delayed BY the arranging of thu
"details.
What these dstails are or will be he pro
1essas not to khae. bot it is said BY 9th.
ers in a position to know that the merge
will be practically an absorption, tn
Omaha Street Railway company issuing nev
stock with which to purchase the stock o
the bridge company. This lie simpltned b.
abe fact that the principal stockholders Il
each are interested in the other.
Expects an Improved Service.
Mr.. Wells does not anticipate that whei
This merging is accomplished It viii meal
any reduction in fares. He thinks that tn