The sun., 1908-09-14
LIGHT WAR, HOUSES DARK
CLASH OF RIVAL COMPANIES IN
NEWARK LEADS TO ARREST.

Employee OF Public Service Corporation
Accused OF Assault Upon fvice-Presi'
dent OF Arcade Company-Scores Of
Wires Cut-Shotgun Figures In Fight.
The fight between the Public Service
Corporation and tho Arcade Block Light
ing Company in Newark to supply store
keepers with electric light on Broad street
in that city has assumed a serious aspect
One man has been arrested on q charge
Of assault and battery. and as, a result
Of the warfare scores Of wires were cut
and many apartments and dwellings
in the Clinton Hill section Of the city
were without their electric light on Satur-
day night.
The man arrested Is Thomas F. Quinn,
who has been leading the attack Of the
Public Service Corporation, which Ia
called the lighting trust in Newark,
against the Arcade company. The charge
against him was made by James q.
Sharpe, vice-president Of tho latter con-
cern. The arrest, which was made by
Patrolman Macdonald at Broad and New
streets at 1 o'clock yesterday morning.
had been expected, as threats had been
made by the opposing parties all day.
Sharpe alleges that Quinn struck him
in the face. and his statement was cor
roborated by Clayton W. Morse, secre-
tary and treasurer Of the company,
aud the latter's brother, Arthur Morse.
Quinn was paroled to appear In court
this morning.
The trouble between the companies
began three weeks ago. The Public
Service Corporation has franchise
which gives it the sole right to erect
wires in the streets OF Newark. There
is no law against any other company
supplying electricity. to customers. but
because of the franchise mentioned none
can operate in more than one block from
one plant.
The Arcade people offered to supply
electricity to the business concerns in
the block bounded by Broad, Halsey,
West Park and New streets at rate
offered. To reach some OF the stores
the Arcade company had to string wires
across the building Of A. A. Eisele, shoe
dealer at e5s Broad street Members
OF the Eisele concern are in sympathy
with the Public Service Corporation and
refused to allow this to be cone.
Since then. however the smaller con-
Germ has been leading the Public Service
a lively chase in an effort to lay its wires
and last week succeeded in stealing q
march on it's rival. With a number OF
workmen the officials Of the Arcade COM
pany appeared on Broad street at 3
O'Clock one morning and tearing up the
pavement in front OF the Eisele store
laid it's wires. The Public Service learned
Of this and complained to the Board OF
Works. AS the Arcade concern did not
Shipman ordered the wires torn up again.
All day Saturday the representatives OF
the conflicting corporations wrangled.
Late Saturday afternoon employees OF
the Public Service climbed on the roof
Of the Hahne q Co. storehouse in Halsey
street and cut two wires which the Ar
cade company had strung across to, the
there, and Clayton W. Morse. secretary
and treasurer of the Arcade company.
appeared on the roof of the Arcade Build
ing with a shotgun. For time IL looked
as though the police would be called to
stop the row.
Several stories are told about the part
the gun played in the mixup. but Morse
declared that the weapon was empty and
was not used. He said he had the gun to
prevent any one from trespassing on the
roof OF the Arcade Building. OF which
property he is superintendent.
The Arcade company carried the fight
into the territory OF the Public Service
at night. the scene shifting from the
Broad street block to the Clinton Hill
section. The forces OF the smaller COM
pany are said to have cut twenty-five
light wires of the Public Service strung
across the Geiser apartment house at
400 Clinton avenue and 81 Ridgewood ave-
nue.. The cutting Of these wires also threw
many dwellinge in the vicinity into dark
ness. and following this tie Arcade men
severed a large feed wirv carrying ZOO
voltage and supplying hEh. to = large mum.
Der Of stores on Clinton and Badge ave
nues The Public Service had been told
that il must remove its wires from all
properties owned by the Real Security
and Investment Company within twenty
four hours and that II it failed to do 20
they would be cut
It'll likely that moro arrests will be made
and suits for damages will follow. The
whole matter will probably get into the
courts.
The Arcade officials declare they have
backing OF nearly IS 900 900. and they
intend to fight to finish. A new move
is promised this week.