The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-14
Club" Letters of Electric : Monopoly Made Public by
 Rowland Dry Goods Go.

: MAOIIoPOly MAdu0 I uU11S U0
 Rowland Dry Goods Go 5 Continued from First Page.)
 New Haven, Conn.,, Aug. 13, 1907. The Rowland Dry Goods Co.,,
 Bridgeport, Conn. - We understand that either you, Samuel S. Sanford, or Thomas P. Taylor or all of you, are installing or interested in the installations of an electric lighting zor power plant, or both, upon the property of Sam uel IS. Sanford, situated at the cor ner of Main and Cannon streets in Bridgeport, Conn.,, in an addition now being built to the Sanford Building, so-called on Cannon St.; . and that it is proposed not only to supply the tenants and occu- pants of the Sanford Building and of it's addition with electricity, but : also to supply electricity to the neighboring premises of Thomas : P. Taylor, the latter being illegal ! We desire to call your attention to Section 1916 of the General Statutes. Revision of 1902, which is as follows:
 . Section 3916. Manufacture of electricity restricted.
 'tNo person or corporation, unless acting under authority from the. general assembly, shall, in any city or town of this state whose popu- lation exceeds fifteen thousand, manufacture for sale any cleo tricity for purposes of lighting or power; but this section shall not prevent such manufacture for the purpose of the business, or for the !, use of the manufacturer, or for the sale thereof to tenants in the same
 ,<,4,x ed.'
 We hereby notify you that we : shall insist upon our rights in the premises, and shall take all legal measures necessary to protect the same.
 . Yours very truly, THE UNITED ILLUMINATING r COMPANY, = -. :: ; By filling, Webb & Warehouse,
 Its Attorneys. ! To this letter the following rep1 vas made:
 { Bridgeport, Conn, Aug. 1T. 1907. Messrs.- filling, Webb & Morehouse Att'ys for The United Illuminating Co., New Haven, Conn., ..,e Gentlemen:
 : Your favor of the 18th inst, at hand. We were not aware, nor : can we now see where MT. San ford, MT. Taylor or ourselves are trespassisng on the rights of the United Illuminating Company. We shall be pleased to have you en- tighten us. 2 The writer is arranging to leave Bridgeport on Aug. 4th, or 26th for a few weeks vacation, so if you desire to take up the matter pleased to arrange with you for an interview immediately : after, his return.
 Yours very truly, THE, ROWLAND DRY GOODS
 COMPANY ss3k In reply, the United Il1uminatin, Company, through filling, Webb { answered as follows:
 New Haven, Conn, Aug. H, 1907. The Howland Dry Goods Company, Bridgeport, Conn., Your favor Of August. 7th in ref erence to the notice in behalf of the United Illumina ting Co., to you of the 18th inst. has been duly re- ceived. t+ The representatives of the Unit ed IIlumina ting Co.,, will meet you at almost any time to discuss mat ters, but they do not wish you to feel that in granting this inter view they are changing the posi- ton taken in their notice to. you, for they cannot allow their fran chise rights in the City of Bridge port to be impaired or interfered with.
 Yours very truly, filling, Webb & Warehouse. There is no yelling of the threat il hese letters from the attorneys fo. he United Illuminating Company. Tn Hub is brandished aloft so it can b. ,lainly seen. But this company believed it wa within it's constitutional rights il cling electricity so long as it did no .sk for the. use of the public high used to be scared. Neither was. MI Taylor frightened by threats of 1ega proceedings or induced to break hi .greement by a cut in rates, and tn Lgreement between him and this com 'any is now being carried out. We urge upon you that in all fair less this section of the laws of Con d. No good reason can be given, ant lone has been given, why the mak ng and selling of electricity should ,e restricted to few mOnopolieS. I would be just as fair to restrict com etition in the manufacture of an. ther article, to restrict the selling O arm products or the practice of law een claimed. It is & matter of state vide interest. Section 3,916 is a bio lpon the statute books of the Stat f Connecticut. Will you not eradi ate that blot?
 Respectfully and earnestly yours, THE ROWLAND DRY GOODS
 COMPANY.
 m EVHUME R0nV