Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-04-04
An Analysis OF New Com
pany'S Position Furnishes Ad-
ditiOnaI Evidence Why Will
mingtOn Cannot Possibly
Profit by Granting Of New
Electric Franchise


The Company applying for the new electric light franchise in
lengthy published in yesterdays papers, defines its
position states other things that the intention
of the applicant for this franchise to in cut throat
competition
well established that competition in the electric
lighting business only exist along the lines of service and price
It has heretofore been beyond question and will again be
established that the present equipment of the Wilmington PhIa
delpha Traction Company is AMPLE FOR AND DOES ACTU-
ALLY FURNISH HIGH GRADE SERVICE IN WILMINGTON.
public ample power that this hghgrade
service is maintained
1T is EVIDENT, THEREFORE. THAT PROPER SERVICE
CAN BE ENFORCED WITHOUT COMPETITION AND SINCE
1T IS THE PUBLISHED INTENTION OF THE APPLICANT NOT
TO CUT RATES. 1T is FURTHER EVIDENT THAT NO REAL
BENEFITS CAN ACCRUE TO THE PUBLIC BY THE GRANT
ING or THE FRANCHISE FOR WHICH APPLICATION HAS
BEEN MADE
While true by Applicant that there may be
saving the of producing current for electric light In
junction production of current for railway purposes 1T
IS NOT TRUE THAT CURRENT SUITABLE FOR RAILWAY
PURPOSES CAN BE USED FOR LIGHTING PURPOSES WITH
OUT THE INTERVENTION OF ADDITIONAL AND EXPEN-
sIvE EQUIPMENT ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO LIGHTING
PURPOSES.
The National Board of promulgated
the following rule:
Rule a. Light and Power from Railway Lines:
Must not he permitted under any preense in the
circuit with trolley wires with ground return
cept electric railway cars electric houses, power
houses passenger and freight stations connected with the
operation of electric railways"
will be the above that it is impractcabIe to
commercial purposes generated for railway
any other than the specific purposes shown this rule
It follows therefore, except would
substantially the duplication of investment and equip
necessary connection with this application there would
the application Company connected with railway
company.
has been stated most smphacay in the published adver
the Company applying for this franchise that
neither the electric light franchise applied for the railway
system with which is connected is for sale Substantially the
been made in the of app
light franchises in this CITY, For example
the of the Public Utility Light Heat and Power Company
which recently failed to franchise after most exhaustive
investigation by the Street and Sewer Department it
peaed stated that the Railway Company with which the Light
ing Company was to associated NOT FOR SALE
withstanding these statements TIL RAILWAY COMPANY HAS
BEEN SOLD WITHIN THE LAST YEAR
The Public Utility Commission the State of Wisconsin
stated refusing application for permission to compete:
'That active and continuous competition between
public utility corporations furnishing the service to
the locality, TO BE OUT OF THE CUES
TON SUCH COMPETITION is CONTRARY TO THE
VERY NATURE OF THINGS"
The inevitable result of competition combination This the
history the Light and Power business Wilmington in the past
and the future is rightly judged only by the past.
While Public Service Company not display For Sale"
sign, yet all physical property ALWAYS HAS SALE PRICE
Judge yourselves whether there any
why Company operating railway should wish to in
electric lighting field already fully covered UNLESS 1T BE
THAT OF REAPING PROFIT, which only be secured by
sale of such property.
When announced few days that proposed to give
the public certain interesting facts regarding this application for
electric franchise just what said and WE PRO-
POSE TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT PROMISE. Much dis
like TO contradict certain statements made by the applicant for
this franchise in the yesterday of duty to the
public and promise to take it into confidence compe
to We do desire and do not intend to be drawn into
newspaper controversy hut do intend to tell the people of VIII
mngon substantial facts about the Electric Light and Power
proposition, which they have possibly not known heretofore
Light and Power Department
Wilmington and PhiIa. Traction
6OS Market Street.