The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-10-01


dustry in Hattiesburg is being oper-
ated by electric drive. Almost every
show window in the business district
is lighted from dusk until midnight.
In September 1911 there were not
more than three electric signs in the
city, now numbers of Illuminated signs
may be seen by visitors, evidencing
the progressive spirit of the Hatties-
burg merchants, and the city now can
boast of one of the most magnificent
slogan signs in the entire country,
the gift of the Hattiesburg Traction
Company.
The gas plant has been rebuilt and
the mains extended to accommodate
the rapidly increasing use of gas.
Every public utility, whether under
private or public control, is theoreti-
cially for the service of all the people.
Just in proportion as that function is
recognized by those who direct it's
CONTROL does it meet the obligations
imposed by it's functions and fran
chises. The fact that at present the
Hattiesburg Traction Company is en-
joying a monopoly OF the gas, electric
light and power and street railway
business of Hattiesburg is privilege
not lightly to be esteemed. 1t can be
truthfully said that since the Henry
l.. Doherty Company acquired con-
troll of the properties embraced in the
Hattiesburg Traction Company there
has been a marked and steady i'm.
provement in the physical property
vice rendered by it.
There is no disparagement of other
potent agencies that have contributed
to the upbuilding of this city, to say
that no agency has done more to make
of Hattiesburg a real city, than the
Hattiesburg Traction Company, and
this has been especially true since the
property was acquired by the Doherty.
interests.
Henry L. Doherty.
Since the Doherty holdings in Hat
tiesburg are so vitality bound up with
every other interest in this growing
city, it will interest many to learn
something of Henry l.. Doherty, es-
pecially as the narrative of his achieve
ments furnishes another striking it,
lustration of the climb from the bot
tom to successful heights.
Henry L. Doherty was born in Co
lumbus, Ohio, May 49, 1870, and is now
but little past AZ years of age. His
father, Frank Doherty. was an engi-
neer and inventor His ancestry was
| English, Scotch and Irish His grand
father, William Doherty, landed in
America in 1900 His maternal grand
father was an early librarian in the
state of Ohio and fought in the war
of 1912, being brevetted for bravery
| in Perrys victory on Lake Erie at Put !
in-Bay. Mr.. Doherty attended the pub
lie schools of his native town until the !
age of II years, when he entered the |
employ of the Columbus Gas Company |
as office boy. His further education |
was obtained in the University of !
Hard Knocks Continuing with the
same company until 1896 he rose stead !
lily until he became chief engineer and |
assistant to the general manager In |
1896 he went to Madison, Wise, as
manager of the Madison Gas and Elec-
trio Light Co., and was later elected !
its president.
Many other positions of RESPONSE
bility were filled by the subject Of
this sketch prior to the formation by
him in 1905 of the firm of Henry L.
Doherty e Co., 60 Wall Street, New
York.
The largest child of Mr.. Doherty's
brain, and what bids fair to become
the most successful one, is the "Cities
Service Company" a corporation or
ganized by him In the fall of 1910.
With the two large holding and &
nancial companies mentioned Mr..
is largely interested in ligh;
power and traction holdings East,
West, North and South