The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-12-12
A BIT OF HISTORY.


BIT OF HISTORY.
Strange, doesn't that with all the enlighten-
Duluth dailies have been receiving
lately the science of private ownership of the Du-
Electric company and the unreasonable
ness" in political" activities of the municipal
ershp that the historical aspect OF the Elec
trio company's Investments has been carefully avoid
ed?
With all the hysterical outbursts of these protec
the peoples interests not word has been
the orignaton of the DuluthEdson Elec-
trio company
The Labor World has already mentioned briefly Of
through the apparent Vaccinations of the Duluth
Edison company every for civic bettermen when
do with electric lighting, blocked and two
three times defeated
Duluth citizens will we'll remember how in 1905
bill allowing the people of Duluth to say whether no
they should buy the lighting plant, killed in the
legislative committee in the legislature; again in 1907.
how the Mueller Law was emasculated not to
apply Duluth In 1909 after the city council had
peatedly endorsed enabling act will remember
that the St. Louis county delegation pretext
refused to support such measure. 1t was not until
1911 that the political influence of this corporation
the bill allowing the voters of Duluth to
vote the question became law.
The influence of the company local politics has
been told often, and it's apparent influence with the
press is too noticeable need any comment Since the
daes have failed to tell their readers of the origin
of the brief survey of the history of the
lighting system will probably answer the question,
"why?"
Up to 1902 the light plant owned and operated
by the Commercial Light and Power company This
company through pay interest it's bonds
forced into bankruptcy action being brought by
United States Mortgage Trust company trustee for
the holders of the first mortgage bonds of the
The president of the light company A. W. Hartman
and the treasurer R. R. Dunn. These two gentle
appointed receivers to manage the plant
pending action of the court
On February 10, 1902. after the court had ordered
the plant sold at public auction, the plant sold to
the Duluth General Electric company for $815
The president Of this newly organized company being
A. W. Hartman, while R. R. Dunn was treasurer.
Through in playing their cards. this newly
organized company, the Duluth General Electric
notified the Court that the real purchaser
w. G. Dunn, relative of R. R. Dunn Notice how
the worked. After the had changed the
record of sale agree with the contents
ication, the Duluth General Electric company then
bought the plant from j. w. G. Dunn for the sum of
$12e2o00 in bonds and stock Of the company. DO YOU
GET THAT? This is of those Investments" the
people of Duluth are asked to uphold. This that
s476,5910S in watered stocks poured into the
trio company night
Then 1906 It became evident to these emin-
ent business that it necessary to reorgan-
lze February 49, 1906, according statements
the Duluth General Electric company with A. w. Hart
man as president and R. R. Dunn treasurer owned
the plant at valuation of 81 458 $685. which in
cludes the $476,591OS watered stock aforementioned
Now came the uth-Edson Electric company with
A. w. Hartman, president and R. r. Dunn treasurer
who purchased the plant on March l. 1906 "a hours
later at valuation of $2,41s,O1s.60. DO YOU GET
THAT?
This is another Investment the people of Duluth
are being asked to protect $959,735s1 of watered
stock poured into this night making "a
total of $1436 1869 issued stocks and bonds with
no tangible property to them you beat it?
The great flood" wasn't in It,
This latter DEAL includes issue OF $4,000 In
stocks representing the purchase" of the "Prindle
Cas- franchise which strange turned up in the
hands of A. w. Hartman
Some time before the special election we hone to
see an ed1fyng editorial possibly letter from the
Duluth Edison ELECTRIC company accompanied by a
sworn satemen from it's auditor to the legitamacy
Of these sacred Investments Of the concern Surely
the business interests of Duluth have nothing to be
proud of and can't possibly gain anything by standing
sponsors for the rickery deceit of such stock ma
nipulations.
Let us repeat that Duluth needs legitimate enter
prses and can't afford to longer the
methods and political activities this public service
.# corporation. =
5S38s&$ HURRAH FOR SUPERIOR. ~
1t is with great deal of satisfaction that we have
learned of the decision of the Superior merchants I'd
their stores O'Clock Christmas eve Now lei
all the Duluth merchants get into line and We can feel
n like zeiyized" beinga ,5s 0 -
E A 8E2 ~