Valdez daily prospector., 1916-03-03
To the Public.

--s-
 To the Public.
 Editor Prospector.
 Dear Sir: Will you please give the enclosed letter space in your col umns.
 know it is light and power that your readers want and not letters or bull, but we feel that things will change for the better right soon.
 Our reason for showing this letter is that your many readers may know how much faith can be pinned to the writer of such letters or their prom ises.
 Respectfully yours,
 T. G. QUINN. Inter- Mountain Traction & Power Go. Alfred B. Hes, Vice-Pres.
 Valdez, Alaska, Jan. 15, 1916. Capt. Lenoir, U. S. Signal Corps, Se-
 attle, Wash.
 My Dear Sir: am sending you a clipping from the Prospector to give you an idea of what is going on in electric light circles in Valdez. I am not doing this in anything but the friendliest spirit and principally to show you how idiotic we are to fight each other for the privilege of being philanthropists to the inhabitants of Valdez. Now you have considerable money tied up in this enterprise. and I have so much that I cannot afford to lose it. I see before me long struggle for the patronage unless induce my friends to invest in long distance lines, and seek other sources of revenue from the mines. This we are about to do.
 But why can't we get together and both make money? I have always wanted to, and was always willing tc do the fair thing. If we don't this cut-throat competition will go on, while our friends the consumers sit back and laugh. There will never be anything in it as long as two companies are lighting Valdez. Your company owes a lot of money and that has to be paid before your stock will he worth anything. So far as I am concerned, I owe no man and am therefore in better shape for run of lean years. The question then is: which one will survive? I have just returned to the power plant and afte: watching the work in town of string ing more wires.
 On my way over an idea struck me. which thereupon determined to put into words and send you. It is this: Suppose I took over the indebtedness of your power plant and combine it with mine-not the Valdez Electric Company's claims, and withdraw from the town business. Your company to buy the current from me at three cents per kilowatt' under long con- tract. This would immediately put your company on 8 dividend. earning basis, and you would get some return on your stock. Under your franchise, your company could demand the old rates, and the three cents paid me would be mere bagatelle. I would put in larger plant Q take care of the business as have made arrange ments for considerable capital to come in with me, whether your com pany looks at this favorably or not. Your company would then be in a po- sition before 1t put in that plant up on the mountain, and which has been the cause of all your woes. You need not say that the rates could not be raised. What could be done about it if they were? I would be out of the way. Your company would have monopoly In town and also at Fort Lscum. -,. 'r.
 Think this over. You have told me of your unfortunate investments in Alaska, and for one, would like to see you save this one. To be frank with you, there Is nothin gin it for me at three cents kilowatt, but I hope to reach out for the outside business, In fact must, if I, ever expect to make any money.
 Yours very truly, >.4gned) ALFRED B. LIES.
 adv.
 ,,. .. .->-->.-.--,-s ..