Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-03-31
OWNERS OF ELECTRIC PLANT AND
TROLLEY AT WILDWOOD WANT
TO SELL

That the owners of the electric light
and trolley plant at Wildwood want
to sell their, property was revealed at
the meeting of the City Commissioners
last Tuesday. Electric light history
in Wildwood dates back to the winter
Of 1S96t1S97, when a franchise was
granted by the Borough Council to
Charles Richter. He erected a plant,
but the service vas not very depend
able, and in the fall of 1898 the plant
was sold at sheriff's sale to the An
derson Preserving Co., a creditor.
Later on, Spencer Simpson, a Camden
lawyer, and DR.. w. S. Moslander be-
came interested in the plant. They
had many ups and downs, and in 1900
the plant was finally bought by the
Henry d. Moore interests, including
the late j. Fithian Tatem, the latter's
son-in-law, and Frederick Sutton and
]. Alpheus Van SAINT, the latter three
now being deceased. These men had
ready money to put in the concern and
wildwood has enjoyed most excellent
light and trolley service in the "
years that have elapsed since. The
following letter was read at the Com
missioners' meeting, signed by A. H.
Riddell, of the engineering firm of Ma
chold & Riddell, of Philadelphia,
which explains the position of the
wners of the plant;
MIR RIDDFLLiS LETTER
"Under authority of The Wildwood
Electric & Traction Co., l beg to
bring to your attention the fact that
this property, which includes the Elec-
trio Lighting and Electric Street Rail
way systems of your city, is now for
sale. The reason for this decision by
the company is owing to the death of
two of the original owners, followed
more recently by the death of Mr..
Tatem, bringing about a situation
wherein there are now three estates
represented in what was originally and
still is, an ownership confined to a
very limited number.
In conference with the owners, they
have expressed doubt as to your being
interested as prospective purchasers,
but the writer, who has always been
closely associated with the company,
and aware of the friendly feeling of
mutual interest, good will and conf
dence which has always prevailed be-
tween them and the people of Five
Mile Beach, also with a friendly per-
sonal interest in Wildwood, has re-
quested, and received authority from
the owners to lay the matter before
you, believing that if property is to be
sold, you would, upon being advised
as to certain facts in the case, give
serious consideration to municipal
purchase and operation of this COM
pany, which comprises your electric
lighting and street railway systems.
With this explanation, 1 am writing
you frankly and rather informally,
also at greater length than necessary
to merely ask the question as to
whether you are interested. However,
approaching the necessity of your
having before you rather full informa-
ton in order to give the question Sc
fious consideration, l will endeayor to
give you at this time what cur to
me as the points you might wish pre-
scented, and will gladly supply further
information desired. Furthermore, the
company, without knowledge as to
how you may view the situation, have
already been approached by parties
interested in the purchase, and nego-
tiations are pending, so that while my
addressing you may not be construed