Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-11
COURT LIFTS BAN
ON PRATT INTERESTS
IN POWER PROJECT

MARIETTA. Ga, March 9.-The
petition of the Washington LAND
company, alleged subsidiary of the
Georgia Railway and Power COM
pany. to enjoin the development of
independent hydrotelectric power on
Coosawattee river. in Gilmer county.
was denied last night by Judge D. w.
Blair, of the Blue Ridge circuit.
After hearing bristling with SEN
sational charges against the power
company, Judge Blair held. that the
petitioner failed to show good cause
why DR.. n. p. Pratt and his asso-
clateS should not continue with their
big waterpower development a;
Goble Gorge. He dissolved the tenn
porary restraining order, denied the
Injunction against further condemna,
ton proceedings, and gave the
plaintiff twenty days in, which to
file bill of exceptions.
Outspoken testimony by DR.. Pratt
and his brother, George l.. Pratt,
featured the hearing, which began at
10 o'clock this morning and contin-
ued until { tonight.
Pratts' Allegations
Among the allegations made By
the Pratts were the following:
1. That the Washington Land
company is, in fact. a dummy COM
pany, and is owned and controlled by
the Georgia Railway and Power
company.
2. That B. T. Simpson, president
of the land company. is an assist
ant secretary of the power company.
3. That the trade whereby the
Washington Land company obtained
title TO the lands in dispute from
John t. Dorsey was negotiated be-
tween Mr.. Dorsey and Preston S.
& Arkwright, president of the power
company.
4. That B. T.. Simpson, president
of the land company, knew nothing
of the purchase of the lands when
approached by N. p. Pratt and
served with a notice of condemna-
ton.
5. That the Washington Land
company, pictured as co-conspira-
tor with the Georgia Railway and
Power company, had Corrupted
John L. Dorsey, of Marietta; Roy
Dorsey. Of Atlanta; and their asso-
clates, and induced the said Dor.
seys to violate their promise and
paid the said Dorseys an excessive
price for the lands involved in the
case"
g. That the object of the litigation
instituted by the Washington Land
company is to stifle hydro-electric
competition in Georgia, and to per-
petuate the monopoly of the Geor-
gIa Railway and Power company.
Z. That the land company al
though capitalized at only $4,000
now owns over 10000 acres of lands
adjacent to water powers in Geor,
gia.
8. That the land company paid to
the Dorseys and their associates
$4,000 for 420 acres of Gilmer coun.
ty land, which they had acquired at
cost of about $4,000. and that the
FEDERAL government values such
lands, well tfmbered. at only 81 an
acre.
Other Allegations
j. That H. M. Atkinson, chairman
of the board of directors Of the DOW.
er company, has himself and
through agents made MANY at
tempts to have the Pratts fix a price
on their development, with view
TO purchasing their properties in
Gilmer county.
L. 1HdL the georgia hallway and
Power company withheld from the
United States government, during
the war, pertinent facts, which the
government sought and of which
the power company knew, concern
ing undeVeloped water powers in
Georgia.
II. That the Georgia Railway and
Power company's maps of hydro
electric developments and updevel-
oped water powers in Georgia fail
to show even q trace of the Coosa.
Wattee river, although it is one of
the most splendid water power de-
velopments in the country.
II. That the Pratts own over 5000
acres of land along the Coosawat.
tee river, in Gilmer county, and
that DIR. Pratt began buying the
lands for the purposes of hydro-elec-
trio development in 1909, long be-
fore the Tallulah Falls development
was planned
IS. That the Coosawattee river is
capable of developing $4,000 horse
power
IA. That the dam site on the Coo
sawattee, at Goble Gorge, is worth.
unimproved, S1,000.00O because at
this point a dam capable of gener-
erected for $1,000,000 less thar
similar dam can be erected any.
where else in the country.
Is. That the Pratt interests and
their associates are assured of a
ready market for all the power they
can develop at Goble Gorge.
Cause of Hearing
is. That many successful New
England textile mills are under
agreement to locate in northwest
Georgia Immediately the Coosawat-
tee hydro-electric development is
ready.
II That II. NJ. Atkinson would
never agree to any hydro-electric de
velopment by the Georgia Railway
and Power company until his finan.
Cial associates or board of directors
forced him to do so.
Is. That Mr.. Atkinson believed his
company to be doing very well with
it's steam properties and was not in
tereSted in any hyoro-electric der
velopment requiring large capital.
10. That then Pratts were warned
by eastern financiers that no firm
of public service engineers nor any
public utility corporation was likely
to enter a field which has been pre-
emptied by another public service
group.
20. That, on this account, the
Pratts were urged by friends in the
east to see if they could interest Mr..
Atkinson in their development.
Holds Drunk Record