[D8316BVI], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Samuel Insull, December 26th, 1883
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Title
[D8316BVI], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Samuel Insull, December 26th, 1883
Editor's Notes
[8pg omnibus to Insull in London.snapshot] TAE left me in the lurch for payroll by failing to return when promised. Saved only by several checks recd today for village plants in towns not canvassed—the people are too anxious to wait. so far just got a cablegram. Have been expecting a letter but so far just got a cablegram. Enclose a reply to your letter to Eaton; we have done nothing. Fall River started successfully the 18th and runs smoothly. Tiffin is getting inside work, Mt. Carmel ready for wire and Bellefonte and Hazleton ready the 1st. W'msport has accepted a contract with our much cheaper new determination despite longer mains. Expect a check for a portion of the first installment soon. WRT to finances, had to "skin" through on Saturday last (12/22). TAE promised to be back from Fall River the 21st, which I told him was necessary for payroll checks etc. Got three checks from him and disposed of two for Machine Works and Kruesi. But TAE went to Haverhill until Sunday. Had about $3,400, went to mail again and found an unexpected check from Garrison. Sunbury wants to close a contract "without having a canvass made, and in fact without ever having before seen a representative of the Edison Electric Light Company. The same thing is reported from Circleville, wher ethe people say that they cannot wait for a convass to be made and want us to go ahead and put the light in without it. You see that the "snap" is going to "boom" tremendously next year." TAE is "firmly of the opinion that we will do $3m worth of work during 1884." Update on status of each station, highlight being the switch to brick in Piqua, because it is only somewhat more expensive than frame there and Middletown, and makes a good impression. New Orleans is as good as settled, St. Louis less so but will go through. Danbury estimate was made before we discovered we were 5% off, but it is invalid tomorrow and they're not going to accept. By your return, I think all plants will be running. Your shorthand man was of no use and is being replaced. Kruesi came to me in tears, asking "patterns were regarded as an available asset!!!!!!!" Gilmore has kicked like a mule since you left against working on Sunday. USEFUL REF FOR STATUS OF VILLAGE PLANTS; REFERENCE FOR VILLAGE PLANT/CONST DEPT APPENDIX
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1883-12-26
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8316-F
Microfilm ID
65:936
Document ID
D8316BVI
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University