[D8831ABV], Letter from William Dennis Marks to Thomas Alva Edison, October 3rd, 1888
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/D8831ABV
→ View document with UniversalViewer
→ View document on Archive.org
→ Re-use this digital object via a IIIF manifest
Title
[D8831ABV], Letter from William Dennis Marks to Thomas Alva Edison, October 3rd, 1888
Editor's Notes
[Letterhead: "If you want cheap power, use a motor."] "Railroad men say that 'nothing is so cheap as preliminary surveys' and mechanical engineers that 'nothing is so cheap as drawings' Meaning by that, that experience has taught them that a careful + minute preliminary consideration has proved in practice a real economy of time and money. Before making drawings of the various meters acquired in our station I asked for standard drawings of meters made by Bergmann + Co to fit into our work. I could get none of them wrote asking thrice to send at my expense a draught man familiar with their methods. They could not as they have but one electician + was advised that I would have to pay $8 a day for what I needed. We don't pay that here for first class men + I went ahead getting out the amphere meters of which I have sent you blueprints as we required + of the various capacities to be met by Bergmann with a [unclear] price on the ground that 'they were not standards' Great Scott! Where are the standards? Now I have ordered those meters of Bergmann at a reduction of $700# and a fair price + giving him a good profit, so I will not say more as the matter is of the past. Since then I have in search of standards twice gone to N.Y. to meetings of the Standardizing Committee + I have had several conversations with Mr. Jenks too + after obtaining his [unclear] to write to you asking your valuable attention. ### The growth of the Edison Companies in all directions will be in a geometre rather than an artithmetic ratio + the need will daily become greater of furnishing to station builders [unclear] arises it shall be met at once. ### I do not say this as complaining of Mr. Jenks or of the Core [unclear] but with his assent I present for your consideration the previous statues of affairs + beg that you will consider the property + economy of making the standardizing bureau able to meet the demands upon it which must constantly increase + of amplifying their powers, incerasing their facilities for making experiment + of recording in Standard drawings the commercial apparatus required by all companies. I know you take a bold + a broad view of all matters + for our common interests I earnestly solicit you careful consideration of this matter I am." Most respectfully + truly yours, Will D. Marks
Author
Recipient
Mentioned
Date
1888-10-03
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8831-F
Microfilm ID
123:195
Document ID
D8831ABV
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University