[D8901AAD1], Letter from William Earl Hidden to Thomas Alva Edison, April 3rd, 1889
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Title
[D8901AAD1], Letter from William Earl Hidden to Thomas Alva Edison, April 3rd, 1889
Editor's Notes
Yours 21st inst at hand today, the first time I have seen the railroad for over two weeks. Your abrupt decision rather startles me and I know if I was with you today, you would change your mind. I was just on the verge of covering all the chrome territory and in two weeks more could have reported the exact status of these deposits and their availability for the successful manufacture of sodium--or potassium--to bi-chromate. I cannot explain in this letter how much thought I have given to all the matters of costs and plans for a plant at Orange, NJ for the profitable manufacture of chromium salts. In short for you to drop the matter so very abruptly gives me a shake that breaks me all up. It knocks me flat! # Laying chrome matters aside I ask if you yet [---------] the idea of making zirconia crucibles and if so do you care if I look into the zircon deposits in your interests at the same rate I am now traveling upon? I can promise you (aye! guarentee it!) that your zircon shall not cost you over fifteen per pound delivered at R.R. nearest the mine. Is not this a reducement? You remember that I sold twenty-six tons to a Philade Co for Welsbach Gas-Light purposes I obtained twenty-five per pound. I should need an order for say five to ten tons to your personal backing in order to get zircons at 15. Shall I continue in your employ and in this matter? Also I would ask if you desire me to prospect the NJ and NY iron region for iron mines where your magnetic separator will be the means of saving the deposits from utter abandonment? This you spoke of in Dec last and for the moment was rather undecided whether I should look into the chrome or magnetic iron matters first and finally sent me out on a chrome -- for chromic acid, etc. purpose-trip. I know that I can introduce your separator at a number of places in NY and NJ and I think I can give you a satisfactory seasons work. # I take the back track from here today -- over the mtns--to Webster where I shall arrive in three or four days. Not hearing from you there I shall proceed to Asheville and to Morganton and onwards to Newark, NJ. # I have made a hard trip for you, through the very roughest of Mts traversing the "coarsest" of living and while finding chrome at many places and wishing to see them all I find myself at once out of the chrome business entirely. Write me about the zircon and separator at Morganton. [New name mention: Welsbach Gas-Light]
Author
Recipient
Date
1889-04-03
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8901-F
Microfilm ID
125:17
Document ID
D8901AAD1
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University