[D8938AAJ], Letter from Sherburne Blake Eaton to Thomas Alva Edison, April 22nd, 1889

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Title

[D8938AAJ], Letter from Sherburne Blake Eaton to Thomas Alva Edison, April 22nd, 1889

Editor's Notes

New York, April 22nd, 1889####Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,####Dear Sir:####Re E.G.E. Co. Annexed hereto please find copy of a letter from Mr. Coster to me, dated April 19, 1889; also a copy of Mr. Villard's proposed reply thereto, addressed to me, dated April 22m 1889, prepared by me.####These letters close the preliminary details touching the formation of the company. Mr. Spofford will give me a check at once for $15,000., to pay the State Tax, and I will file the Certificate of Incorporation probably tomorrow, if you approve.####Nothing now remains but to get your approval to the above two leters. Are they satisfactory to you? If so, kindly sen me word immediately, and I will file the Certificaate of Incorporation.####Very truly yours, S.B. Eaton.####[Enclosure]:####New York, April 19th, 1889.####Major S.B. Eaton, Present.####My dear Major:####I am in receipt of yours of the 18th; and in answer, would say that while I am very clear in my opinion that a contract with Mr. Edison, in the form proposed, is not desirable for either party and, furthermore, that it is almost impossible to prepare any general contract with him, I do not propose to take the responsibility of deciding the matter, in view of the apparently reluctant cconsent given by Mr. Villard.####I have expressed my views to you; and am ready to discuss the matter with him any time that he is able to do so: but so far as I am concerned I must ask that it be allowed to lay over until that time.####The various papers you have prepared for the Edison General Eletric Co., seem, to me fully to cover all other objects that we have in view; and they are, in form, satisfactory to me.####As you will remember, the contract of guarantee by Mr. Villard is to be modified somewhat, in accordance with the conversation you and I had, yesterday; but I assume this paper can easily be got in satisfactory shape.####I understand, furthermore, that Mr. Herrick has accepted the offer of the vie Presidency and General Management of the proposed Company; and I assume that a permanent Board of Directors will be constituted in a manner satsifactory to us.####[Enclosure]: Mills Building.####New York, April 22, 1889.####S.B. Eaton Esq.,####Present.####Dear Sir:####Replying to the letter of C.H Coster Esq., under date of 19th. Inst., to your good self, I sould say:####1. It was never in my mind to hold Mr. Coster responsible for the non-conclusion of the proposed new contract between Mr. Edison and the Edison Light Company. It is true that I shrank at first from the responsibility of proceeding with the organization of the Edison General Electric Company without such a contract, but now I am also of the opinion that it is best to do without it.####2. I am willing to enter alone into the contract for $600,000. stock of the new Company to be used as agreed.####3. My understanding is distinct that Mr. Herrick shall be vice-President of the new Company.####4. I will use my best endeavors to bring about the formation of a definite Board of Directors for the new Company satisfactory to Messrs. Drexel, Morgan & Co.####Truly yours,####(To be signed) Henry Villard#### [name mentions: Thos Edison,Charles H Coster, Charles Spofford, S.B. Eaton, Henry Villard, Henry Villard, Mr. Herrick, Messrs. Drexel, Morgan & Co., Edison General Electric Company, C.H Coster, Edison Light Company]

Date

1889-04-22

Type

Folder/Volume ID

D8938-F

Microfilm ID

126:410

Document ID

D8938AAJ

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
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