[D8942AAA], Letter from John Benjamin Verity to Thomas Alva Edison, January 3rd, 1889
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Title
[D8942AAA], Letter from John Benjamin Verity to Thomas Alva Edison, January 3rd, 1889
Editor's Notes
January 3rd, 1889####(Confidential)####T.A. Edison Esq.####Dear Mr. Edison,####I am only 8 days away from you as far as travelling is concerned, but still it is a long way and facts and things get somewhat distorted when they have travelled all the distance from London to you.#### MENTIONS METROPOLITAN ELECTRIC SUPPLY and its contract with WESTINGHOUSE [added tc] ### Conditions in London are very different to what they are in the States. It is absolutely impossible at the present time to run underground cables, although we hope to do so shortly. If we want to do Electric Lighting now, it must be done with aerial wires, these even being only permitted on sufferance. If we attempted to string heavy cables across the streets such as would be necessary for say, a three wire system, the Local Authorities would at once get an injunction. Therefore if any Electric Lighting from a centre is to be done in London immediately, the high tension system must be employed, and of the Companies working on this plan, our Consulting Electricians held that The Westinghouse took the lead.####With regard to yourself you have astaunch adherent in our Chairman Sir John Pender K.C.M.G. who constantly mentions your name, and who also remembers Mr. Johnson very well. Doctor Hopkinson again who is our leading Consulting Electrician, is an advocate of the three wire system.####It would however be absolutely impossible to put down in the present condition of things in England, what is know as an Edison Central station pure and simple.####When I tell you this I am sure you will believe me, and I assure you I am just the same as when my Uncle and I helped Mr. Johnson to get up the Grand Show at the Crystal Palace 7 years ago. I fell it is necessary for me to write this, as I have not been to the states for a long time now, and people forget one, and fancy and say all manner of things. In conclusion I hope the time may come when it may be possible to lay down a good Central Station on the lines of your many successful Stations in America: and that we may have the pleasure of seeing you amidst us next year to give us the required impetus.####Believe me, Yours very faithfully,####John B. Verity####[name mentions: John B. Verity, Chairman Sir John Pender, Crystal Palace, Doctor Hopkinson, Mr. Johnson, Thos Edison]
Author
Recipient
Date
1889-01-03
Type
Folder/Volume ID
D8942-F
Microfilm ID
126:669
Document ID
D8942AAA
Publisher
Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University