[LB047047A], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Albert Little Abbott, J B Wolfe, January 22nd, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB047047A
Transcription
January 22, 1891. To Messrs. A. L. Abbett, H. Lichtenstein, R. T. Moore, Louis Bush, B. R. Forman, J. B. Wolfe etc., etc., of New Orleans, La. Dear Sirs:- On my return to the Laboratory a few days ago after a week’s absence in the West, where I was called to attend the funeral of my brother, I find your esteemed favor under date 27th of October last, in which you invite me to visit New Orleans and address the citizens of that city on the subject of electricity as a motive power. It is needless to say that I appreciate very highly this courteous invitation so kindly extended to me, but as to accepting the same, I regret exceedingly that my engagements will not permit me to do so. It will, however, afford me a great deal of pleasure to furnish you with any data that I possess and that you may desire on the subject mentioned, or to impart any information that might be of assistance to you in your consideration of the same. I am a firm believer in the great superiority of electricity to all other known forms of power. I am convinced that it is destined to ultimately displace the other motive agents in use at the present time, and it is a source of much gratification to me that the citizens of New Orleans, in common with other progressive communities, recognize the great advantages to be gained by the adoption of this form of energy, and the many benefits which would certainly follow its general application to the numerous and various uses for which it is suitable. In conclusion, gentlemen, I beg that you will accept my sincere thanks for the many kind expressions concerning myself contained in your communication under reply. Yours very respectfully, Thomas A. Edison.