The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

February 11, 1891.
Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Co.,
No. 13 Park Row, New York City.
Dear Sirs:-
Referring to your letter of 31st ultimo, containing answers to various questions asked be me relating to the status and details of your business, will you very kindly furnish me with replies to the following additional queries:
(1) How many Sub-Companies have you contracts with, and what are the names of these Companies?
(2) In your letter of 31st ult. You state that the gross receipts collected by (all?) Sub-Companies for November and December amounted to $22,119.14. Will you kindly tell me how much this averaged per machine, computing on the basis that all machines were in use for the entire period of the two months?
(3) In your letter of 31st ult. you state that the gross receipts were $22,119.14, will you kindly tell me how the receipts were apportioned among the various Sub-Companies, mentioning each Company and the amount of its receipts; also as regards each Sub-Company, how much the expenses were which were to be deducted from the gross receipts and how much was the net amount for said two months received by each Sub-Company?
(4) Referring again to the aforesaid gross-receipts of $22,119.14 you state that out of that amount you received only $3,909.57. It [then] appears that you received only about 18% of the gross receipts. Please tell me whether that is all you are entitled to receive?
(5) How many shares of the Trustee Stock held by Mr. Gottschalk has been sold, to whom, at what price, and how many shares does he still hold?
(6) Please state in full detail what the indebtedness of the Company was in January, 1891. Please also state whether you have given any Promissory Notes, and if so, to whom, on what account, what amounts, and when payable, and state whether any of these notes are endorses or secured in any way.
(7) Referring to your answer (4) in your said letter of 31st ult., will you please explain the last three items, viz: amounts “to pay” Mr. Gilliland, Messrs. Robinson and Blodget, Trustees, and Mr. Cheever?
(8) Please send me a copy of the By-Laws of the Company as they were originally adopted and a copy of all amendments made to them, if any, since adoption. Please have the same certified to by the Secretary of the Company. 
(9) Please send me a copy of the Minutes of the recent Annual Meeting, certified to by the Secretary.
(10) Please send me a list of the Stockholders of the Company, with the number of shares held by each, as appears by the books of the Company at the time of the recent Annual Meeting. Kindly have this certified by the Secretary.
(11) In your letter of 31st ult., you state that you have paid for 573 machines, which I assume is payment in full. In the same letter you state that you have distributed 744 machines. From this it appears you have put out 171 machines which have not been paid for. Has any payment at all been made on account of the above 171 machines, and have the other been paid for entirely?
(12) Have any patent suits been commenced against you, and have you received any notices from owners of patents warning you against infringing their rights? If yes, please state what you have done to protect the Company. 
(13) In your letter of 31st ult. you state that 200 shares of Treasury Stock had been sold. Does Mr. Gottschalk, Trustee, hold all the rest, and how much? Does he hold any Certificate therefor, and if so, please state in what name or names and exactly what amount as regards each certificate.
(14) As regards the above mentioned Trustee Stock, does Mr. Gottschalk claim the right to vote on it, and has he ever voted on it?
Yours very truly,
Thomas A. Edison