[LB054131A], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Exhibition. Chicago Columbian (1893), John Patrick Barrett, November 2nd, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB054131A
Transcription
131 1/2 Copy Letterhead of the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison Orange, N.J. Nov. 2. ’91 [Cprl.?] [J. P.?] Barnett Electrician in Chief World's Columbian Exhibition Chicago Ill Dear Sir— I have been informed by Mr William J Hammer that the Commissioners of the Worlds Fair have under consideration the advisability of sending a special commissioner abroad representing the electrical interests of the Words Fair to the Commercial interests & the scientific bodies in the different parts of Europe■Mr Hammer has also informed me that his name has been mentioned in this connection & has requested me to give you my opinion upon the advisability of the sending of such a commissioner abroad & my opinion upon his qualifications to act in this capacity From my knowledge of electrical matters & experience with electrical men abroad it seems to me to be highly important that a special effort be made to interest the foreign electricians in the coming Worlds Fair & it is my belief that if this is not done by the appointment of a special commissioner the electrical interests of the Worlds Fair, which are of such manifest importance, will beb but poorly represented outside of our own country I consider Mr Hammer peculiarly qualified to act in this capacity He has carried some of the largest electrical installations in this country & in Europe, & has been identified with various international Exhibitions, & while for many years connected with the Edison Electric lighting interests of this country & Europe, he has been for the last two years acting in an entirely independent capacity as a consulting & supervising Electrical Engineer. [His?]b residence of four years abroad brought him in contact with many of the most prominent electricians & the work which he has done & his connection with various electrical societies in this country & Europe should give him an excellent standing abroad. He was my representative at the Paris Exposition of 1889, which work he carried out with great success, & having resided over a year in France & a year & a half in Germany, he has acquired considerable knowledge of those languages, which should be of service to him. Thomas A Edison■per W.J.H. [William Hammer]