[LB059074], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to John D Campbell, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Co, February 6th, 1894
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB059074
Transcription
Feb. 6, 1894. J. D. Campbell, Esq., Philadelphia & Reading R. R., Philadelphia, Pa. Dear Sir:- Your letter of 31st ultimo, enclosing lease etc. for Putnam Ore lands, is at hand and fully noted. As we will not build on the property this year, and as it will take a year to put up such a plant as I contemplate building, it would only leave us ten years as drawn in which to get back entire cost of the plant - making too close work. I have found from experience that to make any success in ore concentrating, particularly with present low price of ore and with the prospect of free ore in the future, that it must be done on a very large scale, making a large investment necessary. I would therefore ask that to enable me to have proper time in which to get back the investment you would add a clause to the lease somewhat as follows: “At the expiration of the twelve years from the data hereof, if this lease shall so long continue in force, and only in such event, that party of the second part shall have the option of renewing it for a further term of eight years from December 1, 1905, at a minimum annual rental for every year from the 1st day of December 1905, to the 1st day of December, 1913, of Seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500.00), under all the conditions as herein provided.” I herewith return you the lease and agreements for correction as above. Yours very truly, Thos A Edison