[LB062646], Letter from William S Logue to George M Dugan, Illinois Central Railroad, October 26th, 1896
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB062646
Transcription
Oct 26/96 Mr Geo. M. Dugan Supt Telegraph Illinois Central RR Chicago Ills Dear Sir Your letters of the 19th and 21st received. I want to again express my regrets, that the mistake was made. I am at loss to understand that part of your letter, in which you say “that you are using the Gordon battery in place of the Lelande, and with very favorable results, and at much less expense." I shall appreciate it as a favor, if you will kindly advise me, in what way the Gordon battery is better than the Edison, is it in the price or how. If it is in the setting up of the battery, I want to say that we are now furnishing the potash in granulated form, and that it takes but three minutes to dissolve the potash, this diminishes the labor considerably. According to tests made here, the Gordon does not show any better results than ours, if as good, and from the information we receive from the roads around New York, our price of 40% off, or $1.62 per cell with porcelain jar, and renewals at 73 cents per cell, is considerably cheaper than the Gordon cells with glass jar & renewals. Personally I cannot see how the Gordon battery excels the Edison, as to price or quality, and any information that you can consistently give me will be considered confidential. We want you to use the Edison battery, and will endeavor to arrange it so, that you will be willing to do so. If I had not been under the impression that the JC was a free or at a very much reduced rate shipper, on the American Express Co’s lines, I would have probably hesitated, before making the shipment that way. Please let me hear from you Yours very truly W.S. Logue