STORAGE BATTERY CARS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 8 December 1911, Page 6

STORAGE BATTERY CARS.

REPLIES TO MR. EDISON. Shortly after sending forward the contract papor to the Beach Battery Car Company for two cars* for the borough of Gisbornc, Mr. W. D. Lysriar (then Mayor) wrote a letter to 'Mr. Edison, stating that lie had induced the Council to go in for these cars on the strength of his (Mr. Edison's) personal assurance to him (Mr. Lysnar) when they met at Orange, New Jersey, and requesting him to give the matter his personal attention to see that reliable up-to-date cars were sent to Gishorne. By a recent mail (states the Herald) Mr. Lysnar received the following reply from Mr. Edison, and also an enclosure from the president of the company:— From the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison, Orange, N.J.-4)ct. 18, 1911 W. D. Lysnar, Esq., Gisborne, New Zealand.—My dear sir—Your letter of the liSth of August regarding the storage battery electric car received. Enclosed herewith you will copy of letter from Mr. R. H. Beach, the builder of the cars. I have not the slightest doubt of the success of the cars, as there are now 14 cars running in, various parts of the United States, three roads having given second orders, and the makers having SO more on order. —Yours very truly, Thomas A. Edison. (Enclosure). Silver Lake, N..T., Oct. 16, 1911. Mr. Thomas A. Edison, Orange, New Jersey.—My dear Mr. Edison.—Attached please find letter from W. D. Lysnar, Mayor of Gisborne, New Zealand. We have a contract from the city of Gisborne dated .July 15, 1911, for'two single truck ears. These cars are to be equipped each with 105 cells of A 8 battery. We are at work on the cars, and we believe from our study of the conditions at Gisborne that 'the cars will do their work satisfactorily. Mr. Harris (the agent for New Zealand) is liere. and has been here for several months in your battery plant with a view of equipping himself with a technical knowledge so that he can handle these batteries properly. He is coming down here to work in a short time and will go out to New Zealand with the cars and instal them. We feel sure that these cars will prove satisfactory. Think you need have no hesitation in so advising Mr. Lysnar.—Yours truly, (signed R. H. Beach, President. Mr. J. Todrig Witty, who has taken a keen interest in borough matters, communicated with Mr. Thomas Edison on the question of the storage batteries, and lias .received a reply which should be read with some interest. On August 18, Mr. Witty wrote to Mr. Edison as follows: Dear Sir,—As an admirer of your wonderful inventions, and a ratepayer of the borough of Gisborne, I am enclosing a cutting from a newspaper to let you know what tlio engineers over this side of "the pond" are saying, and give you a fair chance to refute their statements if incorrect, Mr. Witty received the following ply:October 21, IIMI.—Mr. J. Todrig Witty, Gisborne, X.Z.—Your letter of August I's and newspaper clipping received. I would not sell a battery to Hie makers of a car if I were not -satisfied that it would be a success. There am fourteen cars now running in various parts of the United States, three roads having given second orders, and the makers have thirty more o*l order.—Yours very trulv, Thomas A, Edison.