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48
this; the London Electric Supply Corporation were already
supplying ratepayers, outside the Act, by means of an
objectionable system of overhead wires, and although the
Vestry would prefer to be left alone with the two Companies
who had already assented to their terms, they would not
have opposed the granting of an order to the London
Electric Supply Corporation, subject to the Board of Trade
being satisfied Avith the stability of the Company, and the
safety, economy, &c., of their proposed system of supply, provided
the Company would come under similar conditions to
those imposed on their competitors in the Parish. The other
applications the Vestry absolutely declined to entertain.
Taking the Metropolis as a whole, the interests involved,
both as to capital and the interests of the public, were so
enormous that the Board of Trade directed an inquiry to be
held, at which all Companies, authorities, and persons
interested could be heard before any farther licences or
provisional orders were granted.
The Inquiry was conducted by Major Marindin, R.E.,
assisted by Captain Cardew. It was held at the Westminster
Town Hall, commenced on the 3rd April, and occupied 18
days. Its scope embraced all the applications then pending
for licences or provisional orders in any part of the Metropolis.
These applications presented almost every phase of the
question of electrical supply, including questions between
high and low tension, continuous and alternating currents,
the use of converters and the use of accumulators, large and
small areas of supply, local generating stations and one large
station, and various other questions of detail. It will thus be
seen that the Inquiry was of an exhaustive nature, and is
likely to mark an era in the history of the supply of electricity
in the Metropolis.