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These records, which cover the period 1882-1884, were generated or used by the Thomas A. Edison Construction Dept. Edison founded this company in 1883 for the purpose of constructing direct-current electric power stations in towns and cities throughout the United States. It was the only electric light company that Edison managed directly. The company operated from May 1883 until August 1884, building thirteen central stations in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In September 1884 the Construction Dept. merged with the Edison Co. for Isolated Lighting, which assumed responsibility for the construction of all central stations in the United States.

Records Not Selected

Mapping Department Books

This two-volume set, whose entries cover the period February 1883-April 1884, was apparently used by the company's mapping department. One volume contains an alphabetical listing by city of incoming maps prepared by the canvassers and forwarded to the Construction Dept. The other volume records work done within the mapping department.

Gas Statistics Book

This book contains data about competing gas lighting companies. The information was gleaned from circulars sent in 1881 to Western Union telegraph stations across the United States. The statistics were used by the Edison companies to gauge the gas market competition. The entries appear in rough alphabetical order according to state and city. The book includes information about cities in most states from Alabama through New York. The front cover is labeled "Gas Statistics Book No. 1."

Meter Book

This unused book was designed for the collection of data about the amount of electricity used by central station customers.

Samuel Insull Pocket Notebook, PN-84-01-04

This pocket notebook contains one dated entry from January 4, 1884. It consists of notes and calculations by Insull concerning various central station plants. Most of the notes are in shorthand.