This viewpoint was shared the
capitalists running the electrical utility industry. Edison believed that the large scale
of alternating current systems would cost too much money to
construct and that interest charges the investment would
eliminate any operating profit. His evaluation all
electrical systems was based primarily commercial
considerations— the best designed central station system was
the one that returned the highest profits the smallest
.V-13
his friend and financier, Henry Villard, that was "not worth
the attention practical men"— meaning that had no
commercial potential. 29
possible investment.
