Power Cut: Newport Planing Mill Shuts Down in Contract Fight with Electric Company
The Coulter & Button planing mill went idle last week after Northern Electric refused to supply power, alleging a broken contract over February electricity.
Owing to the disagreement between the Northern Electric Company and the Coulter & Button Co., the planing mill of the latter was forced to shut down last week, as the electric light company refuses to furnish them power. The electric company claims that the planing company fractured its contract by not accepting power during the month of February. We hope the controversy will soon be adjusted.
“The planing mill of the latter was forced to shut down last week as the electric light company refuses to furnish them power.”
Utility disputes can still idle a workplace overnight. In 1908, the fight was over a February power contract; today, energy costs and grid reliability remain make-or-break issues for small manufacturers in rural Washington.
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