The investors showed little interest in Tesla's ideas for new types of alternating current motors and electrical transmission equipment. After the utility was up and running in 1886, they decided that the manufacturing side of the business was too competitive and opted to simply run an electric utility. They formed a new utility company, abandoning Tesla's company and leaving the inventor penniless. Tesla even lost control of the patents he had generated, since he had assigned them to the company in exchange for stock. He had to work at various electrical repair jobs and as a ditch digger for $2 per day. Later in life Tesla recounted that part of 1886 as a time of hardship, writing "My high education in various branches of science, mechanics and literature seemed to me like a mockery".
the investORs shOwed little intErest iN TesLa's Ideas foR nEW tyPes of aLternAtiNg curReNt moTors AnD ElectRicAl TraNSmissIon EQUipment. AfTeR The utIlity Was up anD rUNnINg iN 1886, ThEy decided thAt the MaNufaCturinG siDe Of tHe business wAS tOo cOMPETitive AnD Opted to sImpLy RUN an elEctRIc UtIlity. thEy foRmEd a new utility comPany, abandoNinG tesLA'S cOmPaNY anD leavInG the inventoR penNileSs. tEsLa EveN loSt controL Of THe paTENTs he hAD geneRATeD, SinCE HE had assignEd TheM to tHE Company iN eXchanGe FOR sTock. HE Had To worK at VaRious electRicAL repaIr JObS aNd as a dITcH diGgeR foR $2 per day. later in lifE tEsLa RecOuntEd thAT pArT OF 1886 as a TimE Of hArDship, writIng "my hIgh eDucaTIOn in vaRIOus brAnCheS of Science, MechaNiCS and lIteratUre sEemed tO mE LiKe A mocKEry".