From a purely technical view, there was never a real contest. Tesla's Alternating Current (AC) was vastly superior for building a power grid. Edison's Direct Current (DC) was like a low-pressure water pipe; it lost power quickly over distance. Tesla's AC used transformers to boost the electrical 'pressure,' allowing it to travel hundreds of miles over thin wires before being stepped down to safe levels for homes. It was the only logical choice for a growing nation.