The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-26
A SCIENTIFIC VISITOR.
PROF. ALEXANDER @. BELL, OF TEL
EPHoNE FAME, IN THE CITY.
Gratified Over His Triumph In the
Courts. He Talks Freely of the serv-
Ice. Outlining Prospective. But Con-
tingent Changes Studying Deafness.

placed his name enduringly before the
world. Further than this the great legal
contests which have been waged against
him in the courts as to the genuine author
ship of the patent, have caused him to be
discussed, both as man and an inventor,
so thoroughly and critically that his his
tory is familiar to the reading world.
The distinguished gentleman and his
wife arrived in the city yesterday afternoon
and took quarters at the Gayoso hotel. He
was at supper when an APPEAL reporter
called to see him, but sent the courteous
reply that he would he at leasure in few
moments. He was prompt to his word,
and cordially greeted the reporter. He is
man OF fine physique, rather heavy, with
broad, frank face, covered with rather
short-cropped, iron-gray beard, a full, high
forehead, from which the silver-besprinkled
black hair stands back uncombed save
with the fingers. He is man OF easy,
afiable address, and his Boston culture and
pronunciation OF his well-seected words
are strongly and admirably apparent Said
he:
my wife and have been on a social
visit TO friend at Townsville, Ca, and
never having travelled through the south,
not even ever having seen this great Mis-
sissippi river, we have taken rather
roundabout way 10 return 10 Washington,
having visited several points OF interest in
| Florida, then came by way OF New Or
leans, and we had both heard n good deal OF
| Memphis and concluded TO stop over for a
day and take look ut the much-talked OF
southern metropolis. | am delighted with
my trip south. II il certainly a great
country, and from my ciirsory observa-
| tons, It's future is destined TO be great in
material wealth. think we will come
south oftener hereafter, il l can get the
time"
at Is fair TO presume that you are quite
elated over the recent decision OF the SUI
preme court in the telephone case?'
His whole face lighted up with a smile
as he said, "0h! certainly am, and just
think OF it, was away from Washington
ut the time. have not seen the courts
decision further than what is given Of II in
the press dispatches and some private tel
egrams have received from friends. Yes,
that decision, should think, will set at
rest all this troublesome litigation. As you
may know, the government suits have all
been dismissed. And, by the way, the
first suit was started right here in this city.
The President put stop TO that in short
order, then the government instituted suit
at Columbus, o.; that was dismissed for
want OF jurisdiction; then they took another
pull at me in Boston. the home Of the cor
poration; that, too, has been turned out OF
court. Ever since the patent has been In
popular use II has been in the courts. But
do YOU know, | have never lost n single
| L..
more OF life, and II does seem 10 me
or at least hope that IL may be permitted
10 live ont the remainder OF lis years in
peace. In this recent decision by the
highest tribunal In the land, the court was
unanimous in my favor on NIL the points
except one, and as understand, three OF
the justices were OF the opinion that Mr..
Drawbaugh was the original inventor.
The question Of fraud, think, has been
, set ut rest. II was groundless charge
from its very inception, and my protest
! against its baseness has been sustained by
every court in which Il has ever been
raised. The telephone, while IL has be.
come popular and a recognized necessity,
Is yet In a crude state other improve.
menis will be made In II, and II will be
years, perhaps, before the system is per
lected."
CAS- the use Of the telephone Is becom.
| ing 10 general will not a reduction In the
rental naturally follow. or, at least, should
Il not followl''
"The telephone differs, In commercial
sense, from all other inventions. Accord
1 ing 20 the rules Of commerce, M an article
becomes common on the market the whole
, sale price, AT least, declines, but not so
i with tho telephone. An increase In the
wholesale demand increases the cost 10 the
2 manufacturer and owner Of II, and thereby
makes II dearer 10 the individual user
The public have little idea Of the immense
!. cost OF the telephone service. Very few o.
> the companies are making any money
For instance, thcrc Is an exchange with
fifty subscribers. You then have forty
nine people 10 talk 10; suppose the number
IL increased 20 100. The company hs
10 do double the work In furnishing
= the lines OF communication, and the
: cost Is double. The fact Is, the system Of
. charges Is wrong; the rental system /,
, non-paying, besides II Il unfair 10 the sub
: scrber. The only fair and profitable wa,
10 conduct the service Is by the toll sys
tom. In other words the telephone
should pay only 10 the extent that II /,
n actually used. Now, telephone In the
1 UNIV VI " UiNhftf w AACtuINt w
business hours, Is almost In constant use
. aud may be worth thousands Of dollars tc
! the firms In conveying messages which de
. mand quick delivery, and upon which
o hang largc sums Of money. On the othel
n hand, there N n telephone In private res
I, idenco--then Tor convenience; Il ma,
!. be used 10 order roast Of bee
for dinner and hang idle tho balanc,
Q Of the day. Under the rental system
!. the broker who has transacted thousand
1 OF dollars worth OF business over his iele
: phone, pays no moro for II than the on,
. which has hung idle In some Luxurious
9 homo all the day. Tho equitable wa,
] would be 10 make the telephone pay fo
9 the calls Il makes. An indicator can b,
! arranged In the phone. or nj the cenlra
y Office, which accurately registers every call
= This IL the way In which people are charge,
. and pay for their gas, and Il Il the prope
. way 20 regulate the telephone charges
, hut the idea seems 10 be unpopular will
9 the people. II has been tried, but the op
I position TO !, was 20 bitter that Il had to "
= abandoned
Q Another reason why the charges 10
n telephones will not decrease" continue
y Mr. He'll, "but be- heavily increased, IL III,
i determination OF the municipal govern
4 ments 10 force the virus underground
; This simply doubles tho cost Of the plan
7. 10 the company, for, with the underground
J, system, there necessarily has TO be doubl'
q wires, clsc when one attempts 20 talk h,
/ "A