New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-25
A DEAD TELEPHONE PATENT
THE BEIL RECEIVER" SOON TO BE
PUBLIC PROPERTY.

PROSPECT OPENED FOR INCREASED COMPETE
rioy-REpoRrs ABOUT A BIG PHILADELPHIA
coMPANy-OBJEcTIoNs TO THE
EXISTING MONOPOLY.
Tho Coming Of February is awaited with intense
interest by the sufferers from the Bel Telephone
monopo.y whose name is legion. 1t is hoped on a.
hands that before long powerful competitors WIFI
enter the fed bringing down the hi8n chars- .
~ tho MONOPOLY company and giving better service
T., rho constantly growing community which IS
dernl.nt upon the use of the telephone In tho con-
Dduc, of business. The magneto-;e!e3hohe OF 'Ae
American Bell Telephone Company-the instrument
commonly known as the receiver -DecohcS pubic
nroperty by the running out OF the patent o"
January 90 The doors will then be open to compe-
,itlon. and with the immense sum OF IDLE captai
r,i,in, for an attractive investment. and with the
,r,,nense dissatisfaction which exists as to tho
nr,sant telephone management. 1t Is widely hopen
that a new aad reasonable telephone se'Nl'7 "'''
h.. AZ the command Of tire public
Already +: IS said. steps are being taken u iV'-.
rival companies. now that this impo''",' P,.,
~ tn. Bell company Is about to expire y siV0''i'
,,-,,a.cl from PHILADELPHIA received In wall street
,acont,v declared that syndicate of wealthy cap
i,a,rsts had been formed to operate sys'ei" u
t,5ephones throughout the United states. Inc name
~ the company will be the diamond Ieiep"o"e
ror,nanv II report Is true there VII! DC no P"''
ton as to the powerful nature OF the ne" op'''F
rlon Among the men Interested IN inc nv" '-'''
are said t, be prominent officials Of the Pennsy'-
va,i, Railroad and friends OF the Ph1ade.ph'a
Traction Company. such people never lack the
command OF capital. and when they take hod ~
m enterprise 1t usually means business NA''''S
have not been mentioned az yet. hat the 'rN' VINO
will now compete with the Bel. company are sa.d
:, be not only able u all the money nee 4ei
!, .f- aft.r ID
clans and engineers. The system to be used IS
said 70 be now in use IN Berlin AMI IN London, ana
"a used by the French Government in all pubhc de-
rartTnents The utmost confidence is Expressed IN
the efficiency OF the system. and the promoters OK
the scheme will Jet any grass grow under t"eir
feet in pushing fight against the ola monopoly
PROSPECTIVE COMPETITION.
7, 10 confidently believed hy financial men that
more than one new concern will now compete for
p,,bl,c patronage in the telephone field Tie officers
Of the Bell Telephone Company say that II -
air3ng.y .n:rcncheI behind other patents thsn the
''rcc.ivor' patent which soon VIII expire. 30 as 70
b, able t. defy competition THIS sort Of tax Is
regarded a. natural in tho circumstances but II
docs not discourage tn" n-n who now have an
opportunity 70 supply cheap ani satisfactory toe
phone systems. Many electricians regard the re-
cc.,er patent as highly mrortan, one, and its
arsa gives electrical talent excellent opportunity
t, l"v.sc new systems which viii break the BeH
monopoly Perhaps 10 hed Of practca! research
IS So wei TILED that Of electricity. and people are
confident that even Y there were not now new
telephone systems ready 20 be paced the mar
ke- II would take long f)r clever ctrcians -
devils. enc tn confidence wltA which the C!am)n
Telephone Company Is aboat to enter business
proves that the 2clf-satafacon Of the Eel people
may lack sound founlaton. The prospec; Of
Profitable competition is now 50 BRIGHT that It IS
SAFE TO believe that before long the Indifference or
So c,:lpnny over entered contest for
Iopuiar favCr win a NOR geAeI2I. rcc.ItioA tnaa
OF the telephone Ire high charges u thu existing
COMPANIES alone assure "A welcome competition
Tho charges ere universally recognized az far be-
yoHd q r-ason.blo r"t'"n on capital which Il not
supported ty close patents. TIL telephone has Boz
CONC AZ necessary % modern business are the
telegraph. he ,'bie ana The railroad The big Giy-
inacnsc profits wruTe from H. business world
nls tha it's c@rg .,' are not far IN q the
cot y maiatenancr and - irtercf; On III" Plant
eompe ution boaaI and md fe't rs the c2iapany
POOR SERVICE.
Bat not content with reapIng immense profits
from a service costly 10 subscribers. the Ben COM
rlly furnishes service which IS responsible for
an immense amount OF daily profanity. Every
business man knows how unsatisfactory the tclc-
phone works now managed. H. striving after
profits the monopoly doubtless secures tn cheapest
grade OF labor available distances Mil rccur -
80
aac.a constantly suffered There o. cf.rn !alhy IN
r't'inS 1asvcr 90 call. otGci subscribers cut
IN "a IT, wrs when 10 g.. already In Use. and IN
maav cases u b. impossible, 20 secure a connection
when Il should De- furnished instantly. "Four-rlrv"n-
flrfr-fcur = huey" How many times t.a; a4r;ri-
Yat.ny response f. 1lR'l over tho anT.i'tor WHOM
On" calls NJ = number. when sDNec4L'nt invcsiign-
tiou prove. that there wa sn-" ono Oh hand tu re-
fIoul - th- q th" be" at tho other end ot TIE
wire, Every one knows. too. no" crca q lDnS wait
follows repeated calling rp oi the central o'!c"
forcing the assumption that th' central office OPP
orators ar" either "al:yllrIng' or that there are
fffftf htl a mo-
business. The company ~ irft T. choose one or
two horns Of "a dilemma -nitl"r US dlariplin" -
sadl' deficient f. doesn't ur)gor" 'quiD rs Offices
There is lt'l" doSht among rcciricans inct. WIN
thr inducements offered for tO.rn'ilt!Du M tS
field - electric Invention h. Tho expiration 90 TIE
Rfu receiver patent there WI De- many improve
mcuts Devised or the existing INSTRUMENTS trpEr'iS
IN dcvsiug better sysicms VIII he stimulated by tnc
rivalry In prospect. ana ~ * confidently BE-
lev 81 that the telephone * the near utIt" viii fa
out:hnk tn" present instrument in efficiency ana
utiliiy \ monopoly never voluntarily assumes
fresh expense to benefit its v.ctlm7. only when
capital powerful A. It's own enters the arena ana
takes business from Il docs u Use SON" OF It's '%
tortionatr profits to Improve It's service. Not only
then is the public likely 10 new companies war
upon the Bell monopoly, forcing charges down 10 a
more reasonable basis and removing The present
causes OF complaint % service. but rivalry VIII
stimulate invention and The probability and avail
ability Of the instrument Win probably D." vastly ~
creased I'm the future Public opinion may be relied
upon to help new ventures In The telephone bua-
ness with n cordially and effectiveness which Will
make the battle half won when once l. IL begun
against the monopoly without rivals