The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-30

About q year ago, as wa, exclusively
reported in tho TNrEMLdEScEn 1t tho
time, company was being formed to
introduce tho Shaver telephone system
into Wheeling. Tho movement was
dropped on account OF tho injunction
which restrained tho Shaver company
from using thoir apparatus, which was
claimed to DO IN Infringement OF the
Boil company's patents. Tho Bell pat
Ont which affected tho Shaver 'phoncs
has now nearly expired, and that com
pany Is ready to come into Wheeling
and putup phones at MI annual rental
considerablylowc than the Bell people.
Tho movement to start IN opposition
concern hero has originated with we'll
known South Sidcrs, who object to tho
rental which tho Bell company compols
them to pay. AS stated the movement
was abandoned last summer when tho
injunction was granted, but as tho pat
ents expire on the 30th OF this month,
tho local people have again come 10 the
front.
One Of tho promoters was seen yester-
day afternoon by an IYTELLluENcER 70.
porter. He said that the South Side
subscribers OF the Bell phones, with tho
exception OF one man, have united in q
petition to tho local management in
which they ask two things, reduction
in the rental rates and central Office
on tho South Side. This petition was
to have been handed to Manager Wolff
last night. The present rates on the
South Side range from $50 to SIPS per
year, and the Benwood rate is $l5O. All
but one or two OF the phones in the
latter place have been taken out, the
rate being almost prohibitive. The
gentleman added that the Shaver COM
pany will make standard rate OF $40
per annum. The request for central
office on tho South Side is caused by the
numerous complaints, said the gentle
man. OF poor service given that part OF
the city. y.
Should the Bell company refuse the
concessions asked, the South Side peo-
Pile say they will at once take steps to
put the Shaver system in operation, in
South Wheeling at least. They claim
TO have list OF 200 subscribers on tho
South Side and Benwood, and that the
uptown Wholesale merchants and
others who have dealings with people
on the South Side will OF necessity be
compelled to putin Shaver phones also.
Tho central office ia intended to be loca-
ted at some convenient point south OF
the creek, and altogether better all
around service is prophcsied.
The Bell company claim that the pat
ents which expire will not help the
Shaver company. An official OF the lat
ter company thus replies:
"The patent on tho transmitter we do
not use at all in our system. 1t was on
patent 1868 known as tho receiver
permanent magnet, that tho Bell COM
pany secured an injunction against us,
and this will expire. l also believe that
the matter OF the transmitter patent not
expiring until 1907. as claimed BY the
Bell company, will DO fought. Our
telephones have proved success with
out the transmitters, and we use the
double wlre in constructing our lines,
while the Bell company only uses tho
single wire in most instances, Because
it has had the benefit of the transmit
ter" IA
The reporter asked the South Side
man II subscribers to the Shaver phones
would not also have to have Bell phones
to reach subscribers to that system.
Not at ALL" replied the gentleman,
"The Bell people would be compelled to
make connections with US whenever
one OF our subscribers SO desired, and
Cice rerSa. The United States supreme
court has decided that ono telegraph
company is compelled to receive n mes
sage from another when the latter docs
not roach tho point to which the mes.
sage is destined. This decision we have
1t on good authority applies equally as
we'll to telephone companies. Thus a
subscriber to Shaver telephone has nil
the advantages of reaching Bell SUBJ
scribers rs well as those OF the Shaver
system, and ut lower price,"
The outcome OF tho South Side tele-
phone movement will DO watched with
Interest. Many people are Of the opin.
ion that the Boil people will make a
material reduction in their rates, and
thus prevent an opposition company
from entering Wheeling.
~ D.. O.