New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-31
THE TELEPHONE MONOPOLY
SOME HOPE THAT IT MAY BE BROKEN
NOW THAT THE BELL PATENT HAS EXPIRED. A
SWARM OF Small COMPANIES WILL BE
STARTED But STRONG EFFORT
WILL BE MADE TO KILL
COMPETITION.

COMPETITION.
The American BelI telephone paten. ran out yes
terday and the monopoly which has existed for a
number OF years il is hoped is now at an end'
To-day telephone receivers may be bought for & o.
This, however. is small part of the cost OF a
private telephone line. for there other things re-
CURED to complete it which will run the price up
10 $50 The Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph
Company, which has for years had the telephone
monopoly in this city. by RICH. OF lease from the
American Bell Telephone Company. VIII continue II
was said yesterday charge $40 year for the use
OF its wires and instruments. There Is a proSpeo'
however that this may not last long. for several
large and powerful companies are said - be iorih-
ing to fight the monopoly. large company mas
been formed in Chicago and in Phii1dephh II Is
known that the diamond Telephone company mas
decided to fight The Bell monopoly for the pns-
ness In the East Contracts are now being mace
by this company for towns and cities in Penn
syvania and New-Jersey.
w " Bethel acting general manager Of 'he
METROPOLITAN Telephone and Telegraph Company in
this city said yesterday thar his company had 10
fear Of any immediate competition and in relation
70 the expiration of the patent he sad
This company is ready 20 supply the re-
ceivers on which the patenf expires at . 81 oach'
and will also sell other equipments necessar! I"
make a working telephone line. OF course the re-
ceiver is not the only thing necessary TOT d 'eie-
phone line A bell. battery and Other par's, gre
necessary. MGicN
From a trustworthy source Il was lc&rhyu ~ -
terisy that the Metropolitan Telephone ana le.-
graph Company putting Itself IN p9S''I33!l 80
XIII all competition 1t learned That me c5l-
ern Electric Company which does mhVn OF we
work for the American ReA Telephone company
had received orders manufacture SO many in7'.u-
ments that an increase had been ordered N NJ
working force of the company. ana thAI an vme
smaller telephone companies throusnCu' inc V2"'i
try were to be equipped with the latest ana uesI
Instruments at price so low that II Wouii p' III
nossble for new companies to compete WIN lneih'
a man connected with the Western i..ocTc ON
many said that. in HIS opinion, there was move
mpnt on foot, headed by the MetTopont'h leI'-
phone and telegraph Company 10 Kill all new com
panes by forming a Telephone Trust OF thc CON
panes now In existence. They are now IN POSI-
lion 10 give telephone service at lower rate than
any new company could make ana after having
Killed all competition they could resume the o.d
prices. . d., r,,o,horo Conn,
many will this week apply to the Massachusetts
legislature to increase Its stock from >ZlV~o" 10
$50 ON 600 lends color the report OF the movement
on foot 10 prevent competition The otcers OF me
Rel Telephone Company are extremely .rfucthl
concerning the use 10 which the proceeds OF the IN
crease in stock to be put 1t Is reasonably GER
tain however that the new stock will be used to
extend the system and for the purpose OF making
an aggressive movement against the swarm or new
Companies which are organizing throughout Inc