The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-19
new Telephone COMPANY
Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Carbon
dale Capitalists Interested.
TRACTION MAGNATES ARE IN 1T
Ordinance for Franchise Escaped Some
Eagle Eyes In Select COuncil-Com'
pany Means Business and VIII
Soon Begin Line Work.

A number of prominent Wilkes-Barre,
Scranton and Carbondale business men
have formed themselves into the Inter-
state Telephone company with the pur-
pose of stringing telephone wires
throughout the Lackawanna region
and establishing a telephone system be-
tween Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre.
The first step toward securing smooth
sailing in this city was made last night
in select council, but 1t evidently es-
capped the eagle eyes of the municlpal
legislators. No comment or inquiry
was made when the clerk In the usual
hurried manner read briefly worded
ordinance granting the Interstate Tele-
phone company the privilege of main
tanning an electric plant In the city and
erecting poles and wires.
Mr. Finn's motion that the ordinance
be referred to committee prevailed, and
other business of the meeting was con-
tinued The ordinance did not contain
any provision forrecompensing the city.
Mr.. Finn later declined to discuss the
matter and referred a Tribune reporter
to Attorney Horace Il. Hand From
Mr.. Hand the following facts were
learned
Officers of the Company.
The officers of the company are: John
Graham, of Wilkes-Barre, general man
ager of the Wilkes-Ba and Wyoming
Valley Traction company. president
Timothy Burke, of Scranton, vice
PRESIDENT Horace II. Hand, of Scran-
ton secretary and treasurer. j. X.
Beetem. general manager of the Scran-
ton Traction company, and Robert
Reeves, superintendent of the Scranton
Gas and Water company, as well as
several prominent business men of
Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Carbon
dale, are largely interested In the enter
prise.
A month ago the charter was Sc
cured, and since then the Interstate
company has secured facts and figures
concerning the Bell, Drawbaugh and
other high grade telephones and have
negotiated for the use of poles up and
down the valley Contracts have al
ready been made for the use of several
lines of poles already erected in the
vicinity of Scranton.
Mr. Hand said that the telephone
scheme was more than a speculation on
paper. He had no hesitancy in declar-
ing that line work will be started in this
city and elsewhere as soon as fran
chises are secured.
As to a Franchise.
When asked whether the company
anticipate being asked to pay for privi-
leges granted by the city, Mr.. Hand
replied in the negative. He remarked
that other electric companies had not
been asked to pay for franchises in
Scranton and he saw no reason why an
exception should be made against the
Interstate company.
The detailed plans of the company
could not be ascertained last night. 1t
was positively announced that a tele-
phone exchange will be located soon in
Scranton and that Wilkes-Barre and
Carbondale and intervening towns will
be connected within a comparatively
| brief period.
The Interstate company has no con-
nection with the Standard corporation,
nor the Drawbaugh company, which Is
negotiating to establish its manufac-
! turing plant here.