Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-04-08
MORE TELEPHONE NEWS.
The Rise and Growth Of the improved Public
Telephone Service in Augusta.

Inc present awakening and liveliness
In telephone circles In this CITY hes
aroused so much interest among our citi-
zens that the Journal thinks it will be of
interest to again touch upon the cause
that has led up to all this activity and
excitement.
Early last fall, that hustling Young
man, Charles H. O'Brien, manager of
the Postal Telegraph Co.'S. office in this
city, started putting in line of tele-
phones for local parties and soon had
more orders on hand than he could attend
to. With his we'll known ability and in
genuity in electrical matters, instances of
which the Journal has had the pleasure of
before mentioning number, he soon had
a splendid service in operation, and the
very excellence of the service foretold for
him a success that he had not even
thought of.
Very soon the attention of some of our
most solid and progressive business men
and capitalists was drawn to the matter,
and on March l, 1895, the Drigo Tele-
graph and Telephone Co, organized and
chartered in 1891, took hold of the mat
ter and bought out the plant of Mr.
O BrieD.
The Journal has before given history
of this company and it is only necessary to
say that it is now composed of the fol-
lowing gentlemen: Hon. P o. Vickery,
Hon. G. f. Macomber, Hon. j. Manchester
Haynes, Hon. j. H. Manley, Hon. John
F. Hill, Messrs, c. W. Jones, F. f.
Southland, j. r. Gould, c. H. O'Bricn,
Frederick Cony NJ. S. Campbell and G.
N. Lawrence, to show its stability and
soundness. 1t is capable of promoting
and carrying to success any undertaking
that it sees fit to engage in, and the above
list of names must carry guarantee to
the public that the telephone service to be
given by this company will be of the very
best in every particular.
The company now has 100 instruments
in use in this city with orders for 25 more
and still more coming. The rental is
s25 per year, or $50 each for more tha
one. 1t is well known that previous to
this company's service, the rate has been
$i2 per year. The Dirigo line is to be ex-
as the ground is in condition for the work
to be commenced, and will also be ex
tended to the insane asylum and to Togus.
An exchange will boopcncd at Gardiner
and sufficient support is already assured
to guarantee its permanency. In the near
future, as the business develops and
branches out, the line will be extended
to Waterville Fairfield and Oakland, also
taking in Winthrop This will give n
splendid service one that will fill the
wants of almost every business man in
these communities.
In this city the service is already ex
ccllent. The line connects with a large
number of business men, lawyers physi-
clans, municipal judge, State House,
court house, city clerk, police station,
both telegraph offices and numerous pri
vatc residences. 1t has connected FREQ
call serS ice for carriage and messengers
that is proving a great convenience to
the public, and the exchange has already
business that requires and gives pub
lie service "a hours in the day and every
day in the year. When the Gardiner cx
change is opened, no extra charge will be
made to Augusta subscribers for the ser
vice to that city.
When the business reaches size
that will warrant such a proceeding, the
company assures the Journal that a fur
ther reduction will be made in the rates
and tolls. There can he no question of
it's success and the public is well pleased,
for many have been agitating in their
own minds whether, if the Dirigo should
sell out or be driven out, would they not
soon be compelled to go back to the old
rates or go without telephone. The Jour
nal is assured in the most emphatic terms
that the company is not for sale, in fact
could not be bought for love or money
and proposes to stay in business as long
as the Dlblic wants it,