The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-23
THE NEW TELEPHONE co.
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The promoters OF the new telephone
company which is about 10 be organized
IN Savannah and which proposes 70 com
pete with the Bell Telephone Company.
are actively at work securing subscribers
and making arrangements TO begin oper-
atoms in the fall, as soon as their COM
pany is organized and plant can be put
up and the wires placed under ground.
one OF the parties interested in the pro-
posed company said that they had already
secured half OF the subscribers, or half
the number they desired when the plan
was undertaken. Nearly 80 names, they
say, have been signed as bona hde sub
scribers for the company's service, and
with those who have announced their in
tentions OF 50 doing the number is about
go
They are confident they say. that the
company can secure between GO and 1000
subscribers, ana they expect 10 make the
number which uses a telephone service
much larger than at present on account
OF the reduction Of . per cent from the
rates which are now charged by the Bell
company.
You can say positively that we are not
going into this thing without assurances
OF good solid support" one OF the pro-
motors said, and there is no doubt in my
mind that we Will have It."
But suppose the Bell company begins
rate war with yOu2" was suggested
We'll, in the first place" was the reply
I'VE propose 10 make n further reduction
in our charges from those now contem-
plated, as soon as we see what II VIII cost
us to get along on living but economical
basis. with sufficient profit TO pay rea-
sonably on the investment. and 1 do not
he.1fa
would leave as on account OF a reduction
by the Bell company below the figures
at which company can be operated be-
cause they would know the Bell company's
only object would be TO force us out il
possible, by destructive competition, and
after that was done the rates would 20
back TO Just where they have stood, and
the subscriber in the end would not be
greatly benefited"
The new company. he said, will begin
work in the fall just as soon as the
ground can be opened for the purpose
OF laying the wires.
The expiration Of the Bell patents has
led that company to make extensive i'm
provements In cities where it has here
tofore had things all its own way. but
where now competition is liable to spring
up at any moment Being the Oldest COM
pany in the field it has that advantage
in addition to a strong capitalization
Which equlps It to make serious war on
any new enterprises of a similar charac-
ter and over in Selma, Ala, where a
fight is on the Bell company, IL is said, is
now giving its service free to its patrons
The new enterprise, il Is claimed, will
meet with much announcement here
however, as there are many people who
have given up the telephone service for
one reason or another. SaVannahians have
had enough OF rate wars in the last
year or so.
There seems to be no doubt, however
that the entrance Of a new company
would bring about a war on the part Of
the Bell people. What its effect might
be- would be a hard matter to foresee.
though it is hardly probable that in the
end &c would be of any particular benefit
to the patrons of the service in Savannah
The Bell company is going right ahead
with its improvements. 1t expects to have
its new building completed by fall and
with a new and improved plant here and
with long distance lines to all the princi-
pal points in the south. It will be prepared
to give as nearly a perfect service as il
Is possible to obtain.