Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-10
THE PHONE MATTER.
TWO LoNG-DIsTANCE COMPANIES
WANT TO COME HERE.
STATEMENT FROM Mr.. EEELYN.
Syndicate Proposes To Connect
Richmond with Points in Virginia
aud Western Cities--Busincss-Mc
Who Favor Amer'n Co.'s Pciition.

ern Telephone Construction Com
pany. arrived here yesterday morning
from the West. ana ran down TO Norfolk
TO spend the day. returning 10 this city
last evening. He Is stopping at the JEFF
ferson. with his wife and child. and IS
here. as set forth In Yesterdays Dispatch.
with view to having Richmond con-
nectei by telephone with me outside
world lie was In Lynchburg Tuesday
night. and returned from Norfolk via
Petersburg. He had conferences in each
OF these cities with the owners or man
ayers Of the local telephone exchanges.
which operate phones constructed by
the Western company; and meeting win
be held here to-day for the purpose OF
perfecting plans whereby these cities
may be connected with Richmond.
MR. KEELYN ENTHUSIASTIC.
Mi Keelyn who is an experienced tele-
phone man, is enthusiastic over the pros
poets Of long-distance line running
into Richmond. He said that an APP
paratus. whereby the service Of the Rich
mond Telephone Company would be very
materially improved was even now on
its way here. and this Will make ii pos
sibe for audible conversation 10 be held
between Richmond and almost any city
in this country.
Mr. keelyn proposes to run line from
Norfolk Portsmouth, and Berkeley
through Petersburg to Richmond; thence
to Lynchburg. and straight through from
there. via Charleston and Huntington W.
Va, Catlettsburg. Ashland Winchester,
and Maysville Ky. TO Cincinnati
The line will be built, he says. as soon
as rights Of way are secured. and a syn.
dicate Of eastern and western capitalists
has been organized. and wifi be char
tered in Philadelphia i'm few days TO
put up the money for its construction.
The Western Telephone Constructors
Company IS largely interested I'm the syn
dictate. and the work Of construction will
be carried on under its direct superyi-
sion.
THIS NOT THE ONLY ONE.
The Cincinnati line is not the only one
that the syndicate purposes building.
Mr.. Keelyn says the phones OF the West
ern Construction Company are now To-
Gated in 500 cities scattered from Prince
Edwards Island. in the Northeast, 10
New Mexico, in the Southwest. and II i
proposed by this syndicate 20 connect ell
of these cities by long-distance phones.
and TO enter with only long-distance
lNOncs SuC0 CltltS Us dlt eSS'hAidl "
the success Of the service. In which the
Western company has no exchange.
Already arrangements have been per-
fected. he says for a line from Johns
town, Pa. to Philadelphia and New York.
and arrangements have practically been
made for an interccnnecting service from
New YORK to a point in Virginia some
little distance south Of Washington. An
other line has been prospected through
lrV Of
that State.
From Richmond the syndicate purposes
running lines TO Charlotte and Whining
ton. y. c.. and Charleston. s. c., and
hopes eventually TO secure n connection
with Texas in which State IL has num-
Der of exchanges in operation.
1t is not expected that the meeting
here to-day will be largely attended. as
Mr.. Keelyn has the proxies Of a number
of exchange managers. and he will pract-
cally control the situation. Mr.. Keelyn's
syndicate will. Of course, be friendly 20
the Richmond Telephone Company, and
will Operate directly with that exchange;
hence he VIII not have 10 secure
franchise from the Richmond Council.
Another Company in the Field.
The American Telephone and Telegraph
Company OF Virginia, which desires 10
come here, will have to secure the priyi-
legc to do so from the city fathers and
has it's application before the Street Com
mittee. This company. which is repre-
scented here by Mr. Clarence p. Young
and others, VIII soon present a petition
to the Council. which has been signed
by many prominent citizens. urging the
Council to grant the privileges requested
by the company last Monday evening.
Major Ginter was seen at his private
Office. in the Chamber Of Commerce
building, yesterday, and asked whether or
not he was in favor Of granting fran
chise TO- the American Telephone and
Telegram Company. Major Ginter re-
piled: Eyes, decidedly"
do you think il would be advantageous
10 the South?" was the next question.
Enthusiastically, and particularly TO
the city Of Richmond. which is the gate
way of the South. We have strangers
coming here from all over the country
particularly in the winter and early
spring who would he very much accom-
modated by being able to communicate
instantly with their business and with
their friends in distant cities. As / under
stand it, this American Telephone and
Telegraph Company is the only national
=. long-distance telephone company in eX-
istence in active operation. Their system
connects all the northern cities and II
they are allowed the privilege to come
parts of the South. and consequently will
tend 10 put us in touch with all CONNER
cial ard business centres of the southern
country. / think IL would be bad policy
on the part Of the city not TO do every
thing I'm its power 20 secure this enter
Prise. Cities like Louisville Nashville,
Memphis and other places have been
..lsd to do without a murmur that which
The policy OF this city would be 70 place
lat restrictions upon. l think the re-
.airements here are too great
yes. sir; l heartily faIor anything that
hows competition and progress II is not
right that we should be restricted and not
pave a privilege which the principal cities
Of the country enjoy. l think it would be
well for The Tobacco Exchange, the Cham
Der of Commerce. and other commercial
bodies. 10 zealously urge and show the
Importance Of this enterprise, particularly
10 this city and TO the whole South gene
rally"
PRESIDENT PALMER.
President william p. Palmer, OF the
CITY Bank. stated that no was in favor
~ comnetition and progress in all lines.
Il am In favor Of the long-distance tele-
phone." said he land | think the city OF
Richmond will be greatly benefited by 1t.
7 hone the. Council will grant the fran
chise requested by the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company. as every
facility for business adds TO the import
ance OF the city. II the lines OF this
company are extended South ii will be or
great benefit TO the Southern States
other cities have it, and Richmond should
have IT,"
President Aubin l.. Boulware. Of the
First National Bank, when approached
about the matter said: "kichmOnd ought
TO have it By all means. and ! think 1t
would be a step In the way Of progress.
We are right in the line as one OF The
clfina 1 ihinl l,lfN