The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-06
TELEPHONE nEN MEET HERE.
The STANDARD COxpAHI'S PLANS.
Mr. james T.. Kseiyn. Of the Western TeIs-
phone Construction Company Of Chicago
Says Standard VIII Give Richmond .
Service superior to Present One.

A meeting OF the representatives OF tho
new independent telephone compalyes
was held yesterday at the Jefferson Hotel.
Among some OF those present were Mr.
James T.. keelyn, president OF the West
ern Telephone Construction Company, Of
Chicago, which Is the largest concern
now In opposition to the Bell Telephone
Company Mr.. w. =. Roberts, president
Of the Lynchburg Telephone Company.
and also the representative Of the Kama
wha Telephone Company. Of Charleston,
w Va: Mr. 7. J. McAdoo, of thu
Greensboro Telephone Company. OF
Ghresns5oro, ,ha g, \. c.. ana also of the Teie,
phone Company OF Salisbury. n. c., and
also representatives OF the Columbia Teie-
phone Company, OF Washington. ID. c.:
the Norfolk tNa) Telephone Exchange.
and various other exchanges In Virginia,
North Carolina. and South Carolina. The
Richmond Standard Telephone Company
was also represented
LONG-DiSTANCE CONNECTIONS.
The object OF the meeting was 10 sys-
tematicaily and harnoniousiy determine
Ways ana means Tor the construction OF
toll or long-distance lines, interconnect-
ing the various cities OF the South with
Washington, ID. c., and consequently
with the prospective lines between Wash
inSton and New York. While those
give dennite Information as 10 jus; what.
when, or how they proposed TO act, IL
was asceftained that agreements were
formulated which will Undoubtedly re-
suit In the erection OF great many inter-
state and inter-city lines.
The prospects for early connection with
Washington. Lynchburg. and charleston
are promising.
WILL ESTABLISH EXCHANGES.
II was developed at the meeting that an
4 l.. Fa.l
phone Construction Company 10 exploit
the telephone business throughout \ir-
gina In a thorough and vigorous man.
ner with the hope Of establishing ssmaii
and large exchanges AT low rates OF rem
tai. where at present there Is no telc-
phone service.
This effort will include the building OF
lines through the country In such manner
that the smaller places may be brought
into quick and easy communication with
Richmond
For instance. line win start from Ahs
city running TO points from nifty 10 Two
hundred miles distant In all directions.
ana connecting all towns through which
IL passes.
MIR. KEELYN INTERVIEWED.
Mr. Keelyn. when asked What he
thought of the prospects OF the Richmond
Standard Telephone Company. said
! am not at liberty TO state fully what
/ know OF the plans of the Richmond
however. properly due to the public and
TO tnat company TO state. without equiyo-
cation, that II has arranged for the In
stallation In Richmond within the time
promised In the acceptance OF the ordl-.
ssssReey telephones and appliances or the
very highest character known In the art
of telephony. ] am actuhiiy aware that
II has contracted for apparatus or the
highest grade purchasable In America.
When II IL known that the price 10 be
paid Is fully double what cheaper appa-
ratus could be obtained for that In ITSELF
is an assurance that good character or
service is contemplated
II can assert that the new Richmond
Telephone Exchange equipment VIII be
greatly superior 10 any system operated
by the Southern Bell Telephone Company
I'm its dominion and that the public VIII
be agreeaby surprised with its benenciai
effects
TO HAVE BETTER SERVICE.
"Whie the old system in use here may
have seemed fairly good. thoroughly
first-class and modern equipment VIII
make some people wonder how they had
endured the old method 80 long. ! do
not wish TO reflect upon Colonel Mccluer
I'm the least but IL Is simply like trying
To make new coat out Of old cloth.
"One of our superintendents, MIR. q. a.
Hennng. who IS as wei versed tsIe-
phone man as there Is in America, cas
taken uD the matter of construction IN
conjunction with Mr.. Chllds the engineer
OF the Richmond Standard Company, ana
such instructions as have so far besn
given upon the plans, contemplate tnor-
ough satisfaction I'm that direction.
Briefly. To- my mind. the new teiephope
company will prove success ana an or
nament and credit 10 fhe city
The meeting Of the telephone men sd-
journed last night.