The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-10

It is now definitely settled that
Wheeling is to have competition in the
telephone business. The new company,
which has the West Virginia rights for
the automatic telephone. with which
the public Is familiar, through the COM
pany being recently granted fran
chise by the city council, announces
that the wheeling plant VIII be in oper-
alton early in the summer. probably
within the ensuing two months. The
company is headed by AIessrs j. j..
Woods, w. D. johnson and other we'll
known Wheeling business and profess
ional men. in fact, all Of the stock is in
the hands OF home people,
Yesterday an Intelligencer reporter
saw Mr. Ellsworth Robinson, the gentle
man who has charge OF the canvass for
the dew telephone. and he spoke enthU-
siastically OF the flattering prospects Of
his company the incorporated title OF
which, by the way, Is the Peoples Tel
ephone Company. Already rs per cent
OF the stock Is taken and the balance
will be subscribed In the course of a few
days. It is anticipated that the invest
ment win pay a yearly dividend Of at
least Q per cent.
The canvass for telephones, says Mr..
Robinson, has progressed most encour-
agingly. The number Of subscribers
already enrolled for the new service is
nearly 400 and the number win ulti-
mately reach the 600 mark, probably
many more phones than the Peoples
company anticipated would be de-
mnnded by the public.
"Of all the business and professional
people whom have approached" said
Mr.. Robinson, only four have refused
to take our service. The movement we
have started for competition in tele-
phones seems to meet with the hearty
approval of the public. Not the least
important advantage we have, Is the
fact that all the money. spent for tele-
phones with us will be kept right here
in WheelinR-it will not so to Boston.
and Pittsburgh. And another thing
Wheeling capital and Wheeling labor
viii build our plant
Our telephone, as Is well known, op-
crates automatically. There ia no
central" to overhear your conversa-
ton, and the expense Of operation Is 50
much less than by other systems, that
we are able to make the rates low. Our
system has been in use In many places
and Is an unqualified success. The
system Is in use In Grafton, where there
are seventy-five instruments, and 1t
has given the best OF satisfaction. We
have placed the yearly rate for busi-
ness phones at S35 and for residences
1t will be $26"
The Peoples company, added Mr..
Robinson, Will soon have the right Of
way through Marshall county to
MoundsvIlle, reaching that place and
the intermediate towns OF Benwood Nc
Mechen and Glendale. BellaIre, Bridge.
port and Martins Ferry are also to be
reached by the new company. A branch
line win also be built out the national
road to Elm Grove; at the same time
serving the several suburban commu-
mites The promoters Of the company
say that they are before the people on
a plain business proposition, claiming
to give better and cheaper service. and
do not enter any plea Of sentiment.
The directors OF the company are now
receiving estimates for the erection OF
their plant and expect to have work on
It started very soon. Mr.. Robinson,
the ctnipany's representative, Is now
located at a Twelfth street.