The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-07-28

Rumor Regarding Oppo-
sition Telephone Co.
VIII Have Underground COnduits.
SomeYStock Already
Taken.

Ever since Mr.. Gillespie resigned
from his position as superintendent of
the Mutual Telephone Company, ru-
mors that new company would start
have been numerous. In a business way
friends of the scheme have been quiet
ly at work securing subscriptions to
the stock, until now, it is said, nearly
$4,000 have been pledged. Regarding
the complaints made against the serv-
ice during the time Mr.. Gillespie was
superintendent, he and his friends con-
tended that the company did not care
to go to the expense necessary to put
the line in a condition that would be
a reasonable guarantee against Undue
ton Mr. Gillespie came here from San
Jose with a splendid reputation as an
electrician, and as a thorough tele-
phone man. If he is, as one of his
friends says, one of the best telephone
men on the Coast, then there should
be no reason why, with the necessary
capital at his back, Honolulu should
not have a perfect telephone service.
The present company has spent a good
many thousand dollars during the past
few months, but the poor service and
the annoying induction continues. Re
ferring to the latter, Mr.. Gillespie said
last night:
1.-The Honolulu telephone system is
constructed on the single-Wire plan,
and so long as that continues, you will
have induction. A new telephone COM
pany will be started in Honolulu, of
that | feel quite certain. | have talked
with d number of citizens and have
received a great deal of encouragement
when built, will embody all the latest
improvements in telephoning.
There will be no necessity for put
ting up poles, the underground con-
duit would be better and | think less
expensive. The climatic conditions of
Honolulu are favorable to the conduit
system because there is no frost to in
terfere with the work and they can be
laid at any season of the year. The
system of telephones now in use in HO-
nOlulu grounds the wires through the
water pipe; this with the single, in
stead of the double continuous wire,
is the cause of all the induction. If
there were no electric lights here the
system would be all right but there
are, unfortunately for the users of tele
phones, and the company has not
adopted the system suited to the con-
ditions. If an electric railway should
start here the present telephone sys-
tenn would be absolutely worthless.
Il shall go to San Francisco on the
Australia and lay my proposition be-
fore some people there and if 1 get the
encouragement necessary, franchise
will be asked for at the next meeting
of the Legislature and work will begin
at once. There can be no opposition
from either the telephone or electric
light company regarding poles, be-
cause we will not set any and our wires
will not be in the way of anyone. Ov>
erhead wires are unlawful in many OF
the large cities and with annexation
they may be made so here. The con-
duit system has proven a success in
the East where everything in the shape
of climate was against it; here every
thing is in favor and it will work like
charm
A gentleman who has taken consid-
cradle interest in the new enterprise,
said: eve have had encouragement
enough right here in Honolulu to sat
isfy us that the new company will be
go, I understand that S54 900 has al
ready been pledged and We can get
more in California. This is enough for
a line in the city and perhaps short
one in the country. The city line will
be on the conduit double wire system
and will be a success. Poles will have
to be used in the country districts