The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-27
NEW TELEPHONE CO.'S PLANS.



The prospects appear to be good for sa-
vannah to shortly have competition in
the telephone business. Judging by the
results in other cities where rival tele-
phone companies are established, the ap-
pearance in the field of the new telephone
company will mean an immediate reduc-
ton in rates here.
In fact, subscriptions are already being
received for the new company at a re-
duction of 25 per cent. upon the rates at
present charged by the Bell Telephone
Company.
The Bell Company has never failed to
meet the reduction in rates in other cities,
and il is not likely that 1t will do other
wise here. Business men OF Richmond,
Lynchburg, Jacksonville and other south
ern cities, the new company says, are
now getting three telephones, two al their
Offices, one of each company, and one
at their residences for less than Savan-
nah business men are paying for one Of
flee telephone. Whether there is any
profit in this for the companies is not
known.
Some people are inclined 10 criticise the
action of council in granting the new
companys franchise to use overhead
wires and poles. The overhead wires are
nuisance a well as an element of dan
ger especially in cases OF fire. and it
was thought when the Bell Telephone
Company began putting its wires under
ground that a very desirable reform had
been inaugurated, which the telegraph and
all other companies using overhead wires
would some day be required to follow.
The granting of a franchise to a new
company to place its poles in the streets
and lanes and string overhead wires sim
ply increases the nuisance by that much.
On the other hand, it is doubtless true
that if the new company were required
to- place it's wires underground, there
would be no likelihood of competition in
the telephone business The members. of
council took that view OF it in granting
the franchise.
Mayor Meldrim, when spoken to by a
Morning News reporter, said that, while
1t is true that the stringing of overhead
wires is undesirable and Objectionable, he
considered it would have been a hardship
on new company applying to do bust
ness here to require Ii to place its wires
underground while so many telegraph,
telephone, electric light and other wires
are still allowed above ground, the por-
ton of wires which the Bell Telephone
Company proposes putting under ground
being only small proportion of the total
number Of overhead wires in the city.
THE franchise to the new company,
said Mayor Meldrim Especially provides
that when the city shall see fit, as it
doubtless will do some day, to order all
the overhead wires placed under ground,
that the wires of this company shall be
placed under ground also II also pro-
vides That the poles to be erected by the
new company shall be placed under the
supervision of the chairman of the streets
and lanes committee. Every precaution
will be exercised to prevent any increased
danger or nuisance by the stringlng of
wires by the new company"
Mr.. John Il. Rowland, who has been
the chief promoter of the new company,
said that he is in correspondence with
the various telephone construction COM
panies, with a view to arranging for the
construction of the plant here. A meet
ing of the stockholders will be held short
ly to decide upon this important matter.
About $4,000 of the capital has already
been subscribed, Mr.. Rowland stated, and
il is expected to secure from $4,000 10
Sl0J,00V here. The company will be sup
ported entirely by local capital The in
corporators are G. w. Owens, j. A. G.
Carson, i. T. Jones, John Lyons and
j. T. Rowland.
we shall push matters" said Mr. Row
land, and expect to have our plant con-
structed and in operation within ninety
days. We shall start with not less than
l,UUO SUBSCRIBERS. ThlS is one OF the chief
advantages TO the city of new telephone
company. The subscribers not only secure
telephones at a much less rate than for
merly, but they secure the benefit of a
much greater number of telephones
have correspondent with the secretaries
of the boards of trade of severa. cities,
where new telephone companies have been
established. At Lynchburg the new COM
pany has 500 members as against 100 for the
old company. The rates were formerly
$50 and $40 The new company is charging
$2S and SIS. while the Bell is only charging
Sl2. At Richmond the new company has
1900 telephones, and the favor with which
it is regarded Is shown by the fact that
the city council has revoked the fran.
chise of the old company, and the Bel
people are operating there under an in.
junction issued by the federal court Al
Knoxville, Tenn, the Peoples Telephone
Company has over 500 subscribers, and the
rates have been cut more than half Al
Jacksonville the new company had Ga sub
scribers in November, and the Bell les.
than half as many, Notwithstanding the
new company charges $50 and $40 as agains
| $24 and SIS by the Bell. AS soon as we ge
! into operation here the prices of tele
| phones will no doubt be cut away down
| our desire is to have as many of our sub
| scribers stockholders as we can secure. il
| order that they may be permanently inter
| ested in our success"