The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-16
BIG TELEpH hone
DEAL PROPOSED.
Movements of the Interstate Com
parry in the South.
THEY MAY RAISE THE CAPITALI-
zATIoN TO se,OO0,OOO AND BUILD
SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES OF
CONNECTION LINEs-THE RATES
FOR PHONES WILL NOT BE
INCREASED.

y representative of The Times cal, led on
MIR. Edgar l.. Miller, the general mana
ger OF the Interstate Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, and asked him what he
had to say about the article published u
few day: ago in the News and Observer of
Raleigh, \. c.. regarding the proposed
immense development of the company
Mr.. Miller replied that President Carr.
of his company, had about covered the
ground in the interview published in the
Raleigh paper. That his company had
about arranged to increase it's capitaliza-
ton to two millions and connect up all
the t"wns of Importance in North Caro-
lima, Virginia and MARYLAND, with Balti-
more, Norfolk, Richmond, and points,
south, huying aud building such points,
as they needed and where small compa-
MES or individual companies did not care.
20 sell out some plan would be devised.
to bring them to the general association.
Roanoke will, by this deal, Mr.. Miller
says, become great telephone centre
and most likely be his headquarters.
He said when asked to state the char
acter OF these lines, that he had recon-
merded the best of construction, 35-foot
poles, six pin arms braced and No. 10.
hard drawn copper wire metallic circuit.
In other words do the same high grade
work done by the y. Il. and L. Co. which
is the long distance Bell now working be-
tween New York and Chicago, etc. Lines
will he run via Lynchburg and Peters
burg TO Richmond and the North and
Norfolk and the Southern coast towns
via Danvile. South, and Lyuchburg
North. Mr.. Miller said he had hardly a
doubt the deal would be consummated,
as in II recent trip through the South he
was much encouraged by the interest
taken in the matter by all the in(lepend-
IN IaI
been taken, but from the article in the Ra-
leigh paper and the manner in which Mr.
Carr talked it looks like il will be but a
short time that the Bell Company will
have foe in tbs field looking for long
distance work worthy of their steal
The personnel Of the Interstate company
is such that the placing of $4,000, 900
of stock IL they decide to do so will
he mere bauatelle.
The president, Mr.. L. "A. Carr, of Dur
ham, is managing director of the Virginia
Carolina Chemical Co., and president OF
the Durham Fertilizer Co. and in many
other Industries. Mr.. Julian s. Carr.
secretary and treasurer. is president of tho
Durnam Bull blackwell Tobacco Co...
president the First National Bank, and
in almost every industry in the South.
Mr.. =. ID. Fahrney, vice president, is the
proprietor of the Victor Remedies Co.,
and president the Frederick Manufacture
ing Co., and one of the best business men
in Maryland.
Mr.. Edgar l.. Miller. the general mana
ger, is the practical ,nan of the company
and has been in the electrical business
since 1869, and was the manager OF the
first telephone company to fight the Bell
Co. He has held important positions in
many telephone and electrical con, panies.
Mr.. Geo. Watts, of Durham, is one Of
the directors of the American Tobacco,
Company, connected with many banks,
cotton mills and other industries in the
South.
We are glad to see the formation of
this big Southern enterprise and with
these people behind it should make for
midnble rival to the Northern competitor,
the Bell.