The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-14
BELL TELEPHONES NEW PLANT.
The Long Distance Lines Being Push
ed Savannahwnrd.

The Long Distance Lines Being Push
ed Savannahwnrd.
Mr.. II. w. Pope of New York, a repre-
sentative of the Southern Bell Telephone
Company, is in the city He is installing
throughout the south the new system
adopted by the Bell Company.
Mr.. Pope was asked about the improve
ments to be made in Savannah.
1--WE are doing the very best we can to
get our new system in operation" he said,
'but are necessarily hampered by the slow
progress of the actors in constructing
the new building. Work on the extension
of the underground conduits is to COM
mence Monday. What / cannot under
stand is how the people Of Savannah can
reconcile themselves to the erection of
more poles and the further disagreement
of the streets after having inaugurated a
system of underground wires that cOntem-
plated the removal of poles Why should
not the same requirements have been de-
manded of others seeking similar fran
chises? j assume now, the point having
been waived, we can continue our poles
and save much unnecessary expense, and
what was likely to prove a burden may
become benefit"
put
in?" Mr.. Pope was asked.
1T is wholly new, and I regard it as
the greatest step in telephony since the
invention of the transmitter. 1t admits
Of doing with two wires what cannot be
accomplished by others short of six wires,
and enables us to furnish high grade
long-distance service at price within the
range of most eVerybody's means"
What has been the result thus far?'
1T has proven so satisfactory that in
Charleston our list has grown from $50 to
about 1000 subscribers in a month. The
same is partially true of Augusta
How about competitiOn?"
"There is none, except in Augusta, and
that is of little account"
AN opposition exchange here would
greatly reduce rates" it was suggested.
That is another fallacy," said Mr.. Pope,
"a telephone exchange is worth to you as
q subscriber in proportion to the number
of people and places you can reach. If the
Bell company has 1000 subscribers in Sa-
vannah, and competing company 800. the
service of the competing company would
be worth one-half the Bell rates. The Bell
company, by the new system previously
mentioned, can furnish telephones on a
basis that will meet every body's means.
The long distance lines are being pushed
toward Savannah as fast as men and mon
ey will admit. We are now building the
iohe Instance hhe rom Atdnta 70 Angus
ta and as soon as it is completed, we will
continue 1t to Savannah.
The rates for long distance talking will
be 6-tenths of cent per mile, giving three
minutes conversation for the sum
that the distance would amount to when
estimated at that rate. Three minutes
en- a telephone means five or six hundred
words and to transmit it requires two
high-grade copper wires for each commu-
nlcation, regardless of distance, whereas
in telegrapny four or more communca-
tons may pass over one wire smultan-
eousiy. Another thing, you call for a par
ty in distant city and you get him in
three minutes, and, if You do not get him,
there is no charge. Having gotten the
party you can accomplish a good deal
with 500 Words