The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
LONG-DISTANCE SYSTEM
NEW TELEPHONE COMPANY MOOR
PORATEs IN 4 NEW FORM
With a MiIIiOn-DOlIar CapitaIixat ton
Looking After Outside business,
the Promoters Say.

The "New Long distance Telephone Conn
pany," capital 100000, was incorporated
yesterday. The fee paid Secretary of State
Owen was $1OO2. The incorporators are A
H. Nordyke, of this city; Alexander f.
Ramsey of Charlottesville; Daniel e.
Dougherty, of Louisville, KY; George w.
Beers, of Fort Wayne; Harry B. Gates,
Simon p. Sheerin and D. M Parry, of IN
dianapolis. 1t is understood that the men
named are to be the directors, although this
fact is not shown by the articles of incor-
poration, the telephone laws not requiring
the articles to designate the officers. Mr..
Sheerin is to be president, Mr.. Ramsey vice
president and Mr.. Nordyke the treasurer,
1T is understood. The secretary has not
yet been named.
Under the specifications for the granting
of franchise to any new company in In
dianapoliS the Board of Works requires
that connections shall be made with outside
companies. 1t was the original purpose of
the New Telephone Company to carry on
long-distance business, but when the Board
of Works limited the capitalization of any
local company this was found to be inn
practicable, and the New Long distance
Company was planned. Even if a franchise
shall not be granted to the New Telephone
Company next Monday the plans of the
New Long distance Company will be car
ried out as whatever company receives a
franchise must make connections with it
on a reasonable basis. The New Company,
however, hopes to receive the contract 1t
will be observed that the stockholders of
the New Long-distance Telephone Company
are Identical with those interested in the
New Telephone Company Qocal) S. z.
discussing the situation last night Mr..
Sheerin said that the long distance organ
ization had been contemplated for some
time. at had been the intention of the gen.
tlemen composing the New Telephone Com
pany to build sufficient long distance lines
to connect all the independent long distance
lines now operating in this State with In
dianapols, and such new lines as may be
constructed later on said he. Eat first
we were not clear whether we would form a
separate organization or increase the capi-
tai stock of the Indianapolis company to
such an extent as to embrace the outside
work. The action of the board in limiting
the capitalization Of any company bidding
upon the franchise in this city settled that
question for us, and we determined to or
game the New Long-dstance Telephone
Company"
Mr.. Sheerin said that the formation of
the long-distance company was no indica-
ton that the local company expected to be
successful. al it has no more knowledge
than any one else on that subject. He said
however, that the result of the bidding
would have no effect upon the intentions
of the long-distance company "At our spe-
cial request" said he, the Board of Works
incorporated a clause in the specifications
requiring any company putting in u plant
here to furnish service upon reasonable
terms without discrimination to all
outside lines which shall comply
with such requirements for construction
as the board may deem necessary for the
protection of the city plant. This point be-
ing settled, ii will make no difference what
ever to the long-distance company, who
may be the successful bidder. We shall
build our outside lines and carry out our
Obligations with our long distance friends
throughout the State just the same"
asked
AT once. We will have the long-distance
lines in operation long before the work in
this city can be completed. good deal of
long-distance business can be done by spe-
time as the exchange is ready for opera
ton.
1t is understood that Mr.. Beers. who is
practical electrician and experienced tele-
phone man, is to superintend the construc-
ton of the long-disIance lines work upon
some or winch Will be commenced within
the next few days. He is the president of
the Home Telephone Company, of Fort
Wayne. and also of the National Long-dis-
lance Telephone Company, which is said to
operate about one thousand miles of long
distance lines in the northern and eastern
part of the State. Mr. Ramsey represents
a ong-distance telephone line in the west
ern part OF the State, with headquarters
at Charlottesville, which claims TO control
about six hundred miles of long-distance
line. IT is understood that several other
gentlemen interested in the ong-distance
telephone business in different parts of the
State have also become members of this
long-distance company. Messrs, Nordyke,
Gates and Beers had nothing to add to what
Mr.. Sheerin laid stating he had covered
the subject pretty thoroughly,