The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-28
READY FOR a FRANCHISE
NEW TELEPHONE COMPANY TO ASK
FOR ONE IN A FEW DAYS.
over 800 Subscribers Already Secured
-Out-ef-TOwn Exchanges Send
GOngratuIatory Messages.

s. p Sheerin. president of the New Tele-
phone Company. says that the success of
the canVassers for subscribers is most graf
flying. They have been at work but four
days, but have secured between 500 and 600
subscribers already. In some instances two
separate canvassers have called on the same
men, for instance where he wants one tele-
phone at his office and one at his residence.
The canvassers have special districts in
which to canvass, and are not allowed to
encroach on each others territory. 1t is the
intention of the company to begin putting
telephones in operation by August l, and the
hope is to have the exchange completed by
October l. Meantime those patrons who are
connected up will have free service. No
charges will be made until 1900 telephones
are in actual operation.
In the next few days the company will
apply to the Board of Public Works for a
franchise. Mr.. Sheerin said last night that
the company was hardly ready yet to say
on what basis it would ask franchise.
From the interest four days canvass has
shown, the company believe that there is a
real demand for telephone competition in
this city and that there will be little diff
Guilty in getting the Board of Works and
Council TO give the company favorable
terms. Mr. Montgomery, of the Board of
Works, says that if it is shown that the
company is bona fde concern and means
to really establish an exchange in Indianap-
oils, he does not see any objections to grant
ing it a franchise Mr.. Montgomery was in
the Council when the Phoenix Company
asked for franchise. One was granted by
the board, but not confirmed by the Coun-
ell. This Mr.. Montgomery says was be-
cause the Phoenix Company was not willing
to give adequate bond to guarantee its
good faith. The bond it was willing to give
only provided for s., 900 of lquldated dam
ages to the city in case the franchise was
not used to actually carry on the telephone
business. There was opposition to a fran
chise that might have been used purely for
speculative purposes, he says.
About the time the Board of Works was
giving away the present franchise to the
Central Union Telephone Company repre-
sentatives of the independent telephone
companies of the State, which have State
organization of their own, tried to induce
the board to require the Central Union
Telephone Company to make connections
with the lines of the Independent companies.
BY this means. the Independent companies
asserted, indianapolis merchants would be
in direct communication with their patrons
in other towns. Against this the Central
Unon fought and the clause did not so into
the franchise. Mr.. Sheerin says that when
the New Telephone COmpany's exchange Is
in operation connections will be made with
the independent companies. Lines will be
run where none now exist, so that the en-
tire State will be covered with d network
of telephone lines, all reaching the State
capital: Tolls for out of town service will
be at least IL third lower than now. The
knowledge that they are at last to have q
chance of affording their patrons direct and
convenient communication with Indanapo-
"a H.
dorse the Independent movement in this
city. Mr. Sheerin has big stack of letters
and kilograms he has received from men
prominent in the independent telephone
companies of the State Expressions from
a few are given: A. p. Irwin, of the Rush
vile Cooperative Telephone Company,
wrote Mr.. Sheerin a letter containing the
following paragraph: Il feel quite sure that
the independent companies, of which there
is one in nearly every town with which In
dianapolis people do business, Will heartily
cooperate with you and be prompt to con-
meet themselves with your system. The in
dependent movement has made so much
Roadway in the last three years that the
business men of your city can no longer
afford to ignore it,
Letters similar in tone were received from
Noblesville, Fort Wayne, Logansport, etc
The letter from the Nobesvile company
speaks most hopefully of the situation,
speaking Of one hundred towns in the
western and northern part of the State. The
establishment of the Indianapolis exchange
would form the connecting link in the sys-
involved in making connections with the In
dianapolis lines. Not only the towns but
many remote farms will be in direct COM
munication with indianapolis II the plans
come to frution. A physician of this city
was in Terre Haute the other day. He had
occasion to visit two farmers. By an acct
dent he learned that both had telephones
leading to their farms, and he was saved
days time in not having to drive to them
A telegram from the United Telephone
Company, of Button, sent the next day
after the companyS incorporation, said
your action in organizing an independent
telephone company for Indianapolis will
greatly. facilitate State business and help all
Of u.s. Another from James H. Hessin
manager of the United Telephone Company
of Huntington, said: According TO papers,
we hope we shall soon be in telephone com
munication with Indianapolis j. 0. STARTS,
of Portland, telegraphed Mr.. Sheerin as fol-
lows: I'VE see by daily newspaper that In
dianapolis will have independent telephone
exchange. Glad of it.
These quotations are but a few from the
many communications that Mr.. Sheerin and
other officers of the company have received.
Many are from Indianapolis people Every
day letters, postal cards and telephone mes
sages are received congratulatfng the COM
pany and indicating a desire TO be put on
the subscription list