The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-23
LOW TELEPHONE RATES
PROMISED INDIANAPOLIS PEOPLE BY
A NEW CONCERN.
Company Organized Here Yesterday
with $35O,OOO Capital stock
What the officers Say.

The New Telephone Company" with a
capital of $S50,000 was incorporated yester-
day. The stock is said to be owned ex-
clusively by Indianapolis people. 1t is the
intention of the New Telephone Company to
compete with the Central Union Telephone
Company. The former will offer greatly re-
duced rates. The price to be charged for
residence telephones is 81 a month, $24 a
year and $40 year for business phones
This week ten men will be employed to can
vass the city for subscribers. They will have
with them provisional contracts to be
signed. When 1900 subscribers have been
secured it is the intention to apply to the
Board of Public Works for franchise.
A number of influential business men of
this city are interested in the new enter
prise. A. H. Nordyke is president, S. p.
Sheerin vice president, Harry B. Gates sec
rotary and M. B. Wilson treasurer. The
stockholders are d. M. Parry, B. w. Par
rott, Pierre Gray, John W. Bowlus, VIM N.
Gates, Walter Kessler and L. c. Walker.
Several of the men interested in the New
Telephone Company were connected with
the Phoenix Telephone Company, incor-
porated and granted franchise some time
ago. Although the Phoenix made terms
with the Board of Works, it's contract was
never ratified by the Council. L. G. Walk
er, one of the directors in the New Com
pany, was the active representative of the
Phoenix Company. The officers of the New
Company believe there will be less trouble
with the Council than there has been form
erly when they are able to show they have
g. large number or subscribers and are pre-
pared to do business at a largely reduced
cost to patrons.
1t is claimed the most modern and salts
factory appliances are to be used by the
New Company. Arrangements will be made
by which long-distance service be had
and long distance instruments are to be
instituted. 1t is promised that the service
shall be satisfactory in every respect The
rates of service will be about one-third less
than those now paid by Indianapolis pa
irons. A quiet canvass already made lndi-
Gates that the New Company will be well
coined and will be given abundant patron
age.
President Nordyke said that if the con
tracts are signed with reasonable rapidity
and a franchise is given without UNIQUE
delay there will be 5000 telephones in opera
ton by the New Telephone Company Aug.
next While this is a big job" said he,
II have no doubt of cur ability to accom-
plish it." Mr.. Nordyke said that having
satisfied himself that there was money in
the business at one-third Of the rates now
paid and that the people would welcome
competition he went into this enterprise
as business matter pure and simple. /.
ready to place more of its wires under
ground than the Board Of Works might re-
quire When asked what kind of equipment
the company would use he replied 1.-The
very best material, the very latest inven-
tions. There will be no room to find fault
with out plant when it is once in opera
ton
Vice President Sheerin said that while
no application had vet beer. made ia. the
Board of Works and Council for fran
chise he had no doubt that it would be
granted with reasonable restrictions, if
enough contracts were secured to convince
desired competition In Detroit, Mr. Sheer
in said, there is a new company that al
ready has 800 telephones, and has appIica-
there is no better telephone plant in this
country than that of the new company at
Detroit. Their service is superb said he.
'"They charge more than we will charge,
but our service will be in all respects equal
tn theirs"