The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-15
Telephone Lines Likely to Go
Underground.
LATEST IN LINE CONSTRUCTION
. efeating Trolley Induction in
Two Ways-Use OF Telephone
Here and Abroad.

In the course of a casual chat yes
terday, John Cassidy, superintendent
of the Mutual Telephone Company, al
luded to the service of the exchanges
in the States where the lines were ex-
posed to the trolley wires. Such i'm
provement in construction has been
made in late years that the induction
is so reduced that it is scarcely noticed
at all on private lines-ordinary con-
nections. Mr.. Cassidy mentioned espe-
cially the long distance line from San
Francisco to Portland. This wire car
ries very clearly, through it passes
through number of towns having
trolley systems and for miles upon
miles is alongside telegraph wires sus
tanning a heavy current.
The tendency in telephone line con-
struction in the States now, says Mr..
Cassidy, is to have the lines in the
centers of the cities underground.
They could have been placed under
ground on Queen, Merchant and King
streets here for less than the amount
that was expended in constructing or
installing the expensive and well-nigh
useless cables that are in place. 1t is
the belief of the superintendent that
the Mutual company will find it to its
interests in time, to place lines be-
meath the ground, changing gradually
from month to month and year to year,
till all talking is through conduit lines.
The only way in which induction can
be overcome in aerial construction, is
to use what is called the metallic cir
cult, which has practically been en-
dorsed by the company here to meet
the expected trolley lines of the Ha-
waiian Tramway Company and the Ho-
nolulu Rapid Transit Company. Ger
tain it is that the Mutual company,
having such a complete plant and hav
ing given such admirable service for so
many years, will continue to supply all
that is needed in telephone commun-
ication for the city.
The story of the remarkably general
use of the telephone in Honolulu is al
most threadbare, but can be reverted
to once more. Mr.. Cassidy said that
the telephone men in the United States
seemed to be almost incredulous when
through the exchange here and espe-
cially with the butcher. The men Of
the States were much amused to learn
of the issuance of invitations to meet
ings for business and social gatherings
by telephone and to the practice of
ladies of making calls by telephone.
Absolutely nothing of this sort would
be tolerated for an instant by the COM
panies of the States. Over on the main
land the telephone is for business only
and moreover outsiders are under no
circumstances permitted to use the
telephones of subscribers. The charges
to non-subscriberS are heavy.
In the large cities on the mainland,
Mr.. Cassidy found that the business
houses used the telephone more than
do the business houses of Honolulu, in
this way: 1t is reasoned that 1t Is
money for the house to have a custom
er secure attention at once when he
calls up the establishment. 1t is I'M
perative that a possible buyer shall
not be answered that the line is en-
gagged The house of Baker & Hami-
ton at San Francisco, which is we'll
known here. for instance, has twenty
nine telephones in its stores.
A good many of the tourists coming
in here lately, think the local telephone
system one of the public conveniences
of the place. They use it by the hour,
largely for the novelty of the thing. A
good many of them have not been ac-
customed to talking over lines Of wire.
Others have always had to pay for the
privilege and the way they foist over
!. 4Ls -1-Stor, hara is nalIIiO on.