The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-19
lr a little over 500 ner Instrument.

IHeSt uSufeS WOulQ lIlultdte ltldl
more work could be done than was
originally estimated for, $110 per instru-
ment, and yet leave margin for mex
pected and perhaps unforeseen eXpendi-
lures.
Besides the detailed estimates made
by the committee, the results of which
are given above, they have received
figures from other sources confirming
them. The manager of the Newark
| Telephone Company, an independent
system, having now about 1900 sub
scribers, says such a system as con-
templated for Worcester, can probably
be built at the rate of about 500 per
instrument, and a western telephone
construction company puts its figures
for first-class construction, swithboards
and instruments, with 10 miles of con-
duit and 10 miles of aerial construc-
ton, at $S5 per instrument.
The plan above outlined looks to the
establishment of an exchange, to be To-
Gated in the central part of the city,
with lines running in five different di-
rectionS therefrom, first by means of
underground conduits and cables, and
then by poles and overhead wires. One
line to run to the west side, one line
toward and beyond Lincoln square, one
/ line toward and beyond Washington
/ square, one line in the general direction
D
Main street toward Webster square and
the southwesterly part of the city.
1t is believed that ten miles of under
ground conduit and about the same
number of miles of overhead cable will
be sufficient to provide for 1900 instru-
meuts with their connections, and these
/ figures have been obtained by a pretty
careful estimate of the situation, and
/ from what are believed to be reliable
authorities on the subject
4 Your committee believe that a com
/ pany can be safely launched on the ba,-
/ sis of capitalization of $4,000, but
/ do not recommend that such a company
be organized for less than 5000, 900 capt.
tai, and they recommend the following
plan:
A corporation to be organized under
I the laws of Massachusetts, with cap
/ ital stock of 100000. This stock to be
! divided into shares of $50 each. Books
1 to be opened and papers circulated
/ calling for subscriptions to a small
number of shares each; no person be-
ing allowed to subscribe for more than
$4,000 In an event. In connection with
and coincident to the endeavor to get
stock subscribers, telephone subscrip-
| lions are to be solicited and so far as
possible an effort made to get sub
scribers for telephones, to also sub
scribe for stock.
The committee has this to say about
the situation:
The movement looking to the estab-
lishment of an independent telephone
exchange was started with no Interior
purpose in view, beyond the wish to
have the people of the city understand
that telephone service can be rendered
at much lower prices than are now de-
manded with equal or better service
within the limits of the city, than is
now provided.
There is no colored gentleman in the
wood pile. If the movement is to be
furthered it must be done by the united
action of the people who are or may
become interested in doing it. No pro-
moter has appeared and no large cap
italist has arisen to father the plan
and whatever shall be DONE as has beer
said, must be done by the united ac-
ton and interested work of the people
themselves, who are or will take al
interest in the subject.
The committee has endeavored tC
give the matter full, fair, conscientious
and careful consideration, and to pre-
sent the matter exactly as it appeared
to it. The members of the committee
as individuals are willing to take III
and perform their share Of any future
work that may be necessary but as
whole and as individuals, they will
be frank to say that they do not intend
to enter into the movement for any
Interior purpose or for the purpose OF
backing 1t beyond their Individual eff
fort and possibly limited subscription
as above indicated.
The question of communication by
long distance telephones outside of the
city will undoubtedly be raised Thai
Is one which the committee has gone
into seriously, but until independent
exchanges have been established In
other cities, and they have been con-
neeted with each other by long distance
wires, it is found that communication
can be made most satisfactorily
through the New England Telephone
and Telegraph Company, and American
i Telephone and Telegraph Company. In
+ other places long distance instruments
Of the New England and American
companies have been placed in the ex-
| changes of the independent telephone
companies, and messages can be trans
! mitted through the central Office of the
| independent company by giving to and
i having them repeated by the operator
! in the central Office.
! The person sending the message pay
ing therefor the regular charges of the
New England or American company.
| This is done in Haverhill and other
places.
| The. committee believes the plan for
promoting an Independent telephone
exchange in Worcester, for the purpose
| of reducing the cost of the telephone
TO the users thereof, to be entirely feas-
| ible, and that with careful and eco
| nomical management, such an ex-
| change car be made to pay reasonable
! dividends, as such things go in these
days.
They foresee that there must be a
! good deal of disinterested and unpaid
| for work done by those who enter into
| the project, and that some money must
| perhaps be raised by volunteer sub
scripfion, which, if the plan does not
| succeed, may not be repaid, for the pur-
| pose of reaching the large number of
| possible subscribers to both stock and
! telephones, that the business man can
/ not take the time to reach person
ally.
Very many persons have approached
the committee, expressing interest in
! the movement, desiring both to sub
scribe for stock and to have telephones
| placed in the houses and places of bus
| mess. This has been done to such an
extent as to cause the committee to be-
! lieve that there is sufficient interest
| in the project to carry it along and to
a successful termination.
AS was set forth in the statement pre-
1 scented at the last meeting, Independent
/ telephone exchanges are being operat-
ed in a large number of places, espec-
| tally in the west.
Recently the committees attention
I has been called to a, system of indepen-
dent exchanges connected together in
and about Newark, n. j., connecting
Jersey City, Bound Brook, Paterson,
Orange, Hoboken, Montclair, Plainfield,
Weehawken and other places, which is
| in highly successful operation. The
success of these exchanges gives much
encourag ement to the people of this