The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS.

OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS.
When the New Telephone Company in
corporated few weeks ago it at once be-
gan getting in communicate with indie
pendent telephone companies of the State
which are now denied connection with In
dianapolis through the Central Union Com
pany. Maps of Indiana were sent to each
company, requesting it to show by red lines
the various towns with which it had con-
neetions. When these maps were returned
the lines were transferred from it to a very
large map of the State, which was shown
to the board yesterday. 1t showed that
there is a complete net work of independent
telephone companies in all parts of the
State outside of an area, of from twenty to
forty miles around indianapolis. 1t is the
idea, if the New Company is granted a
franchise, to run out five or six lines from
this city to the nearest exchanges, when,
within forty-eight hours, it is claimed, cities
in the remote north and south parts of the
State would be in direct communication,
as would those in the equally remote east
and west sections. Indeed, it is claimed
that the Independent lines extend east into
Ohio and north into Michigan. Another fact
advanced is that the tolls would be as low
and ultimately lower than the Bell and Cen
trail Union rates on long calls. 1t is further
declared that only the best double metallic
lines are to be used, with apparatus in every
respect equal to the best now on the market.
In concluding his talk Judge Walker
asked that the Board of Works meet with
the mayor and city attorney and repre-
sentatives of the company to take up the
franchise line by line, criticise it and sug-
gest notifications of any features that are
M eli OF ba
board indicated that it would take up the
question in a reasonably short time.
At the conference to represent the city
were Mayor Taggart, NJ. a. Downing, w.
Scott Moore and Il. ]. Montgomery, of the
Board of Works; City Controller Johnson,
City Engineer Jeup and several members of
the Council committee on contracts and
franchises. including Chairman Golfer.
MR. SHEERIN'S ADDRESS.
S. p. Sheerin, of the company, was the
first speaker and acted as spokesman intro
ducing the telephone men from other parts
of the State who addressed the board. In
part he said:
I'VE fully understand that the RESPONSE
bility deyolves upon us to satisfy you that
there is a demand, in the interest. of the
city, for the establishment of telephone
plant that will give materially cheaper serv-
ice than the public is now getting, and at
the same time open up to Indianapolis much
more extensive and very much cheaper tel
ephonic communication with all parts of the
State than they now have, and that the
further responsibility rests upon us to sat
fsfy you that we have the financial ability
to put in a plant equal in all respects to the
best in use anywhere in this country, and
to operate the same in a manner entirely
satisfactory and beneficial to the material
interests of the city.
IF We cannot satisfy you upon these two
propositions we are not entitled to a fran
saF16
grant one. II we do satisfy you on both
these points, we ask your prompt determ-
nation of the matter, because prolonged
positive refusal. We are ready to begin
now, and only need favorable action by the
city authorities TO put the work in motion. !"
He said that the company was prepared
to show that, IL granted a franchise and
permitted to go to work without unneces-
sary delay, it will be able to open an ex-
change with over $500 subscribers. The
company IL prepared to present petitions
from the representative men in every ward
in the city, aggregating more than 5000 sig
natures, praying that ii be granted a fran
chse, and be permitted to enter into BUSH
ness in the city upon equal terms with the
company now operating here in all respects,
except that of rates, which are to be those
named in the contracts, one-thfrd lower
than those now in force. Continuing, Mr..
Sheerin said: II desire to call the atten-
ton of the board, in special manner, TO
the extent of the independent telephone
business in this State outside OF the city of
Indianapolis. There are now 137 towns In
Indiana having independent exchanges.
Many OF these have no other telephone IA
cilities whatever There are connecting
these towns, one with the other, in various
ways. 1900 miles of independent toll lines.
/ mean by this, not 4,6Oe miles of WIRE but
4,6O0 miles of roadway between county seats
and other good county towns covered by
the independent telephone fines, and upon
these 1900 miles of toll lines there are sit
uated and supplied with telephones 1906
towns, large and small"
In .af1 aff N he
map mentioned above. He said:
You win very readily see that a very
much smaller outlay of both time and
money than ii will cost TO put a telephone
miami I'm IN this city will be reanired 10 c.ln-