Evening star., 1898-03-05
RATES FOR PHONES
Tabulation Of the Charges Made in
Other Cities.
INQUIRIES BY COMMISSIONER WIGHT
Varying Of Cost Above and Below
Washington Figures.
CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE

That the District Commissioners might
be enabled to submit to Congress at the
proper time all the information possible as
to telephone rates and services in other
cities, Commissioner Wight, as was stated
in The Star at the time, recently sent in
quiries on the subject to many of the most
prominent cities of the country. Replies
have been received from the municipal au-
thorities of some twenty or more cities. in
cluding those both larger and smaller than
Washington, and these replies have been
tabulated. 1t appears from the replies so
far received that In some cities the rates
are lower than those here, while in others
they are higher. 1t also appears that in
some of the cities no revenue is received
from the telephone companies by the mu-
nicipality; in some there are taxes on the,
gross receipts; in some taxes on the plants;
In some licenses are required to be taken
out by the telephone companies, while in
others certain number of telephones are
supplied to the municipality free of cnarge.
In Louisville. KY, the sum of Sill is
charged by the telephone company for a
special metallic circuit for business pur-
poses, $50 where two parties are on the cir
cult and $72 for grounded special circuit.
The residence charges are $50 for special
metallic circuit, $50 for a two-party cir
cult and $4S for a special ground circuit
There Is no measured service, there are ad
valorem and franchise taxes, and tele-
phones for the city government are sup
piled at cost, wires of the police and fire
departments on poles and in conduits being
free. The rates are believed to be satis-
factory; there are 1852 telephones in op-
GRAFTON, with ffty-six operators, and the
wires are placed both overhead and under
ground.
Rates in Milwaukee.
Mf1wankac tha rhor
s72. $40. $40 and $50. resectively, according
to grade of service. There is no revenue to
the municipality. 1t is stated that the
rates are not satisfactory, but no action is
being taken looking to a reduction of them.
There are $3.50 telehones in operation. with
nfty-eight operators. Nothing is said as to
the location of the wires No measured
service.
The charges In Atlanta for business pur
poses are $40, $75 and S6O respectively: x5I
for a two-party metallic circuit for resi-
deIces. and $50 for special ground circuit.
me tax Is on the value of the plant. and
1t is stated that a new company is being
installed, which will reduce rates. There
are 1,sOO telephones in operation, the num-
Der OF operators being thirty-eight Moth
ing Is said as to how the wires are placed.
NO measured service.
The reply from Harrisburg, Pa. states
that the business rates are 500 for a special
metallic circuit and ST. for a two-party
circuit: The residence charges are S12 for
a special metallic circuit and SEQ for a two
party circuit. For 600 calls the charges
are so for a special metallic circuit and
from $50 to $40 for two-party circuit A
license OF 500 year is required, and %
cents a year on every pole. There are 5II
telephones in use, with eleven operators.
All long-distance telephones are on metal
lie circuits. Nothing is said about the pub
lie feeling as to rates.
Philadelphia Figures.
In Philadelphia the rates are $1GO for
business telephones on special metallic
circuits and $l20 for grounded special cir
cult; the same rates for residences In the
measured service the charges are for 500
calls $50 for special metallic circuit and S12
for two-party circuit; the charges for the
z. 400 class being $156 and $3.50, respectively
The city government is furnished tele-
phones free. Many complaints are being
made regarding excessive rates, but no ef-
fort OF consequence Is being made for
reduction. There are 1000 telephones in
Use. with one hundred and fifty operators.
There are both overhead and underground
wires.
In Baltimore the three rates for business
purposes are $l2o. 800 and $1S. respect
lively; for residences. 500, $50 and S7S. re-
spectively; for 600 calls, $685. $50 and 49,
and to 1000 calls, $11S s104 and $94. The
municipality charges 81 per pole a year,
and a sliding scale per foot for conduits
The rates are stated to be satisfactory,
and no action looking to a change is said
to be probable. No figures are given as to
the number of telephones or operators. and
nothing is said to the location OF the
wires
The Providence Situation.
Advices from Providence, r. l.. show that
for business purposes the rate is $40 for
special metallic circuit, and $50 for special
ground circuit, the residence rates being
500 and $50 respectively. There is no reve-
nue. derived by the municipality, and the
reduction of rates is stated to be under
consideration. but there is no action to that
end. There are 3.31T telephones in opera
tion. with 157 operators. There are no
party lines.
In st. Paul the three rates for business
purposes are $120. 500 and s72 respectively.
and for residences. $780, $50 and $50 re-
The company allows 20 telephones free to
the city, and 80 per cent OF for over 20.
The city is allowed the free use of the
company's poles and conduits. The rates
the advisability of letting in competitor
Is being considered. There are 1,SOO tele-
phones in use, with 48 operators. Both
overhead and underground wires are used.
The Toledo rates. for business purposes.
are $72, $50 and $50 respectively, and for
residences, $54, $48 and $40 respectively.
There is no measured service. The COM
pany allows the city AZ free telephones and
Al. The city Is also allowed the free use Of
the company's poles and conduits. 1t Is
explained that the rates are considered
high, but no action is in sight for reduc-
tion of them. There are 2.150 telephones
In use with 4S operators. There are both
overhead and underground wires.
But One Rate.
In Wilmington. Delaware, there is but
one rate, $50, for business purposes, and
but one, $24, for residences, and no meas
ured service. The municipality derives no
revenue from the company, and the rates
are stated to be satisfactory. There are
1,5O0 telephones in use, the number CT
operators not being given. Nothing is said
about the location Of the wires
The rates in Newark New Jersey, for
business purposes are $50, $12O and $40,
respectively. and $85, $4S and $50, respect
lively for residences There is no measured
service The company is taxed two per
cent on its gross receipts. There is said
to be no dissatisfaction with the rates. and
the number of telephones In use is put
at secs. with fifty-four operators. No ref
erence is made as to the location of the
wires
In Erie. Pennsylvania, the business rate
Is $42 and the rate for residences. $24. with