The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-07
TELEPHONE RIVALS CLASH



Morris e. TyIcr's Statement to tho
Committee-Interestin Facts Brought
Out.
Before the committee on incorpora-
tions yesterday afternoon the hearing on
the resolution for the incorporation OF
the Boston and New York Telephone
company of Connecticut was continued.
The counsel for the company seeking
Incorporation offered additional tes-
timony and the opposition opened its
case Ex-Governor Waller and John s..
Seymour, patent commissioner under
President Cleveland, appeared for the
Boston and New York company, and
Attorney John w. Alling, Attorney
James Il. Moran and Morris F. Tyler,
president of the Southern New England
Telephone company, appeared to oppose
| the resolution for incorporation. The
first witness called yesterday afternoon
! by Governor Waller was Colonel John
w. Rutherford electrical engineer for
| the Massachusetts Telephone company.
His testimony was a continuation Of
that which he gave on Wednesday,
showing estimates on the cost of con-
struction of telephone lines and detail
| ing his experience In telephone line
building Mr.. Alling took up the map
OF the proposed lines Of the new com
pany and asked as to what the COM
pany proposed to do in New Haven.
Colonel Rutherford stated that the
main line contemplated would pass
through a street within about two
blocks of the Yale campus, not men
tioning streets by name, and said that
ii the line went through New Haven
it would do so as underground, in CON
duits. He said that he had estimated
the cost of the plant of the Southern
New England Telephone company, baH-
ed on information derived from obser-
walton and investigation, and thought
that he could duplicate the Southern
New England plant for $1,250,000. He
thought that the cost per phone on the
Southern New England line, including
the poles, wires and everything, would
not exceed $125, and that telephone
and receiver without the switchboard
could be purchased for $1750.
Mr.. Alling-"How long have you been
an electrical engineer"
Colonel Rutherford-sFor a number
of years, and am not out of the bus
mess yet
TN connection with building tele-
phone lines you deal with Simon Berg
& Co. of New York. do you not?"
Eyes; as brokers'"
"Have you had dealings with that
firm in connection with building this
proposed line?"
Eyes; have dealt with them as hold
ers of the bonds. They take the bonds
and give me the money for them, while
the work is being constructed"
At this point Mr.. Alling requested his
examination of Colonel Rutherford be
postponed as, he said, he desired to
get some technical knowledge before
continuing the cross-examination.
Governor Waller characterized this
request as ''most audacious," but said,
"If you will let me get at Tyler now
1 am willing your request should be
granted" Colonel Rutherford was then
excused and will be cross-examined lat
er.
The next witness called by Mr.. Sey-
mour was Mr.. Wilcox Of Meriden, gem
eral manager of the Connecticut Tele-
phone and Electrical company He
said that his company had furnished
large amounts Of equipment for inde-
pendent telephone lines, and said that
SO far as he had learned the indepen-,
dent lines had operated very successful
ly and satisfactory to the subscribers.
Mr. Seymour then offered in evidence
copies of the Electrician and various
newspapers containing articles on in
dependent telephone companies, those
with Bell companies and q
mass of documentary evidence. Among
this latter was a copy of a resolution
adopted by the Massachusetts, Tele-
phone company accepting the advant-
ages given by the postal act, which per-
mits companies to operate upon all post
and military roads, after they have
been chartered by the state Mr.. Sey-
nour said that the provisions Of that
act applied to all roads over which
mail was carried and consequently to
the streets of city
Mr.. Alling stated that he had heard
that the Boston and New York Tele-
phone company was Incorporated under
The laws of New Jersey, and asked of
icSlueHl IloluIOOh OF the MaSSaChu-
;etts Telephone company what the cap
tai stock of the new company was. Mr..
F1olbrook replied that it was 50. 900, 900,
with Slooo paid in. He said that the
Boston and New York company was
lot entirely the same incorporation as
he Massachusetts company.
Mr Alling then called Morris F. Ty-
er Mr.. Tyler related the details Of
he organization of the Southern New
England Telephone company in 1882. He
aid that the company had in Connecu-
ut on January last 10,5S9 stations In
peration, by station referring to tele-
>honeS, l,21S stations We're added in sa
S9S. There are in the New Haven divi-
ion 2,224 stations, supplying service to
bout 10000 persons. Asked for an ex-
'lanation of the general system of fix
ng telephone rates he said that the
ystem Of charging had started on the
heory that If return was had for the
utput of capital a small percentage
hould be added for the cost of the SER
ice.
Experience has, however, caused a
hange in the basis of the charge.
,hich is to-day based on the amount of
ervice rendered, larger charge for
arge use of a telephone than for small
Sc. Exchanges of under 100 subscrib-
RS are taken and The average of switch