New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-02
1yDFpENDEvT TELEPHONE LINES.
WHERE THE STRENGTH or THE MOVEMENT
LIES SLOW But SURE GRoWTH-Dlf-
FTCr-rTIFS MET WITH


TIFs-sLOW But SURE GRoWTH-plt-
FICrLTIEs MET WITH
-,,,,, AUG On esne-lan 1T Is not strange
,bo. tho noonIo ~ the country generally do not ap-
| nrcciate the magnitude NJ the Independent t'l'-
11one movement" said 5 = Shoerin. OF This city
secretary and treasurer Of the lndependent 'e''
nhono Association W the United states, to-day
The movement Is n slow. natural growth he con
timed "It NAV be compared 20 tho falling of rain
drops First the pavement IS hardly p"rceptoN
snofted. I'm r Few moments tho spots become many
and close together. and finally the pavement ~
covered with water. one pays little attention ~
the FIRST drops Of rain. but he knows whom tho
shower IS in ful strength"
Tho inde pendsnt telephone movement Is strongest
IN the Middle West. and this city has become us
centre The independent lines are reaching ou'
cast west north and south. and connecting with
independent telephone systems forming I'm the f'ur
directions The federation OF Independent com
uanies IS National I'm scope. and promises 10 %" IN
n wear or two ono of tho most important instltu-
lions I'm tho country. The scheme IS not that OF
trust AZ this time for there has been no comma
ton OF companies further than m" federation NJ
Independent associations whether or not I'D"
movement viii I'm the indefinite future become one
great COMPANY like the Western Union Icl'gfap"
COMPANY or the Bell Telephone company inc
Independent telephone managers either are NOT pre-
pared or 40 not care 10 say
There are Al this time so independent telephony
companios I'm the country and seyeral hundred
mora are I'm process ~ organization The inde'
neudert systems arc operating $500 telephones III
pubic OK ,hangos The amount Of capital invested
An ndepondent telephone exchanges ana toll hhe'
,s 81 1000 and many millions moro mr." Invested ID
manufactures of plants Tor the independent OK
changes
BEGINNINGS OF THE MOVEMENT
The history Of tho independent telephone move
rrort began I've years ago At Fort smith Ark
f,fo % inter.
es+od In tbe telcnhone business. Tho second inde-
nerdont telephone company IS claimed by Lafay'
o+4 Ind In the last three years the upspringm6
NJ independent telephone companies has been rap,n
and Widespread particularly in lhniAha' H"'oi'
and Ohio independent exchanges nave pee" '''"'
ushed iu much smaller towns than the ne" com
NAM. has entered and tho reason IS that the inde-
ror5er, ,on,nanies are formed by home capital
s,a have tho announcement Of almost every lH'
tohuort ~ every town The Bell company has
40. boo, Inactive during the growth Of the indie
pendent telephone system. and T. has been eher
qoticalv extending IFS lines 70 compete WIN '"'
,raore,1ont COMPANIES The independent com
,onios have reduced telephone rates ana '"' D'"
oonpany has met the reductions
,rna str,gele between tho old Bell company ana
cha reo. independent companies IS fierce All sor's
of CHARGES are being made on both sides IN an eIoi
20 gain the sympathy OF the people II Is Ia'Di'
MAT the people should sympathize win INDUSTRIES
or4yfrsfed IN the home town or city ana inc "lue
..,1,r, ,oupanies have had that advantage out
~ nan couranv has the equally great advantage
80 no,lrg heen established FOR years Independent
.o,e,sone mon do not expect that they VIII he aoe
IN run The Bell our % the business Ihey De ave
that when tho independent system eN'ehoT iO''
Network 20 san Francisco and from Dahada B"
,,e cu1f as does the Boil system. telephone
,orf,.,ors Will balance Themselves and the Two
sroet svsterns vii settie down and work for ousi-
moss -itb the e,ianinlty OF thc Two telegraph CONF