Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-08-22
BOTH ENDS OF TELEPHONE SUBJECT.
FAVOR UNIFORM FRANCHISES.
Advantages of One System II Satisfactor
The Question of Rates.

Advantages of One system If Satisfactory
The Question of Rates.
There is no question but that one
telephone system in city is better
than two, if the service is in all re-
spects satisfactory. But the public is
not disposed to longer submit to in
ferior service and mismanagement on
any score. In the present status of
Tie case the company now here must
either provide satisfactory service
and guarantee continuation of the
same or it will find determined oppo-
sition- Here is something, however,
from the telephone company's side of
the case largely, although on the sub
ject of uniformity in rates and fran
chises it applies somewhat to Rock
Island. 1t is from the publication,
Electrical Engineering:
There are three important subjects
that should be fully and freely dis
eussed at the coming convention of
the National Telephone association,
namely:
Uniform and reasonable rates for
local service.
Uniform franchise bills.
STANDARD construction specifica-
tions.
"On every hand the admission is
made that independent telephone rates
should be increased from so to 100
per cent, and that the new rates
should be as nearly uniform as posi-
BILE. At the present time one ex-
$24, it's neighbor on one side with
3 hn @f
a rate of only $12 and $40, while its
neighbor on the north has a rate of
$50 to $50. Quite naturally the SUBJ
scribers in the first and last towns
feel that they should pay only the
lowest of these three sets of rates,
forgetting that the last set of rates
is the only reasonable set, that not
one of these three exchanges base
paid a cash dividend, that all three
are heavily in debt, and that large
sums must be expended by each for
new equipment and new material re-
quired in the construction of these
plants. We do not believe there is
any profit in operating the aver
age independent telephone exchange
at rates less than $24 and $50. If the
number of subscribers exceed 400, we
believe the rates should be not less
than $50 and $40, and where there
are l., 200 subscribers the rates should
be $50 and $4S. With 1000 subscrib-
ers rates should be made to cover
local conditions. but should not be
less than $50 and 500; where there is
an unusual amount of underground
work even these rates must be in
creased. With increased rates tele-
phone companies would feel justified
in reequipping and rebuilding their
plants, in setting aside dividend and
sinking funds, and in compromising
their officials for services actually
rendered; and the improved character
of the service would amply compen-
safe the subscribers for this small in
crease in rates.
1.-The need of a uniform franchise
bill acceptable to the average council
and yet protecting the interests of the
company that will operate under it's
provisions has long been felt. The
National association could easily agree
on bill that would be passed by city
councils without alteration or the
adding of limitation clauses, insti-
gated by the Bell monopoly, that seri-
ously handicap the progress of the
good work of installation and opera
ton.
Standard construction specifica-
tions should also be prepared and
sent out with the recon mendation
that all future work be constructed
along the lines indicated. The value
of uniformity in this respect cannot
be overestimatsa, fan6i sthere is little
doubt that aac9mPeteRt committee
could easily be named who would
gladly take up this work"