The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-21
TELEPHONE PEOPLE LINING UP
dell and the Georgia Companies
Preparing for Fight.

preparing Tor fbEht.
The approaching fight of Savannah's
two telephone companies promises to be
spirited, since both have thrown out sig
nails of the contest in the shape of catchy
inducements. Advertising by companies
in the same business is the sure harbinger
of hostllites, such as bring the best of
results TO the communities where they
take place.
Looking forward to the competitive con-
ditions he would have to meet, Mr.. w. A.
Bisbee, promoter and manager of the
Georgia Telephone Company, which ex-
poets soon to have Its exchange in opera
ton, has adopted means to give an UNI
excelled service, and such as will meet
the approval of the people. The Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Company which
has held the field exclusively up to this
time, is preparing to meet the incom-
ing company. With energy, determination
and home capital arrayed on one side,
and one of the largest and most success
full corporations in the country on the 9TH
er, it viii be interesting to see which will
carry off the cream of the telephone bust
ness. Solicitors are now canvasslng the
town for each company the object of
the Bell company being apparently to
score a point by getting in as many
change begins its operations.
In addition to putting in the long-dis-
lance telephones, which may be used by
all subscribers, the Bell company is plac-
ing its phones with subscribers who pay s
cents for each call Telephones placed
under these conditions are on party lines
Preparatory to allowing the general use
of its long-distauce service the company
has put new telephones over the city and
ne n the
The Georgia peoples motto is 10 wait
for the big show" They claim their COM
petitors plan of dropping nickel into the
slot is a luxury in the end, and in an ad-
/ vertisement makes calculations to show
! that the cost win run up to a snug sum.
! With-the advantage of the most improved
| appliances and processes, Mr.. Bisbee Of
! fers an unlimited service on an independ-
/ ent circuit for SIS "A year in residences and
/ $40 year In business houses. The advan-
tage of the unlimited independent service
over the party line is, of course, avoiding
delays. Lovers cannot get into conversa-
ton on the independent service lines and
thereby prevent calling out the fire de-
! partment.
An important element in the fight is in
cutting down the lists of the connection
| whether the company that does this gets
| the subscriber or not. Probably the mos
|
win have will be their lists of subscribers
and whether they include the representa-,
tive people of the city Subscribers desire
| connections all over the city and unlast
the company's lists afford this, the use
fulness of the telephone is largely i'm
| paired.
While the Bell company is adding 10 IL,
subscribers, the Georgia company also ha,
hustlers ct work for the same purnose
Enough subscribers to start an exchang,
were probably obtained by MIR. Bisb-ae he
fore he secured franchise but his effort,
to increase his list were none The lee.
while the construction was in progress
The result is that his company win launcl
its business with subscribers from busi
ness and professional circles. and ais,
from a large number of residences
Within a month it is expected the non
company will be nearly ready TO omen a.
exchange, which will mark the opening ~
a fight not only for additional Subscribers
but for superior service The people vii
then begin to realize the benefits of com
netition.