The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-25
New Telephone Com
pany Looms Up.
TO BE CAPITALIZED.
The Long Distance 0bjec-
ton May Soon be Obviated.

II - IJIdCllcdily Sellleu tHdl WOfceS-
ter is to number another telephone
company among its many and varied
industries. Some months ago, the Peo-
pies Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany, of which Israel L. Currier of this
city is the promoter, made its appear
ance and for a time opposition TO the
old-line company received a decided
boom in Worcester
Shortly after, however, the excite
ment seemed to have passed, and moth
ing further was heard OF the independ-
ent company until few weeks ago,
when the exclusive announcement in
The Spy informed the people OF Wor-
cester county that the Peoples Tele-
phone Company had applied for rights
TO conGlruet telephone lines through the
streetAf Worcester.
The Nition has not been acted on
as yet lNt it is thought that something
definite regarding the action Of the city
fathers will develop at the next meet
ing of the city government, Monday
evening. Mr.. Currier expects that a
date will be set for a hearing, when
his company will have chance to ex-
plain what its course is intended to
be.
The recent formation of the Boston
and New York Telephone and Teie-
graph Company may be said to be di-
reetly responsible for the reaction and
sudden coming into new life of the Peo-
pies Company. Since the Boston and
New York Company received it's char
ter, representatives of the company
have visited all the principal cities of
New England with the idea in view of
establishing new companies. in the lar
ger cities, which will be connected by
the new trunk line system originally
designed to connect Boston and New
York.
Last week. u. C. Holbrool of Boston
and = w. Breed of Lynn. representing
the Boston and New York Company,
came to Worcester and interviewed
gentlemen interested in the formation
Of an opposition company. These gen
tlemen. according to Mr.. Currier, have
offered to capitalize the Peoples Com
pany, allowing Worcester people the
privilege of purchasing such amount
Of stock as they see At.
The Peoples Telephone and Tele-
graph Company was organized last fall
ana chartered under the laws of Mas
sachusetts with a capital stock of $780,
600 BY the temporary organization
OF the company. Mr. Currier was made
presS1 mt, but whether he will retain
NiAN OhNt NIGIt liie ORGANIZATION is
MADE permanent, remains to be deter
mined at a meeting to be held in the
near future
The Peoples Company has already
petltioned the city government for To-
cation in the streets of this city ana
the outcome of the hearing which has
been asked for will have much to do
with the plans of the company.
1t is impossible until the result of
this hearing e b,
cost OF installing an exchange in this
city If the petitioners should be al
lowed the privilege of running aerial
cables, the cost would OF course he
very much less than as though they
were obliged to construct underground
conduits In the principal streets which
Is most probable outcome of the hear
ing.
The Boston and New York company
have not, so far as is known, settled
on the style Of instruments to be used,
but in the event of its establishing ex
changes in the cities proposed, il is
safe to assume that the
company will manufacture and
control its own instruments. The same
statement is true of switchboard APP
planes SO far as any decision being
arrived at is concerned.
The statement is made, however. that
instruments equally as good, if not
better than those of the present COM
peny, viii be used, and that the APP
pliances of the exchange will be thor
oughly up to date.
The company proposes TO furnish
service at about half the rates charged
by the New England company at The
present time. With the organization
Of exchanges in all principal cities,
connected by trunk lines, the matter
of long distance connection which has
always been a strong argument in fla
yor of the established companies, will
be done away with to considerable ex-
tent.
The fact that the Worcester exchange
is to be capitalized by the Boston and
New York company which includes
men representing many millions of dol
lars, argues strongly for its establish
ment. and with the present under
standing there seems little doubt, bat
that the Peoples Telephone Company
is to become a reality. instead Of a
possibility.