The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-09
IN BATTLE ARRAY.
A Merry Telephone
War in Sight in
Worcester.
I GUNS CHARGED WITH ARGUMENT
J Two Volleys Already Fired
1895 and the End Is
5aLH Afar Off.
! GUNS CHARGED WITH ARGUMENT

= iAAnferry little telephone war is due
IN worcester
q : In fact, the preliminary skirmish has
been INDUCED in and at present the
Opposing forces are drawn up in battle
array; their guns charged with statis-
tiea4 literature and arguments in album
dance for their respective interests.
nj The FIRST volley was fired last Thurs
day night, when William P. Searls dis
tfibuted bundles of circulars represent
Z ing copies of letters received from peo-
pie in different places where the Strow-
ger automatic system of telephones has
been Installed, setting forth the good
qualities of the system.
M The second yolley came yesterday,
When bulky envelopes. containing pros
peetuses and illustrated circulars set
ting forth the value of the new system
We're mailed to members of the city
government.
The little pamphlet or prospectus sets
forth the advantages to be derived from
the automatic system which is referred
to as triumph of inventive genius, and
5 deVoteS considerable space to descrip-
ton of the difficulties experienced by
users of the old line instruments, to-
gether with rather harsh arraignment
Of the young women who make eonnec-
tons in the central office, referred to as
Hello" girls.
The pamphlet also calls attention TO
the fact that there will be no more
cross connections or leaky lines where
by other subscribers or the ubiquitous
new reporter may. gain possession Of
cherished secrets which may possibly
be trusted to the telephone.
This literary contribution comes sup
posedly from representatives of the
Worcester Telephone company, as the
envelopes bear the Worcester post mark
only, Aside from the business interest
shown this boom for the automatic sys-
5 tenn would seem to indicate that men
interested in the new company have
finally decided on what system they will
use, or at least are more strongly i'm
pressed than they were willing to adj
NIT at the hearing Thursday night.
Nor is the New EnglaPd company
idle. Never has the old company come
out so fiat footed and announced that
It would fight rather than give way, and
II is safe to say that some interesting
developments are sure to follow One
argument advanced by representatives
: of the New England company at Thurs
day nights hearing was that the cost
cor installing the exchange of over 500
subscribers would make the system pro-
hibitive, but the pamphlet issued yes
terday claims that the more subscribers
secured the cheaper may an exchange
be established and conducted.
The new company wants its permit
to locate in the streets at once so as
to go ahead with preliminary work but
members of the board of aldermen
claim that che permit will not be grant
ed at once, at least until the board is
satisfied that the system to be used by
the company is one that Will be salts
factory.
It IS believed by some that sufficient
business can be secured in the residen-
tial section among people who have Its
tie occasion to use the long distance
telephone, to start a good sized ex-
change. The people of Worcester, how
ever, are opposed to poles and overhead
wires in the streets, even outside the
mile circle, and the probability is that
underground conduits in all reasonable
instances will be called for.