Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-09-15
NEW SYSTEM.
Central Union Telephone Conn.,
pany Would Rebuild
Plant Here.
AT AN EXPENDITURE OF 100000.

| Having a Building of Its Own and an
Equipment That Would Insure First
Class Service-President jackson Sub
| mits Propositions to Rock Island Club
Committee.
At the conclusion of a conference
yesterday afternoon with the Rock
Island Club committee, to which var
| ious propositions were made. and the
telephone situation in Rock Island ex-
haustively discussed, President W. p.
jackson, of the Central Union compa-
ny, told an ARGUS reporter it was the
purpose of the company to eXpend
800, 600 in Rock Island to the end
that the service here might be brought
up to a standard that would surpass
that furnished any city of the size and
numerical importance of Rock Isl
and.
Mr.. jackson said he was much
pleased with the treatment he received
here. He did not blame people to
complain of the character of the ser
vice they were receiving, nor was the
company itself satisfied with it, and
found the only solution of the prob
lem lay in the installation of COM
plete and modernized system. In adj
dition, the company will a erect build
ing of its own, so that its exchange
equipment, which will be very costly
under the proposed new arrangement,
will be safely remote from other
buildings exposed to the dangers of
fire.
The comPany's plants to put in what
is known telephonically as common
battery multiple sw' ;hboards, both at
Rock Island and Moline, and all cop
per metallic circuits, instruments of
an improved type, etc. Under the
proposed plan, every operator will
have access to each wire entering the
exchange, so that waits will be dis
pensed with. The subscriber will
simply have to take down the receiver
to get an instantaneous response, and
if desiring to converse with someone
else, it will not be necessary to hang
up the receiver, there being visual
evidence before the operator that
guides her.
Propositions OF the Company.
The propositions made by President
jackson to the club are: With metal
lie system and long distance tele-
phones throughout, district to en-
brace the three cities, per year: Iu-
dependent line instrument, 500: same
telephone on party line, two on a cir
cult, SO: three on a circuit. $39; four
on a circuit, S33. All telephones are
to be supplied with what is known as
the lookout device, insuring privacy
and non-interference while in CONVEX
sation. Or, the same system, for res
licences. independent line, SIS; with
two subscribers on line, $39; with
three on line. S33; with four on a
line, $50. Parties desiring can sub
scribe for a telephone and pay by mes
sage system, to pay for messages at a
rate of ) cents each, the company to
require guarantee of 81 per month
with two subscribers on a line, or s.
for an independent line.
Another proposition is that the COM
pany viii establish a district to en-
brace Rock Island and Moline, making
Davenport a toll station. Under this
long distance telephones
will be furnished as follows: Bust
ness houses, Independent, SIS; two
on line, $50; three sub
scribers on n line, $50: four on a line,
S27: toll to be charged at rate of 3
cents per message. Residences. same
conditions: Independent, $50; two On
a line, $33; three on line, S27; four
on line, $24. Or. providing the |
patrons desire to retain the present |
with as good service as
was ever furnished here. common tel |
ephones and business houses, $50, and |
residences S24