The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-07
A SPIRITED HEARING.
Members of the New Company Claim Much
For Their System, While the New
England People and Other Re-
monstrants Interpose Many
Objections to Automatic.

counsel for the New England company.
He assumed that the board wanted to
near all sides of the question. He
wished to have his side Of the ques-
ton explained, and stated crndidly
that he came to the hearing for the
purpose of demonstrating against
granting franchise to another com
pany. he had not made a formal re-
nonstrance, but would do so If the
board desired it He merely wished to
get at the real motive and facts in the
matter. He had considerable evidence
to Introduce and would prefer to have
the board appoint a sub committee to
which the facts could be given and
have 1t report to the board at a subse
quent meeting.
Mr.. Searls followed and remarked
| that he came to the hearing to submit
statements to the board He did not
propose to be catechised, neither did
he propose to have any such circus per-
formance as had resulted at hearings
in Salem New Bedford and other
places, where the New England COM
pany has appeared IN opposition to the
independent companies. In reply to
a question, Mr.. Searls replied that
the company wished to go to work at
once establishing it's plant.
| Alderman O'Connell wanted informa-
ton as to the kind of instruments to
T.
Searls said the company was not com
United to any instrument, although the
feeling was strongly in favor of the
Stronger automatic system.
M. M Taylor, who said he appeared
for number of people opposed to
poles and overhead wires, wanted Mr..
Searls to explain what was meant in
the petition for locations In streets, as
the clause was not clear Mr. Searls
replied by saying that there was no
special significance attached to the
wording of the petition. His company
wanted no more, no less than what is
accorded the New England company
Mr.. Mcmahon appeared for number
of petitioners who pay taxes on be-
tween $5,000,000 and $600O,O0O worth Of
property in this city, who are opposed
to any more poles or overhead wires
in the city His clients, he said, do
not object to underground conduits, but
they do object to the nuisance which
might be brought about by more over
head wires. He referred to the fact
that two of the men who are now ask
ing for a location for lines in the
streets Of Worcester. signed a petition
a few months ago demonstrating
against any more poles.
Mr.. Blackmer assumed that the board
wanted to get all the information it
could on the subject. AS he was unable
to get information from the petition
ers, he wanted to introduce evidence as
to the utility of the proposed company.
and whether, on the whole, the city
demands another telephone company
He then introduced Samuel l.. Powers
as man thoroughly acquainted with
the technicalities of telephone business.
Mr.. Powers referred to the growth
OF the Worcester exchange. and said
that a plant has been established in
this city at cost Of upward of $780,
COO IN the construction of the various
branches of which Worcester labor has
been almost entirely employed The
fact that the company paid a tax of
$177 900 in Massachusetts alone last
year. proportlonato share of which
comes to Worcester, was referred to, as
was the lack of prote ction against com
petition.
Mr.. Powers claimed that the present
opposition in Worcester meant that
the city would be arraigned against it,
self. Much stock in the New England
company is owned by Worcester men
and the capitalization of another com.
pany by Worcester PEOPLE means mere
ly that capitalists Of this city will be-
arrayed against each other. aud that
eventually one company or the other
must go to the wall.
MI. Powers claimed that If the Nsay
England company is charging a fair
rate for service, there is no need cf
competition. He referred to the fact
that per cent interest is the most
which is realized at present on New
England stock. The company is cant
talized at the present time for s11 .0oo :
900, and Is taxed for that amount. the
stock is worth about $3.50 a share. Ont
of 100000 earned last year, there was
a surplus left Of about $4,000: in fact II
takes every dollar to keep the com
panv going. He compared the service
of the two companies. In the new
company during the first few months
there would be comparatively few sub
scrlbcrs, while in the old company the
subscriber has communication with
25Oe others. There Is in Worcester at
present telephone to about every 40
OF population. II two companies are
in operation and the present rate is cut
man who is in business requires two
telephones for which he must nav az
much as before the new company came
into existence.
In reference to the Stronger system.
Mr.. Powers said 1t is nothing new. 1t
was offered to the Bell company wears
ago, but this company which is con-
stantly on the lookout for improved
apparatus. would not accept IL he
considered that some bright promoter
had come to the Worcester men with
something to sell, which he claimed
would revolutionize telephone business.
but he hoped the matter would he
thoroughly investigated before the
system was adopted.
Isaiah II. Farnham, electrical engi-
neer Tor the New England company.