The times., 1899-03-25
EXTENDING TELEPHONES.
strong Combination Against the Bel
CompRnN.


Baltimore March ga Baltimore syn-
dicate. headed by Messrs. Henry a. Parr
and George II. Webb, has secured control
Of the Pittsburg and Allegheny Telephone
Company, in Pittsburg Pa. and Is arrang-
ing TO make use of the franchise OF that
company at once. A bond OF SIS 009 was
hled yesterday with the city comptroller
OF Pittsburg, as required under the ordi-
nance.
II is the purpose of the company to in
stall at once 5000 telephones. and il is
the intention to increase this number
ultimately to 1000. The plans provide
for the most improved style of construc-
tion, and the company will have q COM
piete system of underground ducts for
carrying its wires. Contract for the con-
struction Of this subway system has Just
been awarded to Booth Il Flynn, Limited.
Of Pittsburg. and the work Is TO begin at
once.
The financial plan OF the company calls
for an authorized issue of 81 900, 900 OF
stock and Sl.500.00 OF per cent bonds
1t is the intention to retain part of the
bonds in the treasury to make extensions
in the future Mr.. Webb said yesterday
that Baltimore trust company would
finance the plan, but arrangements had
not been closed as yet
The Pittsburg and Allegheny Telephone
Company succeeded to the rights, prop
erty, and franchises of the old Home Tele-
phone Company. which were sold Under
! a sheriff's sale following the financial en-
| barrassment of the Home Telephone Com
pany of Baltimore, which was at the time
/ under the same controlling influence. In
addition to acquiring the property OF the
old Home Company the new owners have
secured additional privileges from the
city council of Pittsburg. and are now in
| position to install a complete plant COW
ering the city of Pittsburg and the large
suburban population surrounding the city.
In and adjacent to Pittsburg there is a
population of about 100000 people. and
owing to the fact that the business por-
tion of the city is considerably removed
from the residence portion and that many
manufacturing plants are located outside
of the city, with offices in town, there is
said to be an unusually large demand for
a telephone service at reasonable rental.
There are nearly fifty independent teie-
phone companies in Western Pennsylvania
and Eastern Ohio. which. ii is believed,
would connect with an independent COM
pany in Pittsburg. and the company will
be in q position to provide for such con-
! nections. The president of the Pittsburg
and Allegheny Telephone Company is Mr..
]. l.. ID. Speer. well-known banker of
Pittsburg, and the general counsel is Mr..
Gecrge q. Wilson. of that city.
a dispatch from Chicago yesterday said: :
at was announced today by W. T. B'aine.
president of the Victor Telephone Manu-
featuring Company. who is the chief pro-
moter OF the new telephone combination
which is to become the opponent OF the
! Bell Company. that the new company con-
trolls twenty independent telephone manu-
| featuring companies and that the union CT
the various interests was practically COM
plete. Mr.. Blaine said that two of the best
known financial institutions in the coun-
try were back of the movement. and that
the principals were able to carry out the
extensive plans of the organization The
new company was organized for the pur-
! pose of supplying telephone apparatus, do
ing construction and entering the various
branches of the service"
The Viaduct Manufacturing Company. OF
Baltimore. is reported to have joined in
! the combination.