Evening star., 1900-05-23

Finn that twenty-three miles OF subw2S
had been er Doe n ne
erected and that the~exchaD&e for 5,Uc
subscribers would be in operation in about
six weeks.
Mr.. James Bond addressed the committee
and stated that his company was willing to
bond the Washington Telephone Company
for S1OO 600 or S2OO.OOO that it would finan-
cially comply with the provisions OF the
bill now pending before the committee!
Better Service in Baltimore.
Mr.. Bond also stated that service given
by the Maryland Telephone Company of
Baltimore at s4s for business and $50 for
residence phones was equal in all respects
if not superior to that of the Bell Tele-
phone Company. for which $12o is charged.
Mr.. George Blackstone was asked by
Senator Mcmillan what kind Of service was
given by the Maryland Telephone Company
in Baltimore. Mr.. Blackstone in replying
to this direct question of Senator Mcmillan
was extremely explicit, and stated that ne
had both phones in his office, ana that tne
service that the Maryland Telephone COM
pany are giving at $4S is superior TO that
of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company at $125 and further that 80 peo-
ple out of 100 who wanted quick service
used the Maryland telephone IN preference
to that cf the Chesapeake and Potomac.
Pushing the Subway Commission.
Mr., Roszel Cathcart spoke of the work of
the NARY ltHU lcltPiipHc Company sAiAN'
stated that the Maryland company was fast
completing its new building for 5000 sub
scribers in the city of Baltimore, and that
the subway commission was being pushed
to complete their subway system in order
to take care of the large number of SUBJ
scribers now on the lists of the company.
Letters were also filed from the Maryland
Trust Company, who underworld 81, 100000
bonds for the Pittsburg and Allegheny Tel
ephone Company, in which 1t was stated
that the gentlemen interested in the Balti-
more and Pittsburg plants had spent over
$2WO.OO in these two cities, and these are
the same gentlemen who are desirous of OBJ
tanning the franchise in Washington.
Maryland Company Superior.
Mr.. John l.. Blake, president of the Guar
dian Trust and Deposit Company of Balti-
more, stated that his company had COL
lected 10000 in extending the present
plant in the city Of Baltimore of the Mary
land Telephone Company. 1--WE use the SER
vice of the Maryland Telephone Company,
and find it far superior to that of the Ches-
apeake and Potomac Telephone Company s
service. 1 always use the Maryland Com
pany's instrument when l am in a hurry"
Mr.. James Bond stated to Senator McMil-
Ian, in reply to Mr.. Jere Wilson's remarks
that the Washington company could not op-
crate at $50 and s4S. that the Baltimore
company was willing to put in million
dollar plant and give the people service. and
that he did not think that the personal
opinion Of an individual would account for
much if the gentlemen We're willing to give
the service and take the risks.
Switchboard Shipped.
Mr.. Webb filed with the committee the
last telephone book Issued by the Maryland
Telephone Company, which shows over
1900 telephones in actual use in Baltimore,
and also stated that additional contracts
had been secured which will enable the
company. upon completion of its new plant,
by the middle of July, to give service to
over 5000 subscribers. Mr. Webb also
stated that the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company, in the state of Mary
land, had but 5000 telephones. He also
stated to the committee that the main
switchboard of the Maryland company In
Baltimore. which cost 100000. was ship
ped last Saturday by the Kellogg Switch
new building was ready to receive 1t and
the board would be installed Immediately.
Mr.. Henry a. Parr extended invita-
ton to the committee to visit Baltimore
and inspect the plant, saying that the
committee would then be satisfied that the
Maryland Telephone Company could de-
monstrate all of the facts that had been
submitted to the committee.
Mr. Webb in answer to a question of
Senator Martin as to the time required to
complete the plant. stated that the COM
pany, to save time, had anticipated favor
able action by the Senate and had already
completed plans for the subway system for
Washington, and that large force would
be put Immediately on the work, and that
within fourteen months an up-to-date plant
for 5000 subscribers would be in operation.