Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-21
CONCESSIONS
Were Made Too Late.
People Adopting Akron's
New Telephones.
Service Giving Best of
Satisfaction.
Central Union Agents Have
Made Canvass
Trying to Hold the Old Subscribers
In Line.

The Akron Peoples Telephone Com
pauy is placing from 20 to 30 new
phones every day. The company has
found it impossible to fill the orders
as rapidly as they have been sent in
and AS the demand has increased with
each day It has been decided to en-
ploy larger force of men. Manager
Frese hopes to have all Che subscrib-
ers connected up with as little delay
as possible. Since the Inauguration
of the new system the company has'
not had complaint. The service has
given the greatest satisfaction. 1t is
such marked Improvement over the
;old that the people are wondering
how they managed to get along with
out it. 1t is being adopted generally,
in residences and by the business and
professional men of the city.
A prominent citizen, in speaking of
the present situation in this city, said:
"rhe people have not forgotten the ar
rogant treatment they received for so
many years from the Central Union
Telephone company. At time when
there was no competition in Akron the
Central Union undertook to dictate
terms to the citizens. The company
had a monopoly on the business and
the subscribers had to take things as
they came. No attention was paid to
any requests that were made and
hint that rates We're excessive, was
laughed at This continued until the
the Citizens Committee was or
ganized. This Committee was nor or
ganized with the idea of starting an
Independent movement in Akron. 1t
was formed for the purpose of gaining
some concessions from the Central I'm
ion Telephone company. At that time
the great corporation was seeking the
renewal of its franchise. 1t asked for
% year extension. The committee
went to the officers of the company
and requested that reduction in rates
be made. The result is well known.
Central Union did not then realize that
it was opening the way for the build
! ing of another system In Akron. 1t
believed that it had clear field here
and it intended to hold UP the people
as it had in the past. After repeated
attempts to gain some concessions
from the monopoly tho committee be-
gan to east about in the hope of get
ting an independent system. 1t Is not
necessary to refresh the recollection
of people on the struggle which took
place over the 25-year franchise ordi-
nance. They know the methods en-
ployed to get this obnoxious measure
through the city council. The Central
Union company succeeded i'm having
it passed by the Council despite the
protests of a very great majority OF
the citizens. Meanwhile franchise
had been granted to an independent
company, the Akron Peoples Tele-
phone Company. Without delay this
corporation began the construction OF
the finest sytem that money could buy.
1t Is now in operation. The citizens
Immediately began to subscribe for
the 'phGnes of this company. What
was the result? The Central Union
Company came down off its high horse.
Today we fndd solicitors for this COM
pany in every part of the city fairly
getting down on their knees begging
the people to continue the use of its
telephones. The company. is using
methods similar to those employed In
Che fight for the franchise ordinance.
The truth is being handled in very
careless manner by the agents of this
corporation. They have stated repeat
edly that the Akron Peoples Tele-
phone Company was about to dispose
of its property TO the Central Union,
that the principal stockholders in the
company wanted to sell out and that
1t was only matter of few weeks
until the Central Union would
again be in control of all the telephone
interests in this city. know that
these statements are absolutely un-
true. The independent company has
already secured majority of the Ak
ron subscribers and Its list Is increas-