Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-02-08
OPPOSITION TELEPHONE line
Talk With George r., Webb an
Work of HIS. Syndicate.
IT OWNS A PLANT IN WILMINGTON
Also Has Exchanges in Three
Other Cities.
washingtop to be Connscted by LonR-
distance Linos With Baltimore, wiimisR-
ton and PittsburE; Other LonE-distsucs
Connections BeirR Ar,angsd. fl
Baltimore SUN. Feb. 9Th.

Baltimore Sun, Feb. 9th. pEc p. &
George r.. Webb. who returned last
night from weeks stay in Pittsbufe,
told reporter Of The Sun of the indie
pendent telephone situation and the
plans of the syndicate headed by him,
which is row constructing independents
telephone plants in Pittsburg and Balti-
more and owns plant in Wilmington.
Del. 81. ,'f'E &f
"The progress OF the work Of the
company in Pittsburg has teen most
satisfactory, said Mr.. Webb, although
but eight months have elapsed since
the work began. We have over 4,000
IA miles of our own subways in Pitts
burg. One line of subway is about six
ard one-balf miles in length. Over 10
miles of pole lines are completed. The
main exchange building, costing over
100000. located in the heart Of the
city, is fast rearing completion, and
the installation of the switchboard viii
commence in about 10 days. The CEN
tral exchange will have q capacity for
about A, 500 phones, and, with the ex-
changes now being built Ia what 10
known as the Bellfield. East End and
South Side districts, there will be .
combined switchboard capacity for
about 7,700 phones. The switchboard
in Allegheny, containing 2, 500 drops
will increase the total capacity of our
lines IN the cities of Pittsburg and
Allegheny to about 10000 phones.
Already about %, 600 feet of $50 pair
cables have been drawn into the sub
way and about l78 prominent buildings
have been wired for phones. 1t is ex-
pected that when the plant begins
operation, which will be about June
1st, the company will have between
5000 and 6,000 phones in actual use.
With the outlying districts connected
up this number will be largely in
creased, and at least 10000 phones will
be under contract by the first of the
coming year. The subways were
planned to take care of the future, and
the ultimate capacity is 10000
'phores. ff ~:
In speaking of the plans of the Wash
ington Telephone and Telegraph Co.,
which is also controlled by the same
syndicate, Mr.. Webb said s
"Although Congress has not as yet
passed the company's franchise bill,
contracts for over 1000 phones have
been secured. A unanimous report has
been made by the district commission
ers recommending to Congress the pnss-
age of this bill. Resolutions arguing
favorable action have been adopted by,
many Of the business organizations.
The court decision today declaring as
unconstitutional the act of Congress
prohibiting charge greater than $50
year in the district should stir up
public sentiment, az the proposition OF
our company will accomplish what the
act of Congress sought to attain.
Immediately upon the requisite
authority Eeing given to our company
the work of construction will be COM
msnced, as all the preliminaries have
been arranged. The plant in Washing
ton will be connected by independent
long g-distance lines with, the plants Of
the United Telegraph and Telephone
Co.. which is the parent corporation,
with exchanges in Baltimore. Whining
ton and Pittsburg Other long distance
connections are now being arranged
and will be announced at a later date.
As to the Baltimore company, Mr..
Webb said;
There has been some delay owing to
the difficulty in securing building ma
terial, but this no longer interfeies with
the work, and the top floor Of the CEN
trail exchange, at Courtland and Lexing-
ton streets, will be ready for the install
lation of the switchboard in about five
weeks. The puie lines, covering the
optire city outside, of the subway dis-
trict. are practically completed. The
stringing Of the overhead wires and the
drawing of the cables into the city
snbways will be started in few days
The subexchanges at Druid Hill lave.
nue. and Robert streets, Henrietta and
Montgomery streets and Windsor and
Cambridge streets are now under roof,
and will be finished in about 30 days.
1t is hoped to have the entire system
completed not later than, June. To-
Guiding the substatiens, the total
capacity will be about T,200 phones.
The plans of the company contemplate
reaching all of tho principal suburban
towns, and the pole lines Of the United
Railways and Electric Go. may be used
for this purpose.
When asked If the recent deal by
which the Bell company bought the
Michigan State and the Detroit COM
pany meant q move to take IN all the
Independent companies, Mr.. Webb eaid !:
"There are now in active operation
2, 400 independent companies, and they
control more phones than the entire
system of the Bell company. The ab-
sorption of two companies out Of such
a vast number cannot have the slightest
effect upon the general movement to
develop independent exchanges. The
sphere of the phone Is no longer
limited to the business office, and its
employment on large scale in the
home is dependent only on reasonable
charges, which now are practicable. -
. Vi hll J "