The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-28
ARE AGAINST It
Other Business and Profess
SionaI Men
WHO OPPOSE TWO SYSTEMS
Of Telephone Lines Proposed
for Wichita.
OPPOSE TWO SYSTEMS

Speaking of the matter of having a
double telephone system in Wichita, yes
terday, DR.. Shuts, who was a member
Of the council at the time the matter
was investigated by the council before,
said: Il hope this city will never be fool
ish enough to tangle up with the double
telephone nuisance. I was a member Of
the council when this question was up
before and we looked into the matter
thoroughly. 1 was sitting in the office
Of a friend If mine, DR.. Clay, in Topeka.
He had two phones. Had to have them,
for there were two systems in the town.
We were talking when the bell tingled
DR.. Clay went and took down the ear
tube and helloed till he got tired. He
then tried the other one, but the man
who had called was probably tired Of
waiting and rang of. DR.. Clay said that
often happened. He said the double sys-
TEN was the greatest nuisance on earth
and costs 40 per cent more than when
there was only one, for every business
and professional man had two"
DR.. McAdams: Il have observed the
results Of a double phone system in De-
catur, Illinois and East St Louis, and
hope we'll never be troubled with such a
tangle here. Now, suppose the new com
pany puts IN a system here at $50 and
gets one-third of the subscribers to the
old system, which is very doubtful Sup
pose the old company cuts its rates to
$50. Now you've got to have both, and
it will cost you SEQ year. Where's the
saving? And you've got ali the confusion
and bother besides. Suppose you get both
at the price you're getting one now
You've added lot of trouble and confu-
sion and saved nothing Why wouldn't
it be good judgment to let the matter go
until the franchise of the Bell company
runs out, and then talk reduction if they
want to and give a franchise to the man
who promises the best thing? BY all
means the council ought not to plague
Us with two phones"
Walter lines, Of the Innes dry goods
house: Il can't see where there is any
thing to he gained by a double phone
system, and it would certainly add to the
confusion and bother. 1t is doubling the
bother without cutting expense"
Col. I. r. Delaney: at is To be hoped
that we won't be pestered with another
telephone company for it means an I'M
hearable complication locally without
any possible advantage"
Ira Shcrwin. OF the Missouri Pacific:
~ am emphaticallv opposed 70 having
Wichita bothered with the tangle Of two
telephone systems when one is very sat
iFfactory and comparatively inexpensive.
The present company does not charge an
eXorhitant rate by any means. L IS rea-
Sonable and the service Is excellent"
NJ c. Campbell: Il have observed the
results OF having two telephone systems.
end it is a gre<t bother without any
added advantages. It does not reduce
the cost at all and does not increase thu
efficiency Of the service. 1t does multiply
confusion"
MIR. Singer Of Singer &. DonneH. said
he thought there ought to he cheaper
rates and that two phones wouldn't be
had
c. R. Fulton: 7 am in favor of only
one telephone system. A do16le system
means double or at least increased ex-
pe~se and great Inconvenience in addi-
ton. People who do not now subscribe
to the telephone service viii be no better
off. They viii find that the new system
viii not aid them. They viii have to
have both phones If they want 10 OBJ
tain any service. If the new company is
granted a franchise I viii Of couse he
compelled TO take a telephone but
deem il a very foolish move on the part
of the city If It l. done DisSatfsfac fi7r,
must follow. To obtain perfect service
only one telephone company should be
allowed a franchise. The present COM
p5ny affords good service at what 1 con-
slider reasonable rates"