The Portland daily press., 1900-12-12

mlu0 constantly anu lAAcAOtAI 1rann ~
best Efforts this time 70 Keep within
strictly conservative lines.
my conclusions are, that can with
out the slightest fear OF adverse results,
honestly and intsiligently recommend
Its adoption tor our use In Havana.
reached by any experienced helenhone
man who should be afforded the same
opportunities to investigate that have
had.
az is desirable chat decision be
reached as soon as possible so that the
manufacturers may get the plant under
way. Several months VIII ce necessary
20 complete lt,and the more time allowed,
the greater the chances for the most sat
isfactory work.
ms arrangements for the general con-
struction work in Havana are In Roou
shape to close contracts at short notice.
"a future report will cover the pre-
Iiminary work done during the past sum-
"A. Il. Blundell,
General Manager Havana Telephone
90. OF New York.
November is, 1t00."
The foregoing letters and extracts show
what q serious loss the oitizens OF Port
land are suffering bv the delay In adopt-
ing the best and latest system for teie-
phone communications, which becomes
particularly incisive when recommended
by former Bell or manual service repre-
sentative, now SEEKING the Introduction
OF the latest and most efficient service
for the cities OF Cuba, with which the
writer Is fully familiar from his expert
enos In investigating the telephone is
sues while In the West Indies last year,
and during which time hs became IA
miliar with the great advantages and
m srits of the automatic system as shown
him In Washington lat the White House)
while en- route, and from which moment
he became inspired with desire to give
the citizens of Portland the advantages
OF this modern Invention for the goth can
tury. Since the Dirigo company was re-
fuied admission to Portland, have Wis
| TIED several cities where independent
telephone ssrvice is being installed In
Central and Southern New England
President Adams of the Mass. Telephone
and Telegraph Co., informed me Satur-
day that they had started the operating
OF their exchange in Boston. In New
Bedford, / visited the new automatic
exchange which Is not only splendidly
eouipped and q marvel of interest to all
visitors. but Ia giving perfect satisfac-
ton to all subscribers, OF which there are
now nearly 500 in service with several
hundred more awaiting installation Of
Instruments l called up the chief OF
the fire department and was astonished
At the quickness of the connection and re-
sponse TO my call. The chief Is very
conservative man but pronounces the
automatic service all right. Ths same
report also came from the CHIEF of po-
lice which was confirmed from merchants
and other subscribers in general At the
low rates less than half of the Bell Co. IS
charges for their ESQ calIed) private linz
service the president of the company
stated that they were well satisfied with
the prospects OF their investment and
their subscribers more than satisfied with
the prompt and private service rendered
by the system. also met the construc-
ton engineer now building the conduit
system for the Fall River exchange on
substantially the same lines of the
New Bedford Co.'s construction which
Is all underground in the business and
thickly settled portions of the city. l
was accompanied by the manager of a
large ard prosperous independent man
ual exchange from another city In Mas
saohusetts who was surprised at the
economy sw fitness and privacy OF the au-
tomato service as compared with the
Manual or Bill system. The informa-
ton gained in conjunction with the
| foregoing has increased my belief in the
automatic system and induces me to con-
tinue with more vigor than ever the
fight for its installation In Portland for
the benefit of our long suffering people.
II the present Board OF Aldermen were
OF their constituents they would reverse
their late decision without delay. How
ever the Dirigo Co. Is perfectlng its plans
for the beginning of construction in
Wards s and 0 at once Notwithstanding
such compulsory action Will make II
unnecessarily extensive and detrimental
20 their ultimate work OF conduit con-
Greater Portland and radiate outward
rather than the reverse; while the citi-
zens continue to pay the high rates foI
poor service and the city goes without
recommends for the great service rendered
the Bell Co. In debarring competition
and continuing the $3.50 per year charge
for telephone service to municipal offices
which competition would nave saved.
| (Signed)
The Dirigo Telephone Co. of Maine
By Lewis A. Cloudy
General Manager.