Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-23
THE TELEPHONE BUSINESS.
THE EASTERN CO. IS GRANTED POLE
RIGHTS AS PETITIoNED FOR.

THE EASTERN CO. IS GRANTED POLL
RIGHTS AS PETITIONED FOR.
The telephone war has ragged through
the week. and the fervor of Sidewalk
debate has occasionally added to tn
torridity of the atmosphere, not Il
mention any slight rise of Temperature
that might occur under the collar OF al
interested champion of one idea o.
another.
One man has got to the point where
he makes, or at least threatens to make
q charge of ten dollars on his books
against any man who mentions tele
phone to him.
The hearing on the petition of the
Eastern Telephone Co. for permission tc
use the streets for its poles and wires
was due at the selectmen's Office at II
O'Clock A. NJ. Tuesday. At that houl
Messrs. Maxim and Bennett of the board
of selectmen were present, Mr.. Andrews
not being able to come. There were also
present George A. Beale OF Boston
special agent of the New England Tele'
phone and Telegraph Co., George M:
Atwood of the Paris Electric Co., and
three or four citizens.
Nobody was present to represent the
petitioners, the Eastern Co., and after
waiting a reasonable time, the selectmen
decided that, as the train from Portland
was an hour late, and representatives OF
the Eastern Co. might be on that train,
they would hold the hearing open at
least until the train arrived. In the
meantime an opportunity was given
those present to speak on the matter II
they desired.
Mr.. Beale, representing the New Eng
lard Co., spoke for several minutes. He
stated at the outset that he was not there
to oppose the granting of what was ask
ed, provided the people of the town
wished it. But if the New England Co.,
which is now on the ground, is giving a
good service, at reasonable rates, he
failed to see any reason why another ex-
change should be wanted. As for the
quality of the service now furnished, he
considered it first-class, and knew OF no
fault being found with it. With regard
to the prices, the rates made by the
Eastern Co., being only three dollars
and one dollar below the New England
rates-a difference of only one dollar a
wear ON business telephones, which make
mn the larger portion of the list-show
tina the New England rates have at least
not been very exorbitant. CIhe New
England rates are $2l.00 for business
telephones, $500 for residences. The
Eastern rates are $1,000 and $1,000 re-
spectively.)
Mr.. Beale also called attention to the
disadvantages of having two telephone
systems in place, when each person
using a telephone will either have COM
munication with only those on that sys-
tenn, or else will be obliged to put IN
two telephones and pay tribute to two
companies. He also spoke more or less
fully of other points relating TO the
question.
Mr.. Atwood of the Paris Electric Co.,
which owns line running from Nor.
way through South Paris and Paris Hill
to Buckfield, stated that he was present
to oppose the parelleling of his lines
unless it could be shown that the service
now given the people on that line was
imperfect or unreasonable in cost he
believed the service was good and the
prices reasonable. The paralleling OF
the lines would divide business that
was so small it would leave nothing for
either party. The Paris Electric Co.'S
line was owned by residents and tax
payers of the town, and he considered
that they should be given at least fair
consideration rs against an outside cor
poration.
Meanwhile the train had arrived, but
no representative of the Eastern 20. ap-
peared. After some informal discussion
the hearing was closed, the selectmen
announcing no decision.
1t is understood that the Eastern peo-
pie mistook the date of the hearing,
thinking it was the next day, which was
the reason they were not present. Since
the hearing, petition has been clrcu-
lated among the citizens, asking the
selectmen to give the desired permit to
the Eastern Co. This petition was
numerously signed.
Saturday afternoon the petitions in be-
half of the Eastern Co. were presented
to the selectmen. Mr.. Bird of Rock
land, general manager of the Eastern,
was present, rs was Judge Wilson,
counsel for the company, and several
times as many citizens as were present
at the hearing Tuesday, learning that
there was some telephone business going
on, dropped in. Officers of the Oxford
County Co. and the Sumner and Paris
Co. were also present. There was con-
siderable informal discussion Of. the
various points involved in the matter.
Mr.. Wright suggested few changes in
the permit which the selectmen were
asked to sign, and they were as rule at
once conceded by Mr.. Bird.
The selectmen have signed the permit
to the Eastern Telephone Co. to erect
lines as prayed for, the only change from
the list of streets and roads published in
their notice-which included about
everything in town-being the cutting
out of Porter Street and the Forbes
District road. The permit specifies the
kind and size of the poles to be set, the
distance, etc.; also specifies that the
wires shall not be less than Is feet from
the ground; that poles in villages shall
be painted and kept painted; and that
the top game on the poles shall be re-
served for the use of the town for town
purposes las for fire alarm, etc..