Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-13
HOW ROCKFORD FARES WITH
TWO TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

The following from the Rockford
Register-Gazette tells of condition
of affairs it is hoped will not be re-
peated in Rock Island:
what is to be the outcome of the
telephone question? To it as to the
coal strike there are three PARTIES
the two principals and the public.
As in the coal strike the active par
Elephants are hammering at each 9th
er with considerable effect, but the
public receives the major portion of
the punishment.
The situation is particularly try
ling. inasmuch as there is no hope of
relief through the ordinary processes.
The more active the competition the
more annoying will be the complica-
lions. With the unsatisfactory SER
vice rendered some time ago by tho
Central Union company came a de-
mand for Improvement which was
not met The public was ripe for any
thing which would bring relief ami
the disadvantages of competition in
the telephone business were lost
sight Of The new company found
the ground prepared and the public
ready to receive ii with open arms as
a noerator from the old oppression.
$50 the new company has come and
the latter end of Rockford in matters
Telephone is seven times more worse
than its former condition. Neither
company is giving good service. Each
in fact, seems to be giving much
worse than the old company did be-
fore the advent of the new.
THE new company excuses itself
on the score of a new and untried
equipment, but it surely should be in
some condition by this time.
"The old corporation makes no ex.
cuses but is doubtless hampered by
removals and changes.
THE public is at its wits end. There
is no telling on which line to call to
find the person wanted. If the call
is made over the Central Union and
the former subscriber has changed
to the Home the answer is returned
that the line is busy or out of or
der One may call dozen times be-
fore learning the truth.
''The idiosyncrasies of the new line
are something wonderful. The aver.
age conversation appears to include
not less than four cut offs and
| three re-cOnnecIlOnS.
And, after all. admitting that the
service is to be perfected apparently
n purely hypothetical conclusion).
where are we? We have the privilege
of using one or two telephone lines
at cost but slightly less than before
and with half the number of subscrI
bers. Or we can, as many will, use
both telephone lines at nearly double
| the former cost to reach all the peo-
pie. The community will be obliged to
pay tolls to support two concerns.
ut is not probable that in the pres
ent instance the trouble will be per-
manent. for it is question of time
before one of the companies will abb
sorb the other. In the meantime
however, the public will be subjected
to the Inconvenience and annoyance
arising from the corporate war.
1.-The remedy for telephone troubles
has not been found. The telephone
is another of these public utilities
which seem TO demand legislation
placing them more directly under
government control. either of the ma
ton, state or municipality. The
granting of franchises is too care
iessly done and even were the ordin-
Iances not loose, the full fiedged cor
Iporation has generally a power in.
municipal affairs all sufficient to care
flor its own interests.
But where the remedy is to be
found it is certainly not in {. compe-
tition which causes an increase of eX-
Ipense. and, even in the event of an
i ultimate Improvement, the inconveni-
ence attending two rival services"
j All the navvs all tho t;,na-Tba