The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-22
Telephone Companies Appear to
Be Watching Each Other.
Believed That Move of Bell Com
pany Is Unsatisfactory.
LITTLE CHANGE MADE.
New Party Line Scheme Gives
Better Service.
Rate, However, Is the Same as
Before Charged.

Patrons of the telephone lines of To-
peka are anxiously awaiting any new
moves on the part of either looking
toward a reduction of the telephone
rates. The Kansas and Missouri Tele-
phone company is beginning an aggres-
sive campaign of the city to secure con-
tracts for telephones at the rate of SIS
per year in residences. This is in one
sense a reduction of the rates Yet in
reality it is not. For the Bell telephone
people here have always maintained
rate of SIS per year where four phones
We're taken on one line. New subscrib-
ers under the plan now being pushed by
the Bell people. will get a better service
inasmuch as they will be furnished with
long distance telephones and metallic
circuit. This plan however contem-
plates placing eight phones on each line.
No announcement has been made of a
reduction of the rates for phones in bus
mess houses and in residences where
but enc phone is placed on each line.
We are not encouraging the use Of
party lines in the city," said B. F. Pan
key of the Independent Telephone COM
pany today Everyone knows their
disadvantages People who use a tele-
phone do not wish their neiShbors or
some one else whom they do not know
to hear their conversations. We are,
however, putting up these party lines
in the country for the use of farmers
1t would be impossible for the farmers
to afford telephone if a metallic cir
cult line were run to each individual
farmers residence. But where eight or
ten phones are used on a single metallic
circuit it brings the expense of keeping
the phone within the reach of all. We
use a system for this service that rings
only the phone in the house Of the per-
son called. 1t does not ring the bells
al every phone when any certain house
&c oil al Rv this
ment we are enabled to run these farm
er's lines seven and eight miles in the
country 1t brings the farmer into close
relation with the city"
That this move on the part of the
Kansas and Missouri Telephone com
pany will be the cause of a rate war in
Topeka is not doubted Mr.. Pankey, of
the Independent company, has often de-
ciared it as his belief that the rates
charged for telephone service in Topeka
were too high, and has advocated
more reasonable rate.
1t Will not be surprising II in the near
future MIR. Pankey Establishes a new
schedule of prices
Our improved service speaks for
ITSELF said Mr.. PanIzey. Il have so far
only heard words of praise for it. 1t is
true we have but about 230 phones in
actual use now, but our workmen are
as busy as they can be getting the ma
teriaI in readiness to put up about 800
more that have already been ordered in
Topeka
Our toll line business is increasing
very rapidly. We can now connect our
local subscribers with over 5000 other
phones in the various cities of Kansas
Before a month from now we will be
connected with enough other cities with
big exchanges to give our patrons the
use of over 10000 phones. OF course to
the local patrons in the residence parts
of the city these figures do not appeal,
but the business man who has dealing
over the entire state will understand
what they mean
Just as soon as I can build my toll
line to a connection at Meriden, I will
be able to connect Topeka patrons with
Atchison, Leavenworth, st. Joseph,
OSkalooSa, NortOnville. and nearly all
of the principal cities and towns in the
long distance lines have the state of