Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-03
GETS IOWA PHONES
Chicago Company sing
Small Lines.
OPERATING IN NORTHERN IOWA
To lnaueurate Long Distance sys-
TEN With Chicago Connection
Many Lines Already Secured by the
Company.

According to the present Indications
it is not probable that the proposed
plan of tie Central Telephone Co., of
Chicago. in buying up the Independent
exchanges in the small towns of Iowa,
viii materially affect any OF the in
dependent exchanges in the small
towns in this part OF the state.
Though several lines in Iowa are re-
ported to have been purchased by this
concern from the list. it is seen that
it's operations have been confined to
the Northern portion of the state.
Concerning this company and it's
plans one of the Chicago papers this
morning said:
"a company allied with the lllionis
Telephone and Telegraph company
is buying independent telephone ex-
changes in many small towns in Iowa.
The expedition is to cover the terri
tory from Chicago with long dis
lance service. Independent exchans-
es in small towns of northern Illinois
are to be bought and all connected
with Chicago when the exchange
here is in working order.
Rufus C. Dawes, who has interests
in several suburban gas companies, is
president Of the new company, which
is known as the General Telephone
Construction company. Charles H.
Geist, president of the Hammond and
Blue Island Gas companies, is vice
president and general manager A. G..
Wheeler, Jr., son of the president of
the Illinois Telephone and Telegraph
company, is secretary and treasurer.
Buying Many Small Exchanges.
The organization of the new COM
pany followed the announcement of
the Illinois Telephone and Telegraph
company that it's new automatic SER
vice would be installed and operated
on the meter plan. AS fast as the
new company acquires plants it be-
gins taking out the old switchboards
and expects to install the new auto
matte device. In Iowa, where oper-
ations commence, the concern has
bought the independent companies in
the following cities: Waterloo, Cedar
Falls, Normal, Waverly. Eldora, Ira
er, Parkersburg. Reibeck, Shell
Rock, Ackley, Dysart, Clarllville, Al
lison, Laporte City, Bristow, Dumont
Hudson, Tripoli, and Grundy Center
pany the same program of acquiring
plants and installing the automatic
| phones will be followed in Illinois
and when the circle of exchanges has
been extended to Chicago connection
will be made with the system of the
Illinois Telephone and Telegraph com
pany, which recently announced that
it expected to have 10000 phones il
operation in the city by May L. This
will give the long distance outlet from
the city for which the automatic com
pany has been working for some time
at is said that most of the ex
changes to be negotiated for in this
state belong to the Independent Tele
phone company, which has no Chica
go connection.
Expect Great Success in Country.
Yes, it is true that Mr.. Dawes
/ Mr.. Geist and myself have been work
ing since December on this scheme
said A. G. Wheeler Jr The thear,
upon which the automatic company i
to operate it's phones is particular,
attractive. The Illinois Telephon
and Telegraph company installs it
Instruments free, and the user pay
only when he calls up and talks to
party. A meter registers the numbe
of calls. In country towns the tele
phone is used in nearly every well-tc
do household and we expect our sys
TEN to find instant popularity. w
are working toward Chicago and vii
be ready to connect in the spring