Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-07
PHONE MEN SEEK FRANCHISE
A. B. Hunt, 7. E, Psrmslss and 7. r.
Pollock Expect Right In Omaha
BENEFITS OF DUAL SERVICE TOLD BY HUNT
Not wisbinR 20 Rush Matters, but
Confident Proposition VIII he
FnvOrabIy Considered by
the city Council.

the city Council.
A. 3. Hunt speaking OF the prospects
for securing a franchise from the Omaha
city council for an independent telephone
company, says that he and the two other
promoters OF the company, Messrs. T. E.
Parmelee and 4. II. Pollock, certainly expect
the franchise will be granted in due time.
I'VE are not seeking to rush things
particularly said Mr.. Hunt. I'VE have
made such a proposition that we are en-
tirely confident the councilmen will look
on II with favor The independent systems
are proving the lever to alter rates that
have been fixed for many years and to
secure much better service for business
men and farmers The laboring element
gets In on the money spent for buildings.
equipment, repairs and betterment. Every
new independent company means many
thousands of dollars Of money expended for
labor and material every year"
MIR. Hunt Tells of Advantages.
"Of what advantage would It be. Mr..
Hunt, 10 Omaha to have an independent
telephone system?'
"The advantages would be many. First,
The establishment of an independent tele-
phone system would mean to Omaha a
reduction OF rates amounting to from 25
to 3S15 per cent.
Second, It will mean better service to
the people.
Third, II will mean infinitely better ser
vice to and with the surrounding country.
LAS to the first item, every person who
is at all posted knows that the independent
telephone companies have made q very
substantial reduction in telephone rates
and hayP, besides, forced a reduction of
ba RaII IN hau of
wise have been granted at all. The second
claim Of improved and satisfactory service
is just easily and clearly borne out by
the facts.
For instance, a very important feature
to business men, the service is much more
prompt and eficient there is better and
clearer transmission; more up-to-date APP
paratus is used. because, in spite of the
Bell claims to the contrary. that company
still clings TO antiquated circuits. This fact
will be confirmed by all who know any
thing of the business. 1t is the natural
corollary Of unopposed money making.
A. TO the Connections.
"As to the better connection with the
surrounding country, It is only necessary to
call attention to the fact that Omaha for
instance. is the only city Of its size in
the west that is now without an indepen-
dent telephone system-that is, TO be ac-
curate, II is the only city situated be-
tween Detroit and Denver, except Mil
waukee
80 far as we here in Omaha are con-
cerned this state Of facts necessarily means
that Kansas City. St. Joseph. Sioux City,
Lincoln and other minor cities, compared
TO Omaha, have independent connections
and get an immense amount of trade in
various lines that should by every law Of
commerce come to Omaha
THE reason is, obviously, that the people
who should be our customers have inde-
pendent connections, free telephones on
their desks and no Bell telephones. II is
perfectly absurd to expect, for instance,
that the retail merchants In wahoo,
Plattsmouth any other Nebraska town
will leave his business place to look up a
Bell telephone station-which is the only
connection in the town-when he has the
other connection at his elbow.
"The natural and logical consequence is
that he telephones his quick or rush orders
20 Kansas City or TO Lincoln instead of to
this city, which is justly entitled to this
trade. the volume OF which is known to
all our wholesalers. Our sister city of
Council Bluffs is calmly appropriating and
apprecatlng the benefits which Omaha is
as calmly ignoring. and Council Bluffs is
therefore now constructing an independent
system. The territory in immediate con-
tiguity to Council Bluffs has $4,000 inde-
pendent telephones and not to exceed 1000
Bell telephones.
what IL WOuld Mean.
This one example ought to show to all
interested in the progress OF Omaha what
1t would mean to have these independent
connections. Our 1obbers would at once
have the ear of 10000 potential customers
vyh
We want action for our wholesalers, and
we want quick action. We want those
orders. In the total of a years business
they will be a very large item-one that
will grow in Importance and proht with
the passing years.
Independent telephones In Nebraska have
multiplied from 5000 in 1900 to 5000 in 1905
Further, in the western half OF Iowa there
are not less than 10000 independent tele-
phones, because the people OF Iowa were
among the first to appreciate and take ad.
vantage OF the independent proposition.
so. II will he readily seen, without de.
tailed argument, what a tremendous ad.
vantage II would be for Omaha merchants
to be put In connection with all these peo,
pie whom we do not at present reach
What about the objection that two tele
phones would be nuisance, as claimed by
the Bell people2"
IT assert. decidedly, no; and the very bes
argument in support OF my assertion 1.
this; II they were, surely the independent
companies in Kansas City. St Louis. Min
neapolis. ST. Paul. Philadelphia, Buffalo
Pittsburg, Rochester. Louisville and hun
dreds OF other cities OF the Omaha clas.
would not show such steady and surprising
growth.
Kansas City for Example.
"As an example, take the case Of Kansal
City. The independent company starte,
there less than two years ago. At that tim,
the Bell company had 5000 telephones, in
VI01Usu1W mm -.