New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-27
CELLO! THEY'RE BUSY.
ZIG PHONE COMPETITION
Hearing To Be Held on Fonr 4P-
DIications for Franchises.

As soon as the courts dispose OF the constitur
fionalftv Of the act passed last winter, taking
away from the aldermen the power to handle
franchises. four applications for telephone fran
chisss VIII be acted on by the Board Of Estimate
and Apporttonmeut. Various hearings will be
given on the applications. and the terms Of
rental for occupancy of city streets Will be
thoroughly tHrashed out while the case is on its
wy 10 the Court of appeals
Assuming that ali the companies viii he
treated alike and that they VII ge- their fran
chises the city viii have the use % about
1venty-four hundred free telephones. OF about
twice the number USED by the city now. and the
municipal annual telephone bill Of S225,0o VIII
he entirely wiped out.
Each Of the applicant companies agrees 10 give
the city the use Of six hundred telephones.
The applications now or file with the Bureau
Of Franchises. pending final disposition ny the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment and the
aldermen, are as follows:
Atlantic Telephone Company: Joshua D. Pow
ers. president: home Office. Louisville, KY Peti-
ZION received June >. 1905.
star Telephone Company. Richard J. White
president; home Office. Nev-York City: capital
100000. Petition received June 80.
Commonwealth Telephone Company: Edwin
N Brooks. president Petition received July IA
The newest big company which is planning to
ask for a franchise III this city is the New-York
Independent Telephone Company. with 8 capital
Of S50O000o0. The directors are Harrison c
DGrrand. Harry {. S!ckIes William F Dwyer
J. Henry Howe. Arthur c. Firth George 5.
Bixby and Georse r. Fuller. This company has
IS vet made no application TO the Board Of EST
mate and Apport!onment.
IN the papers on file with the Finance Depart
raent. the application Of the Star company alone
discloses the personnel Of its present directors
The Star directors are as follows:
HALLENRoRG. Axel ", No. TO- East sOth-st. New
cJ-IKsTzAc71. Alcs-a b, N III West I1th-st New
.-oRETI5. Frunl ", Eas. Orange y. J.
zA A45AE kGvsaFS l " -. 443 s; 81 Broolyn
ATWATEI, Theron s. j.. 30. So West SSd-st, New
KOCH Frederick. 40. sol East s4,h-st Nevr-Yorb
The Star company's application covers New
York State and the Middle and New England
States.
The Commonwealth company states that il
expects 70 operate in New York, New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania. Delaware and Maryland.
The Atlantic company asks for a franchise
IN this city only.
The Atlantic company proposes TO charge five
cents a call and SEQ year for unlimited ser
vice for private residence telephones and sos
for unlimited service IN business places The
franchise is for twenty-five years and the rental
10 be PAID the city Is q sum equaI 10 L Per
cent Of its gross earnings for the first Two
wears . per cent for the next three years and
, per cent for the remaining twenty years. the
city 10 have the free use Of five hundred instru-
IneuIs-
The Star company's rates are five cents
call for messages and slightly lower yearly
rates than those named in the Atlantic COM
pauy's application.
The Commonwealth proposes 10 charge five
cents call, $50 a year for business telephones
IN Manhattan. -S75 in Brooklyn and The Bronx
n CueeUE Richmond
While the difficulties 10 be surmounted are
unusually formidable, II Is predicted by those
who have made a study OF the situation that
new company viii within the next few years
esta blish rival 10 the Bell people in this city.
While the Bell people within the last year have
somewhat iessened the tolls. IL is every where
felt that they still are too high, and that they
will continue to be excessive until competition
drives the rates lower