New-York tribune., 1907-06-21
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". F. King Opposes Granting
Franchise to 1nOtker Com nam.

William F. King. former president of the Mer-
chants Association, and prominent business
man, has sent letter to the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment in regard to the question OF
allowing several telephone companies to do
business in this city. Mr.. King does not think
that there should be a number of companies in
the same city. owing to the increased trouble
annoyance and cost incident thereto. but thinks
that the company already in existence should
be under the supervision and control Of the city.
His letter 10 the board in part. is as follows:
There is nov pending before your honorable board
the question of granting franchise to the Atlantic
Telephone Company TO operate a separate tele-
phone system in this city There is also pending
before you an offer from the existing telephone
company to furnish service at reasonable rates,
der the supervision and control of the city My
information, derived from personal experience in
cities where dual telephone systems are I'm existence
we'll from statements made to me by husi-
houses rocated In such cities. is to the effect
that instead OF reducing the cost ~ telephone ser
vice and increasing the efficiency Of tho service. in
the long the dual system has exactly oppo-
site effect The cost is greatly increased because
two telephone systems must he maintained, and
the service ultimately detsriorates
In New York City the expense of doing business
Is far in excess of that in any other city In the
country. The business community should not oe
further Handicapped ny the unnecessary increase
I'm the cost Of any essential factor in doing bust
ness As far 8 business houses affected, the
creation Of dual system almost Invariably in
Crcasea tho expense Of doing business IN so far as
telephone service IS concerned r. therefore there
he obtained adequate service from a single
company. under proper supervision and control as
20 rates and quality ~ service the best interests
Of that community demand such single system.
Moreover the streets of our city already I'm
worse condition than before. Tho installa-
ton ~ new tel~uhone service. with the constant
necessity Of tearing up streets will simply add un-
necessary injury 10 tho pavements over which the
trade and commerce of this city must pass.
Study of the history Of dual telephone services
I'm other cities shows that the usual method Of pro-
cedure adopted by n new competing company IN
seeking a franchise IL to stir up dissatisfaction
through newspaper articles and otherwise This IS
a comparatively easy thing 10 do because there IS
alwavs aulta q proportion Of any community which
has never made q personal study Of the merits of
tho question and therefore is competent 10 pass
upon those merits on account 0f the constant
friction between the two competing companies,
each II which IS iahlc TO work against the other.
even in the endeavor To create dissatisfaction
among employees. the general conditions Of telc-
phone service instead or becoming better, grow n
great deal
most earnestly urge that franchise he given
10 a competing company. but that your board
should forthwith arrange for the continuation of
service hy the existing company under proper
supervision and control Should your body he dis
Inclined to TAKE this view this time | would re-
spectfuly urge that the matter of the application
~ the Atlantic Telephone Company he held IN
allowance until such time exact and detailed
data shall he collated concerning the physical
rnulpruent Of tho present company. the proposed
eogipnent OF the Atlantic Telephone Company. and
the ability Of each 70 carry out the proposition II
has made 10 the city.