The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-28
LETTER TO MR.. SEARS

Providence, r. l., May 21. 1907
William Il. Sears, Esq. ~ Verndale ave-
nue., Providence. r.. l.:
Dear Strive are taking the liberty of
writing to you as a member OF the COM
mittee giving consideration to the petition
OF the Home Telephone company, for
right TO establish their telephone service
in this city, the writer having noted from
newspaper reports that your committee
will no doubt give best consideration to
a just and proper re-arrangement OF
prices by the Providence Telephone COM
pany for a period of years. with exclu-
sive rights, rather than granting the Pc
tition OF the Home Telephone company
We are. ourselves, rather of the opinion
that to allow another telephone company
TO enter the field would be mistake and
we are convinced that every one would
be better served by the company now do
ing business here, IL their charges were
reduced to reasonable rates and some
privileges granted to subscribers that
rightfully belong TO them and not now
enjoyed.
We have noted the schedule as reported
In the newspapers TO be that submitted
by the Providence Telephone company,
providing exclusive rights are granted TO
them for a period OF years, and said
schedule appears quite reasonable, es-
pecially when compared with the rates
your committee has, at this time. an op-
portunity to establish a privilege for tele-
phone subscribers, which opportunity, if
not taken advantage OF just now, cannot
be taken advantage OF for a long time,
and that Is. the right OF a subscriber TO
use public pay station without cost 1t
hardly seems right for subscriber who
Is paying rental on from one TO dozen
or more instruments, TO be called to pay
for the provilege OF using a telephone at
some convenient point to call UP some OF
the Instruments he Is renting, and we
presume it would be very simple mat
ter, and no particular hardship to the
telephone company. IL It were TO arrange
matters I'm such way as to establish sta
tions such as now exist in the Union pas
senger station, at the various exchanges,
and at Turks Head, where subscribers
provided with cards by tho telephone COM
pany identifying them "a telephone sub
scribers, may have the privilege of free
use OF such public telephones. At pres
ent the telephone company certainly have
both ends OF the stick and the middle.
and they have established at least one
suburban exchange which will. no doubt,
be followed with others, the effect being
a material increase OF cost for telephone
service to a majority OF subscribers, as
we'll as an Inconvenience 10 a great many.
We beg TO call your particular atten-
ton 20 the Centredale exchange, which,
while located I'm Centredale. North Provi-
dence. is practically in Providence itself.
The subscribers through this exchange
are very largely those living In North
Providence and adjoining vicinity, but
there are also a great many telephones
throughout North Providence and vicinity
that do not pass through the Centredale
exchange: and with the arrangement as
at present, a very peculiar state OF aft
fairs exists. an example OF which may
give moro information than could be
otherwise explained.
A CASE IN POINT.
A has n telephone on Smith street I'm
North Providence. half a mile removed
from the line dividing North Providence
from Providence, and this telephone goes
through CcntredaIe exchange. IL has n
telephone on Smith street. three-duarters
Of mile removed from the town line I'm
North Providence. and passing through
Union exchange. A Is i'm Providence and
wishes 10 communicate with his home. or
with u: but, notwithstanding he IL n
subscriber, paying somewhat moro than
reasonable rate for the rental of a tele-
phone he must pay 10 cents for the privi-
lege OF calling UP his home, or he can
talk with B, further removed from the
Mt the remote end OF North Providence
and A, being at home. wishing TO COM
municate with g. he can do 40 without
cost; but, should he wish TO communi-
cate with his neighbor II. located nearby.
as previously explained. he must pay n
toll charge. because hts communication
must pass from Ccntredale 20 Union and
thence 10 y. For all excess calls beyond
n certain Limitation pays oeats. we
think. while G pays cents for his excess
calls.
All Of this yo,l can see n very good in