Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-09-06
UTILITY OF
TELEPHONES
Growth Of Public Systems
Marvellous Throughout
the Country

]. E. McGillivray, formerly manager
for the Pacific Telephone and Tele-
graph company here, arrived in town
yesterday. Mr. McGillivray is now
employed as Western sales manager
for the American Electric Telephone
company, a Chicago firm, who manu-
facture telephones and switchboards.
He is now arranging to open supply
houses both in Spokane and Seattle,
where telephones and accessories will
be kept in stock. His company manu-
facture all the latest devices in their
line and are now engaged in installing
some of the largest plants in the coun-
try. Mr.. McGillivray leaves tomorrow
for Boise and Twin Falls, where his
company Is doing some extensive work.
Speaking of the telephone situation
in general Mr.. McGiffivray said:
Il have just returned from the East
where I spent three months as con-
sulting engineer, visiting plants that
had been installed by our company,
and was greatly surprised at the tele-
! phone developments there. In Rock
well City, Ia, for instance, town of
1900 inhabitants. the exchange build
| ing is a three-story brick, and there
are 500 telephones connected with that
local system. This is a larger develop
ment than we have any place on the
coast, for the size of the town, and
this is typical of conditions there. This
| a..
Throughout large sections of the East
the Bell company has entirely lost
out, and it seems to be a case of the
survival of the fittest." 1t has been
demonstrated there by experience that
an alien corporation cannot success
fully meet the needs of the people In
furnishing a. satisfactory local tele-
phone service. To meet this condi-
ton home or independent companies
have occupied the field with great sat-
isfaction to the telephone user, and the
use of the Independent telephone there
greatly exceeds that of the Bell. The
independents throughout the East have
built up a magnificent system of long
distance toll lines, which rivals those
Of the Bell. Out here in the West the
movement is now under good headway
and all the larger towns are already
building or have built exchanges that
will give good service. Long distances
4 lines are now in course OF construc-
i ton that will connect practically al
the important towns on the coast, and
others reaching the more isolated Sec
tions will be rapidly projected and
completed. AS a field for investment
it offers as great or greater induce
ment than possibly any other line
The demand is SO great and the de-
velopment of this section so rapid thai
an investment must necessarily net 6
satisfactory return. 1t has been am
4 ply demonstrated that in order to ge
II satisfactory service the control o.
a the telephone should be in the hands
of the community which it serves, ant
this is becoming natural develop
ment of the Business today The hom
q or independent companies seem to op
eRR ehbf9hffe flexible lines than tn
, aid eht Bsf Dr. hnizA alton. They ar
nod subject tdfhe erratic policy of tn,
Bell company. which never seems t.
{ know a month ahead what it is goinl
to do next, and as public service cor
poration certainly owes it to the pubfi
i to pursue "a consistent policy, thi
makes Tor & sentiment favorable to tn
thones Or independent companies."> ~
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