The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-14
Says Business Men Would
Lose If Independent Phone
Was Not Continued.
INDIANAPOLIS SITUATION.
HE SPEAKS IN FAVOR OF THE
HOME TELEPHONE FOR THAT
CITY IN THE TELEPHONE FIGHT
NOW BEING WAGED.

'If the Independent telephone sys-
tenn was not maintained in Richmond
Richmond business men would lose
large trade from tributary territory,
who is at the head of the International
Independent Telephone association
and the Indiana IndeDendent Tcle-
phone association. The amount OF
trade this city derives from tributary
phone facilities Of this city
Mr.. Lindemuth is a vitality interest
ed advocate of the maintenance of
the independent service in Indianapo-
lis by the indianapolis Telephone com
pany He says in this article that the
price of goods in various cities vary TO
such A slight degree that other con-
sderations than prices bring TO or
take from a city the business of the
surrounding territory. One very I'M
portant factor of this kind is the abil-
ity of the merchants OF a city TO COM
municate quickly, conveniently and
cheaply with the residents of the terri
tory about that city, he argues. In
part, he says:
indianapolis today is enjoying a
greater trade than she otherwise
would If Cincinnati and Chicago had
independent telephone systems. Gin
cinnati and Chicago, by permitting
themselves to be tied up with the old
and unprogressive Bell Telephone sys-
TENS, are denying themselves com
municatiOn with over 100000 tele-
phone users in Indiana. but which are
connected with indianapolis through
the independent telephone system.
VIII anybody deny that this means
a great deal to Indianapolis? Suppose
that the independent telephone sys-
TEN of indianapolis was crippled or
destroyed and good, live Independent
systems installed in Cincinnati and
Chicago. Is there any merchant of
Indianapolis who would not be alarm
ed at the result?
Importance of Communication.
The importance of outside teIe-
phone communication with Indianapo-
lis is. | think. not fully realized or APP
preciated by the citizens of IndianapO-
lis. There are over 10000 in and
out messages monthly with Indiana
polls, or 100000 annually OF these
The vast majority are over indepen-
dent lines. as there are about 200. 900
inde pendent telephones in the state
connected with indianapolis, to the
oil
tions are more largely messages be-
yOnd the state limits and therefore are
not so intimately connected with
the local business interests of the city.
This vast inter-communication be.
tween Indianapolis and the outside
state would be impossible without the
development of the independent tclc-
phone system
In radius of 50 miles around In,
dianapolis there are - companies op.
Grating $4,000 telephones. two-thirds
OF which are independents At Dan.
Vile. Greencastle. MartinsvillC Frank,
lin. knishtstown. Westficld. MoOrcS,
willie, Edinburg. Whiteland. Zionsvillc
Gre Held and NObleSvillc there are
no exchange but the independent
while at Lebanon and in many other
localities there are four times as MANY
independent telephones as there are
Bell. Hence, it is four or five times
as important to Indianapolis to have
the independent telephone in the bust
ness places and residences as it is to
have the Bell telephone"