The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-30
Independent Company Begins
Expensive Connections.
One Reaches Wichita OthersSt.
Joe and Des MOineS.
READY BY MARCH 1.
Cost of the Improvements Will
Be About 100000.
Improvements Delayed by High
Price of Copper Wire.

Work was commenced this week on
the second of two toll lines which
are being constructed by company
composed of representatives from the
independent Telephone companies of
the state. One hundred thousand dol
lars has been set aside by the com
pany to be used in constructing toll
lines to parts of the state not at this
time reached by the Independent
companies.
The line upon which work was
commenced this week will run north
east through Holton, Horton
Hiawatha, Seneca, Saoetha. and Troy,
points which in the past could not be
reached from Topeka. This line
which will be standard" and all
conner will open up half a dozen
counties in the northeastern portion
of the state TO the Independent com
panies Besides opening a new terri
tory it will give more direct connec-
tions between Topeka and Atchison,
Leavenworth, st. Joseph, Omaha anu
Des Moines.
A force of men has been at work
on the other line for a number of
days though for some reason the fact
runs south from Abilene, through
Herington Hutchinson. Marion, New
ton to wichita where it connects with
the strong Independent system OF that
city This is really the most i'm
1,ortant line of the two inaSmuCh as
it opens a large territory which at the
present time is of value to the In
dependent Telephone companies of
the state.
1t is said that both lines will be
opened for traffic by the first of
March If the weather conditions re-
main so that the workmen can con-
tinue their labors. In connection
with these improvements three direct
copper circuits are being run from
Topeka to Kansas City and three from
Topeka west to Abilene to take care
of the extra business which the toll
company expects to reap as soon as
the lines now building are completed.
When asked about the con-
templated improvements w. P.
Hemphill. general manager of the In
dependent Telephone company in
Topeka said: 1T is true that We
have organized a toll company which
will spend close to 100000 in the
construction of toll lines during the
next few months. When the lines
which are being constructed are COM
pleted it will give the Independ ent
companies access to practically every
city of any importance in the state.
'eThese improvements would have
been made several months ago had
not the price of copper been
prohibitive and now that the price is
down to about normal the work will
he pushed as fast as a large force of
workmen and money can do it. Many
Of the local telephone stations in the
territory through which the new line
will pass are owned by the In
dependents and in the past they have
had no way to reach the outside
world, in a number of instances. It is
70 take care of this situation that the
new lines are being constructed at
this time.
Now that nearly every city and
village in the state is supplied with
good local telephone service the toll
line feature is being cared for. Capital
IS easily attracted to Independent toll
line investments at this time for the
reason that many of the local tele-
phone systems are owned by local
capitalists which assures the support
necessary to maintain a toll line