The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-28
Topeka Independent Telephone
Plant Is Transferred.
The Bell Company VIII Take
Charge MarCi2 /.
SALE WAS MADE LONG AGO
Only the Details Had Not Been
Arranged.
One Exchange Will Handle To-
peka Business.


The deal for the stock, good will and
all property owned by the Topeka In
| dependent Telephone company has
| been closed and the property goes to
the Missouri and Kansas Telephone
company of the Bell system. This
formal announcement was made by E.
D. Minis. vice president of the Mis-
| souri-Kansas concern to the State
State Journal several weeks ago. At
deal was pending was made in the
State ournal several weeks ago. At
that time it was denied by the officers
of both concerns. It now is stated
that the deal was held pending the
contamination of the deal by which
the Home Telephone company of
Kansas City disposed of its holdings
to the syndicate whose purchase was
announced in the State Journal a day
or two ago.
The formal transfer of property oc-
ours March L at which time it becomes
the property of the older concern,
though the sale was made two months
ago as told in the state Journal at the
time. The present Bell offices will be
aband oned and the Independent build
ing on Jackson street will become the
local Office of the Bell system. The In
dependent board is larger.
Authority for this deal has been given
by the public utilities commission, and
the work of making the necessary
changes in the operation of the lines
will be completed as soon as possible.
A. A. GODDARD and w. P Hemphlll
of the Independent company and c
S. and J. Willis Gleed of the Bell
company are in Kansas City in the
interests of the deal They may re-
turn to Topeka late today.
The new arrangement viii cut down
the number of phones in the city to
a conside cradle extent, as there is now
laTT 4 n
homes and business houses. 1t will be
a saving to these hundreds inasmuch
as there viii in the future be but one
telephone to pay for.
Competition usually stimulates in
terest in providing good service. How
ever. it is expected that the Bell COM
pany will give the kind of service de-
manded by the public.
The Independent company was bond
ed for $500, 900, with capital stock of a
like sum.
There will be a good many questions
to settle now that the consolidation has
been completed. and one is the rural
toll question. The Bell company takes
over the physical property of the indie
pendent company. This includes all the
rural lines. The Independent does not
own the toll lines. The rates charged
by the Independent company Will be
maintained when the one company sys-
tenn is in working order. The company
will not be allowed to maintain two
rates for like service and consequently
the highest rate viii probably be taken.
F. B. MacKinnan. secretary of the
Kansas Independent Telephone associa-
ton. states that the change meets with
the approval of the smaller companies;
that the interest of the companies
Will be protected.
Better Service Is Promised.
1--WE will continue the rural con-
nections made by the Independent
president OF the Missouri and Kansas
company in a statement given to the
State Journal. ''All employees of the
Independent company will be taken
care Of"
Mr.. Minis also announced that
while the move would be made as
quickly as possible there would be no
change in the service rendered until
all phones were cut in on the board
at the Independent building. This
believed
The exception to the above state
ment is the service at Kansas City
Subscribers here can use either sys-
sas City, Mr.. Minis said The deal at
Kansas City was held up, he said, IN
til this arrangement was completed
as the new purchasers of the Home
at Kansas City would not /
sign the agreement until this ar
rangement had been completed.
Outside the office the work of the |
of the systems will be |
rushed to completion beginning Fri !
dav. There is an immense amount /
of it Meanwhile the work of install |
ing the new SWITCH board in the In |
dependent building will be held up |
some time, pending the arrival of |
materials ordered. Even after they |
arrive the work of putting the new
board in will require considerable |
time.
ssThe same rate will rule through |
out. and in addition the Independent |
the long distance connections of the |
BELL Mr. Minis said. THE Kansas |
CITY arrangement is a sample of what
this service will be worth to the pub |
lie The saving of the one system plan |
will be immense, especially to the |
business man where, in IS per cent of /
the cases. the double phone system |
prevails"
The one system plan will give the |
Bell system 5000 phones in Topeka, /
counting the rural connections served /
bv the Topeka office.
Next year it is planned to add an |
other story to the telephone building /
on Jackson street. Temporarily, how !
ever, the present structure will be |
large enough.
Telephone subscribers have moth !
ing TO fear Mr.. Minis said. I'VE will I
give the best service possible and no |
in rates is contemplated
Blind to 1.-THE Beggar.-Pity a poor
blind man wiz large family, Idly. The |
Soul-And how many chill