The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-03


pendent Development. We may. indeed,
be pardoned for expressing our own
opinion that It IL the greatest. OF an
contributions to the art Of telephone
operating
He read a letter written to Frank
Curry by J. H. McKeever of the Aber-
deem Daily American. Aberdeen,
South Dakota, which stated in part:
Connections are made 40 quickly AZ
person can punch the numbers on
a dial and press the button to ring,
the bell. This IL quicker service than
can be given under the other system
for have had experience with both
types. Some. degree OF the popular
be gained from the fact that Aberdeen
has more telephones in use than any
city in the country of like size"
kilograms and letters from. Los An
geles, Chicago, Newark. Ohio, South
Bend, Ind, Dallas, Tex and Lincoln.
Neb., were read.
John n. MuIvane Against 1t.
John r. Mulvane, who was called
upon to speak at the close of the re-
marks by Mr.. Stroud said in part:
For twenty years I served with the
Missouri and Kansas Telephone COM
pany as president. While l am on
the board of directors today I don't
hold a dollars worth of stock.
You have had experience with two
telephone systems and don't want II
again. And s,40o telephones cannot mo-
We're in debt over $4,000, 600 now and
I'll tell you it is mighty hard work to
keep Az per cent bonds at par With
this proposition you are handling one
that you know very little about. With
depreciation and interest charges the
taxpayers will have to meet over $780,
900 annually. It is most delicate
most expensive service.
1.-THE idea of a city going into the
A>y l~v,ei vrAc Sr 70 m
lous thing have heard OF.
~ have never fought any good
proposition for Topeka. If this was
good proposition this gentleman would
not have to come here to ask Topeka
to vote bonds to build it,
Mulvane Was Angry.
At this juncture Mr.. Stroud arose to
answer Mr. Mulvane, but the latter
said in no gentle tone of voice: You
have talked one and One-half hours
it's about time for you to sit down"
Mr.. Stroud: 1.-The rates are so low
with the automatic that your present
plant couldn't exist a year and a half.
For 100000 I will take the contract
to put 5000 pho1es in Topeka-or
my company will. The company
which I represent would furnish only
about third Of the equipment. The
Automatic Electric company has been
operating fourteen years. It has ex-
for twelve years. The capital stock
is 100000. The Automatic COM
pany Is essentially a manufacturing
concern. Automatic plants have been
installed in eighty-five cities Of the
United States.''
sible for Topeka to build another
plant Their than a municipal plant?"
Mr.. Stroud: 1T would be sold out
to the Bell within a year."
Nicholson Asked Questions.
John Nicholson: DO you think it
would pay as a private company"
Stroud: Il think it would
Nicholson: Judging from my expert
ence in other cities the Topeka service
is as good as any in the United States"
Stroud: Il can get money right here
in this town now if the sentiment is
ri ht''
Mr.. Mulvane: 1T want you gentlemen
to investigate for yourselves the de-
probation of the telephone plant. sThe
telephone plant here is entitled to fair
treatment. The company has been to
big expense in amalgamating the two
systems and perfecting the service.''
"A plant will not always give tip
top service. 1t will wear OUT
"a Great Mistake''-Godard.
payer. 1 have gone through a good
many hard perspiring times in the tel
ephone business. AS a citizen of To-
peka I want to say that 1t would be
a great mistake and flat failure if this
plan is tried out. Mr.. Stroud wants to
sell the city 100000 worth of tele-
phone equipment. ono. Mr.. GODDARD.
the automatic company has nothing to
do with the selling of wire and ma
terial, Mr.. Stroud interrupted. my
company will have to do with only
about a third of the sum-
The brokerage commission of
100000 ought to be considerable"
Mr.. GODDARD continued.
"Only Suc-.er FavOrs IT,
"If we get a phone plant built here, |
how are we going to work to get tele-
phones? You'll never make the
change unless you make the change
at once.
raise $4,000 to put a plant in Topeka, |
to say nothing of 100000. The only
man who would put his money into it |
would be the poor unfortunate sucker. |
If Mr.. Stroud is a man who can raise |
100000 from this class, I am afraid |
to do business with him.
At this point Of the meeting H. o. !
Garvey made his motion against the |
voting of 100000 in bonds.
els Bound to Come" Says Rankin.
E. w. Rankin: IT believe a municipal |
automatic plant 8 bound to come. !
There Is no question about the superior |
ity over the manual system. 1t is just |
as superior as our present system is !
over the old-wall phones that one had |
to operate with crank. Nothing like |
the number of mistakes are made that |
are made with the old-style exchange, |
manual system. The automatic is
bound to come. We believe in progress
here in Kansas. AS a member Of the
Commercial club 1 hope this is not
voted upon. 1t is not a matter that a
Commercial club should deal with.
am a loyal member OF the Commercial
club. but no Commercial club is wise
when 1t takes such a stand as you in
dicate you will take
Ir Ran ho