Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
HARRIMAN INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "HARRIMAN INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY. In January 1895 frustrated by monthly rates between $4.00 and $6.00 per month for telephone service, a meeting was held to bring the ...") |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
"Cheaper Talk," ''Dubuque Daily Herald'', January 30, 1895, p. 8 | "Cheaper Talk," ''Dubuque Daily Herald'', January 30, 1895, p. 8 | ||
[[Category: | [[Category: Communication Systems]] | ||
Revision as of 03:47, 16 January 2017
HARRIMAN INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY. In January 1895 frustrated by monthly rates between $4.00 and $6.00 per month for telephone service, a meeting was held to bring the Harriman International Telephone Company to Dubuque. The new company claimed it could charge between $1.50 and $2.00 for residential customers and $3.00 for commercial sites. The current provider's rates varied by distance, while the new company made no distinction by distance. The metalic (sic) system used by the new system instead of the ground circuit would cause no problem with the street car cables and the electric light wires which produced a buzzing noise.
The Harriman company wanted to sell the plant and instruments outright. The plant was estimated to cost between $50,000 and $100,000 with the cost of putting in the plant and the rates determined by the number of subscribers.
Those attending the meeting felt the goal of the new company should not be "to make money" but to provide reduced rates with a "fair return" to those who invested in it.
---
Source:
"Cheaper Talk," Dubuque Daily Herald, January 30, 1895, p. 8