USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 3
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William H. French started with the Springfield Telephone Co. in March, 1880. He later wrote for Telephone Topics concerning his first job: "I was so small the manager asked me if I wasn't afraid of getting lost around the city. Employed as messenger, if we had a call for a person who had no telephone, I was sent to get the party, and ask them to come to the office to telephone. One night I was sent for a doctor, who had no tele- phone, and I kept the door bell ringing for some minutes. Suddenly, the door opened, and the doctor, scantily attired, came out, and gave me such a calling down for ringing his bell that it scared the message from my mind, and I ran back to the office without telling the doctor he was wanted."
CHAPTER 3
Consolidation of the Springfield and the District Telephone Companies
THE National Bell Telephone Co. filed suit against the agent of the American Speaking Telephone Co., Peter A. Dowd, on Sept. 12, 1878, for infringement of Bell's patents Numbers 174,465 and 186,787. The Western Union Telegraph Co. had organized this subsidiary in December, 1877, to manage the telephone business, upon which it had embarked, and assumed the defense of this suit.
The Western Union Co.'s interests, which had purchased the telephone patents of Elisha Gray, Thomas A. Edison, and Amos E. Dolbear, did not appear to be greatly disturbed by this lawsuit, for they confidently continued to advertise their claim "to own or control the fundamental inventions of every speaking telephone hitherto invented, constructed, or patented."
During the trial, which was held in Boston, the experts of the Western Union did their best to prove that other scientists had invented an electric speaking telephone before Bell. They also attempted to prove that the telephone, for which he re- ceived his basic patent, was not capable of transmitting ar- ticulate speech.
Mr. Bell was defended by two very able lawyers, whose team work and efficiency were unequalled, Chauncey Smith and James J. Storrow.
As the trial progressed, the senior counsel of the Western Union Telegraph Co., George Gifford, perceived, to his
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
dismay, that their small antagonist was making out a stronger case than the Western Union. When the National Bell Tele- phone Co. had completed its testimony, Mr. Gifford advised his clients to try to make a settlement with the Bell people. After an all night session between representatives of the Bell Company and the Western Union, an agreement was reached and both sides executed the contract, dated Nov. 10, 1879. The final decree, however, was not approved by Judge Lowell un- til April 4, 1881.
The terms of the settlement were as follows: The Western Union Telegraph Co. admitted that Mr. Bell was the inventor of the telephone and that his patents embraced the principles contained in the various telephones which the Western Union had been making, including transmitters employing carbon contact elements. It also stipulated that the Western Union should retire from the telephone business, and that the Bell Company receive the licenses to use their various telephone patents. The Bell Company agreed to purchase the Western Union telephones that had been made, and the telephone ex- changes which they had established, and to pay the Western Union Co. for seventeen years twenty percent of all rentals or royalties from licenses or leases of telephones used in the United States. (The Western Union Co. finally turned over to the young Bell Company 56,000 telephones in 55 cities.)
In the Fall of 1876, Mr. Hubbard had offered to sell the Harmonic Telegraph and Telephone patents to the Western Union for $100,000, but this company's officials could not see much future in it, and disregarded the offer. At that time, the first crude telephone had been spruced up with an im- proved transmitter, and while it worked moderately well, it was not suitable for practicable use.
Thomas Watson recounts, in his autobiography, that on June 11, 1879, during the course of the trial, a few shares of the National Bell Telephone Co. stock was bought by an optimistic investor for 1101/4 a share. On August 30, another sale was made at 2271/2. On September 10, the price rose to 370; and then, on November 15, after the news of Bell's vic- tory had become known, it jumped to 9771/2; and on Dec. 10, 1879, even though it had never paid a dividend, it sold at 995
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
a share. Even at that price, the value of the company's stock would have come to less than nine million dollars.
Watson also related that Bell was wont to celebrate any successful experiments with a war dance; and that he, too, had become an expert at it. If Bell and Watson had been living in their two garret rooms at No. 5 Exeter Place, Boston, when their fortunes were increasing by leaps and bounds, what a whooping and dancing there would have been! And their landlady, who once said, "I don't know what you fellows are doing up in that attic, but if you don't stop making so much noise nights and keeping my lodgers awake, you'll have to quit them rooms,"-even she might have joined them in a few capers.
It took some time to bring about the consolidation of the Western Union and Bell exchanges; and, in the meantime, there were all sorts of rumors regarding the status of the two Springfield companies. Each went merrily on its way as though nothing had occurred. However, on Oct. 27, 1879, a news item in the Republican cast a shadow of what was to come.
A Telephone Wedding
"The consolidation of the rival telephone interests through- out the country, which was effected last week and leaves the National Bell Telephone Co. the sole proprietor, is of con- siderable importance to this city. By the terms of the con- solidation, the Springfield Telephone Co. is given the exclu- sive right to the use and extension of the system in Hampden County. Locally, where its service is very satisfactory, the pub- lic will be pleased with the result."
This news was not very pleasing to the District Telephone & Automatic Signal Co.'s management; for they indignantly informed the same paper that they have no intention of retir- ing from the local field, but, on the contrary, are preparing to enlarge their facilities here.
The final clarification did not appear in the Republican until July 15, 1880:
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
The Telephone Consolidation Accomplished
"The Springfield Telephone Co. yesterday bought all the rights and property of the old District Telephone & Auto- matic Signal Co., which sometime ago passed into the hands of the American Bell Telephone Co., and henceforth there will be but one telephone concern in Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, West Springfield, Indian Orchard, and Wilbraham. Sometime ago the plant of the District Telephone & Automatic Signal Co. was sold to the American Bell Co. for $25,000 and it is now bought by the Springfield Telephone Co. for con- siderably less. Negotiations have been in progress for some- time and the Springfield Telephone Co. finally made an offer which was at first rejected. The price asked by the American Bell Co. would have made necessary an increase of the rates of service to a point much higher than prevails in other cities. The proposition of C. A. Nichols of the local company was finally accepted by telegraph yesterday afternoon and, as soon as it is ratified by the stockholders, the two offices in Spring- field will be connected."
William J. Denver reluctantly withdrew from his beloved Telephone Company, but he continued as a Director. Frank G. Daboll was then appointed Manager.
President Frost and Superintendent Coy of the District Company had, since coming to Springfield, retained their positions with the Connecticut Company. Mr. Frost now dir- ected his talents to organizing the Connecticut Telephone Co. and was elected General Manager, which position he con- tinued to hold when it became the Southern New England Telephone Co.
Mr. Coy transferred his telephone activities to New York City, where he became associated with the Bankers and Mer- chants Telephone Co., and the United States Telephone Co. He also devoted time to new inventions and became associated with a manufacturer of interior telephone systems.
To keep their readers posted on all phases of the telephone business, the Republican provided the following: "The latest telephone story is that a well known downtown merchant yelled so loud through the transmitter that the man at the
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other end called back, 'Don't be so loud, you'll tear my ear off.' "
The number of subscribers belonging to each company was given in the Republican of July 31, 1880: "There were 406 subscribers in the city of Springfield, who patronized the Springfield Telephone Co. and 114 who were customers of the District Telephone & Automatic Signal Co. In the Hol- yoke Exchange, the Springfield Telephone Company had 167 stations and the District Telephone had 117. Some customers had both telephones. The number of both companies' tele- phones in the municipalities served, were Springfield 520, Holyoke 284, Chicopee 44, Chicopee Falls 13, West Spring- field 22, South Hadley Falls 19, Indian Orchard 19, Ludlow 5 and North Wilbraham 3, making a grand total of 929 tele- phone subscribers brought under one company, 657 having been run by the Springfield Telephone Co. and the other 272 by the District Telephone & Automatic Signal Co."
The following news accounts indicate that at first the switchboards of the two companies were merely connected, and at a later date the final separation was effected.
An item of July 31, 1880, reads: "Manager Daboll of the Springfield Telephone Co. connected the wires of the Bell and Springfield Telephone companies yesterday morning and hereafter the business will be done from the Pynchon Street Central Office. The work of hitching the numerous wires is quite a job but was completed in just 12 minutes, which put the subscribers of the Bell Company to so little inconvenience as to be hardly noticeable."
The two Holyoke switchboards were also connected in the same way on July 30th. A Holyoke item states: "In a short time, however, as soon as the switchboard in the Springfield Telephone Co.'s office is arranged for it, the 17 circuits of the other company will be brought in and all the business done at one place. The wires will be brought down the tower of the Parsons Hall Block and will make 47 circuits in all." The abandonment of the Bell Telephone office in the Perkins block, Holyoke, occurred Aug. 30, 1880. "The wires were transferred Saturday, being brought down the tower of the
FRANK G. DABOLL
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Parsons block without the use of a pole. There are now 50 lines in use and about 300 stations."
Regarding the final transfer of the Bell Company's Spring- field subscribers to the Springfield Telephone Co.'s switch- board, a Republican excerpt of Aug. 10, 1880, states that this event was dependent upon a larger office being secured: "It is found here that two central offices do not work as well as one, and the new and larger one will be established as soon as possible." The Springfield Telephone Co. did not move into larger quarters until March 28, 1881, and, in the meantime, other enlivening events occurred.
The quick glance at the economic situation in 'ye olden days', which was given in the previous chapter, overlooked a few newspaper contributions involving wages and prices:
"No members of the brick layers' and plasterers' protective union shall work after April Ist for less than $2.75 a day of 10 hours, and men shall be paid every two weeks."
"Holyoke paper folks pay their help good prices, the male hands averaging $2.25 and the girls $1.25 and $1.60 per day."
"Laborers are now getting $1.35 a day who earned $1.12 a year ago."
"Coal is selling for $7 a ton and is on the rise. Very few people have ordered their winter's supply, waiting for it to come down to $5, where it was last year. The dealers say it is going the other way."
"The milkmen with one accord have raised the price of the lacteal fluid from 5 to 6 cents a quart which is the usual winter rate."
A few market prices were: butter 25 to 30 cents a pound, eggs 22 cents a dozen, raspberries 20 cents a quart. Green peas 40 and 50 cents a peck. Lamb 22 cents a pound, hindquarters, and 20 for forequarters. Farmers were charging $2 per bushel for chestnuts.
Those fortunate to have anything left in their pocketbooks, could regale themselves at the theatre: H.M.S. Pinafore, by the local opera company; Sarah Bernhardt, in Camille; Tom Thumb and Wife and Company; Josh Whitcomb; Hazel
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Kirke, another play of depth of human feeling; and the Orpheus Club.
There now occurred a great furore over an increase of rates, which the consolidated company proposed to put into effect Oct. 1, 1880. Quite a few lengthy articles appeared in the Republican from July 26th to September 27th giving the com- pany's reasons for needing more revenue and the subscribers' reaction. A few of these will suffice to explain the various angles of this first rate encounter,-first-rate in both respects:
"There is considerable complaint because the telephone company advance their rates from $22 to $30 a year for resi- dence and from $30 to $40 for business houses. The Company claim that they cannot run on the old terms without loss. It takes six or eight persons to answer calls at the office and a number more to put up wires, make repair, etc. The Company have to pay a certain rental in advance for every telephone which they put in. One well known business man here says that the telephone is worth $100 a year to him, and a corpora- tion who do an extensive business with Holyoke say they are saved more than the price of the subscription in postage alone. In Boston, they charge business places $60 a year with 5 cents extra for every connection made, which is considered an out- rage. Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis charge $100 a year without the five cents a message charge.
"While there was a sharp competition between the two rival telephone companies, each subscriber was at liberty to place his instrument at the disposal of all his friends at any and all hours of the day. But now the company who have survived the competition are found to insist that their wires shall only be used by subscribers, their families and employees. They have found that a pretty large share of their calls have come from people who pay them nothing and they intend to insist that subscribers shall not allow outsiders to use the instru- ments.
"At the citizens meeting to protest an increase of telephone rates the other night, the doctors told some doleful stories. One said that happening to have a name somewhat similar to one or two other members of the profession, he had several times
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
been sent off to see their patients by the telephone men, and that on one occasion he was treated to a night ride to Holyoke, which proved a wild-goose chase. Then another doctor got up and said that he had lost some patronage in the same way and had also been down to the telephone office and given the operators a "cussing" for their blunders. But he had the grace to add that having stepped inside for a few minutes and seen for himself what they have to contend with from the dear pub- lic, he made up his mind that he wouldn't stay there a day for all the property which the company holds.
"The physicians and drugstores have determined to dis- pense with the use of their telephones after October 1 on the expiration of present leases. The doctors have 29 instruments and the druggists 7. It was felt that President Nichols might have made concessions which would have satisfied these im- portant patrons. Families have taken the telephone largely to be in easy communication with their doctors and the action of the medical practitioners may have some effect on the gen- eral business of the company."
The next news item bore a more cheerful tone:
"The differences between the Telephone Company and the doctors and druggists have been settled so that these workers for the sick will keep their instruments. A conference with the Company resulted in the offer of concessions to the physi- cians, which generally satisfy them; and the druggists, who can- not well dispense with the instruments if the doctors keep them, therefore decided to keep their telephones. The Com- pany allow the doctors to be served at the usual rate for resi- dences where their offices are in their houses. There has been a good deal of talk about taking out the telephones by people in other callings throughout the city, and most of the prom- inent liverymen went so far as to sign an agreement to have the instruments removed. When the workmen came to do so, however, some of the stable-keepers decided they could not do without it, and the whole movement collapsed. Still another house had their instrument removed, but got it put back the same day upon being notified by a customer, with over $20 a
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
week, that they could expect no more orders if the telephone could not be made available. In fact, though complaint may be made, people are coming to feel that the telephone has come to be a necessity."
This concluded the rate episode, but another serious event occurred, which was probably another first of its kind: "Charles Perkins, who operates the switchboard in Holyoke alone during the day, was a good deal frightened Wednesday afternoon by finding that his voice had suddenly failed. For a couple of minutes he couldn't utter a syllable, but while walk- ing across the room to get some water, his voice returned as suddenly as it left him. The calls keep him talking almost con- stantly, and he begins to think that the vocal organs of man at least are not made for so much work."
Miss Emma Greeley of Chicopee had been engaged as an assistant in the Holyoke Office.
It may be of interest to know that 55 telegraph wires cross Main St. from Barnes block. The network looks as if made of several hundred wires to one looking down Harrison Ave. from Chestnut Street. (Republican Oct. 12, 1880)
September, 1880, marked the beginning of toll line con- struction. The first line to be strung was that of the Western Mass. Telephone Co. from Westfield to Springfield and opened for business Sept. 17, 1880. The first dispatch from Westfield was to report the Democratic meeting in Music Hall. The fee fixed upon between the two cities was 15 cents for three minutes.
On Sept. 27, 1880, there appeared another account of a toll line: "The telephone poles are going up between Northamp- ton and Holyoke. The route chosen is the River Road, as the Mount Tom Lumber Company will have the wires run to their mills, and one will also be run to the summit of the mountain for the Eyerie house." On December 11, the Re- publican announced that the Northampton exchange is now connected with Holyoke, Westfield, and Springfield, and the rates will be 15 cents for five minutes.
The Republican announced on November 12th that the Springfield Telephone Co. had just finished another trunk line
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
to Holyoke, making four between the cities. This is the first time inter-exchange lines were referred to as trunk lines. The Springfield exchange had 100 circuits with over 500 sub- scribers, which required 6 operators.
The Company at this time started to put magneto bells on the circuits in place of those worked by a battery, as they worked better and required less care. These bells cost $8 each, and the expense was born by the Company.
In November, 1880, the old Atlantic & Pacific telegraph lines from Springfield to Worcester were sold to the Central Mass. Telephone Co. Telephonic communication appeared to work well over them, and they were opened to the public December 6th. The charge was fixed at 35 cents, and the fees were to be collected every Monday.
Up to this time, there was no communication between Springfield and Hartford, in spite of the urgent need for it. Hope, however, was held out in the Republican issue of Nov. 25,1880:
"The Connecticut Telephone Co. has a line already work- ing from Hartford to Poquonock in Windsor, and Windsor Locks will be connected in a few days. By early December, Thompsonville and possibly Warehouse Point and Spring- field will be in communication. The old Atlantic & Pacific telegraph lines, which follow the highways for some distance, will be used from Springfield several miles south."
In the meantime, the Connecticut Company was intercon- necting its exchanges, and an article of Dec. 18, 1880, reads: "The Connecticut Telephone Co. finished their connections yesterday with the local circuit, and Springfield can talk with Hartford, West Hartford, South Manchester, and Poquonock for 20 cents and with Meriden, E. Meriden, and New Britain for 30 cents. The line to Worcester is well patronized, but the through wire to Boston cannot yet be used, owing to a defect near South Framingham soon to be remedied."
On Jan. 15, 1881, it was reported: "The telephone company now have a line to New Haven via Hartford, and conversation at 70 miles is carried on as easily as over the shorter distances.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Messages between this city and New Haven will be for the present 40 cents. This new line gives connection with offices at Birmingham (Derby) and Ansonia, Conn."
Towns between New Haven and New York were being wired, and communication with that metropolis appeared not far off. However, the Republican aptly sounded a note of cau- tion: "The only hindrance to the successful working of the line over so long a distance will be the induction, which causes the boiling or crackling noise so often heard in the telephone, and which prominent electricians are trying to overcome."
The cost of poles in those days was unbelievably low. The Republican reports that the American Union Telegraph Com- pany were using cedar poles, most of them 14 to 20 inches in diameter at the butt, and are 40 feet out of ground. They come from Canada and cost $2 to $3 apiece.
On Feb. 14, 1881, the Springfield Telephone Co. issued a new telephone directory with a pink cover. The patrons prob- ably thought, at first glance, that they were receiving a valen- tine. It contained 56 pages and of convenient size for pocket use. The list includes 758 subscribers, 470 being on the Spring- field board and 288 on the Holyoke. Special instructions are given for the use of the Edison and Bell instruments and the magneto bells.
With all these toll lines being opened in all directions, and the growth of the Springfield and Holyoke exchanges, it was evident that Springfield would become quite a telephone center within a year, necessitating a larger operating force and increased exchange facilities.
On Feb. 24, 1880, it had been announced that the office would be moved to the third story of the new Kinsman's block at the northwest corner of Main and Bridge Streets, oc- cupying three large rooms. This location is where the Kresge Store building now stands.
A description of the new telephone office by the Republican follows: "The new quarters consist of three pleasant rooms in the south east corner of the block on the third floor, and they will be divided into a battery room, an office, and an opera- tor's room. The office will have a telephone for the use of non- subscribers, who can talk without the annoyance of noise or
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
listeners. The battery room will contain about 360 jars of vitriol. A large frame work standard for holding the wires from all directions, has been built on top of the block and, within it, is the cable house from whence the wires run down into the operator's room."
March 28, 1881, was the date of the opening of the new office, and the Republican had this to say about the notable event:
"The Telephone Company are now in their new quarters, where they have probably one of the best furnished and most convenient offices in the country. The removal was effected with little trouble or confusion, and there have been compara- tively few delays in answering calls. Subscribers are asked to be patient for a few days until the young women become familiar with the intricacies of the new switchboard."
"Charley" Perkins, veteran operator at Holyoke, was the in- structor of the new operators. They were Lizzie A. Lane, niece of W. J. Denver, Mary O. White, and Mrs. Guy Carleton, wife of a subsequent manager.
It will be noted that the soft spoken and courteous fair sex have come into their own. Springfield and Holyoke were fortunate to have had such capable and responsible male op- erators as Charles B. Perkins, Arthur Lincoln and John L. Perkins.
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