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Show 'INDEPENDENT AND BELL - PHONES i H. M. Fennemore, division commercial commer-cial superintendent of the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone company, was in Ogden today and, in conversation conversa-tion with a roporter, made the following follow-ing statement with reference to the consolidation of the two telephone systems In this city: "Tho Bell company is working diligently dili-gently to the end that Ogden may havo one telephone system as soon as poBsIblo. Most all of the work necessary neces-sary to cut ovor from one system to another is preliminary work. This involves in-volves the engineering, which has hoen done, the manufacturing of additional ad-ditional switchboard equipment, which is now under way and being rushed with all possible speed, and various other details Incident to taking care of the large number of Independent subscribers. "I can say with all truth and sin cerlty that everything possible is being be-ing done to hurry tho matter along. We aro Just as anxious to combine tho syatoms as the people arc apparently appar-ently anxiouB to have them combined. Several movements havo been started In the state by business men to take out all Independent telephones, but, upon being appraised of JuBt what this would mean, In every case, tho business busi-ness elomont has decided to await tiio combining of tho systems It would bo an absolute impossibility for the Telephone company, In tho event that all Independont telephones Bhould be ordered out or even tho business tele- phonos, to take care or tne oraers which would pour In upon It for the reason that the manufacturers havo not been able at this tirao to deliver I sufficient equipment and Instruments to take care of such a load. Every energy is being bent toward getting this material on hand "Aside from this, tho taking out of Independont telephones would work a serious hardship upon the business clement There are hundredB of ox-elusive ox-elusive Independont patrons in Ogden who would thus be deprived of communication com-munication with business houses. Tho Bell company, being physically unable to take care" of these patrons at this time, the business men as a whole would be sorlously embarrassed and Inconvenienced As a mattor of fact, the Independent telepho'no Is Just as valuable to the subscriber at this time as it ever has been from a standpoint of service. "I can say in absoluto good faith that every effort is being made to keep up the service on both systems to a satlsfactorv standpoint The company respectfully requests the patience pa-tience and co-operation of the subscribers sub-scribers and every promise Is made that all haste will be used In bringing about the consolidation." Mr Fennemore was unable to stato definitely with regard to any chance in rates, as hl6 department had not been advised further than the commercial com-mercial engineers have been making n study of the Ogden situation and, from the preliminary reports, he felt that the Opden patrons would be entirely en-tirely satisfied In this regard |
