CENTRAL UNION TELEPHONE COMPANY

CENTRAL UNION TELEPHONE COMPANY. In January 1892 the superintendent and local manager surveyed the company in Dubuque and announced several changes. The offices would be moved from the third to the second floor of the Bradley Block on the corner of 6th and Main. The two banks of wires that entered the exchange through the roof would be replaced by two cables each containing two hundred wires. The Dubuque Daily Herald suggested the company should continue their improvements with replacement of outdated equipment. (2)

In 1895 he announcement was made in Des Moines that the company was about to reduce prices in order to prevent the organization of a new company. The current prices were $36 for residential and $54 for commercial. The editorial noted that the prices should be at least $20 lower because the Bell royalty of $20 annually for each instrument had been rejected by the courts. (3)

Central Union officials announced in 1896 that "an apparatus" had been invented by which "two or more subscribers' stations could be operated on the same line and could signal the central office without disturbing each other." This would eliminate the "party-line" service of its "principal annoyance" and make rates less than the regular rates charged for independent line service." (4)

The Central Union Telephone Company eventually became the Bell Telephone System. (1)

The 1884-1885 through 1890-91 Dubuque City Directory gave the northwest corner of Main and 6th as the address.

---

Source:

1. " 'Phones Will Come Down," Dubuque Daily Herald, January 16, 1892, p. 4

2. "Telephone Rates Reduced," The Herald, March 24, 1895, p. 1

3. "Party Line," The Dubuque Herald, December 29, 1896, p. 3

4. 1. http://www.geneseo.com/company-history/