The Bell System Technical Journal 



April, 1931 



Symposium on Coordination of Power 

 and Telephone Plant* 



Introductory Remarks 



By R. F. PACK 



I UNDERSTAND I am expected to outline shortly what has led to 

 the splendid cooperation between the Associated Companies of the 

 American Bell Telephone System and the Power Companies of the 

 United States in the matter of coordinating their facilities to avoid 

 interference with the service of either. 



Previous to 1921 disputes of a very serious nature were constantly 

 occurring between the Bell Telephone Companies and the Power 

 Companies, the former claiming that the rapid construction of trans- 

 mission lines by the latter was seriously interfering with telephone 

 service. The Power Companies felt that they also had a duty to 

 serve the public and resented the attempts of the Bell Companies to 

 interfere with the Power Companies' growth and progress. These 

 disputes were so acrimonious and the parties to them so bitterly dis- 

 posed towards each other that the courts and public service commis- 

 sions in the various states were more and more frequently called upon 

 to adjudicate the differences. 



In the latter part of 1920 it was evident that the situation was be- 

 coming a serious menace to both great interests and suggestions were 

 forthcoming from certain individuals representing both interests that 

 attempts should be made to find a solution. Unfortunately, the names 

 of those responsible for this constructive thought are not known and 

 they cannot, therefore, personally be given their due meed of praise, 

 nor assigned their proper places in history. However, as a result, early 

 in 1921 a group of power men met with a group of Bell Telephone men, 

 under the neutral chairmanship of Mr. Owen D. Young and there was 

 then formed a permanent committee which has since been known as the 

 Joint General Committee of the National Electric Light Association 

 and the Bell Telephone System. 



* Joint work of the National Electric Light Association and Bell Telephone 

 System. Presented at the Winter Convention of the A. I. E. E., \e\v York, X. V., 

 January 26-30, 1931. 



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