The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-12-30
LOCAL MATTERS.
THE DENTON TELEPHONE SUIT
Shoot No. 2 Between Elan and Thomas
Death of w. ID. Poweli-Importing
Honey Makers = Mercantile
Labor Reductions, Etc
Telephone Troubles.

Having learned yesterday that a dele
CATION of citizens from Denton had ar
rived in the city in body, reporter of
yhe HERALD repaired to their quarters
at the Grand Windsor hotel for the pur-
pose OF finding out the object of their
visit. The party consisted of Messrs,
w. j. Austin, Daniel Head, O. p. Poe
Y. w. Geers and George 0atman. In
answer to an inquiry from the news
PAPER man rs to the purpose OF
heir presence, Mr.. Austin, as spokes-
man, very frankly stated that
yhelf mission was TO effect a comprom-
Sc, If possible, with MIR. Baker, mana
ger Of the Erie telegraph and telephone
company of this sily, bv whom fifty
residents of Denton had been sued for a
sum OF Sl,6S2SS. MIR Austin stated that
while the suit involved no merit, and
could be easily defeated, yet to avoid
inc costs OF such an action, and the en-
barrassments TO the business interests
of those involved, which would attach
TO their absence, his friends and himself
were willing to reasonably compromise
matters. He remarked that fifty citi-
lens OF Denton signed an agree
ment with the Erie telegraph
ana Telephone company to pay The
IL DtllDn
d Two years, II line was constructed
and kept in successful operation from
Dallas to Denton and intermediate
points. lie says the line has proven an
ne nclent one, that the requirements OF
the agreement have been violated, and
therefore the agreement is by no means
valid. lie stated that compromise
had been offered Mr.. Baker, at a confer
ence held at the hotel in the afternoon,
which that gentleman had referred
TO the general managers OF the
company. Mr.. Austin and the remain
der of the delegation, with the exception
OF one, were willing to acquaint the re-
porter with the amount OF the PROPOSE
Iion offered as compromise, but the
one demurrer squelched all hopes of the
scribe Of gaining INFORMATION in that
quarter.
Mr.. Baker was afterward sought and
found in his office at the telephone ex
change. He remarked, in substance,
mat 1t was fact that the Erie Tele-
graph and Telephone company had en-
Tered suit against fifty citizens of Dem
ION who had signed an agreement with
me company that they would pay it
Sl25 net per month il line was CON
5tructed and kept in operation from
DALLAS to Denton. che line, he stated,
iou pouu cOlSIIuCteu ana every REQUIRE
ment of the agreement faithfully kept.
Up to the first day of November
there was due on the contract, as per
agreement, the sum of 81 ,6S2SS, and that
The company had received during the
seventeen months the line had been in
operation but small traction in cents
over $751;. He stated that he, as a repre-
sentative of the company, recognizing
the stringency of the money market for
some time past, had offered the signers
ofthe agreementthem most liberal compro-
misses, but met with a rejection in every
Instance; that he had no disposition to
Cypress anyone, and desired only to re-
ceive compensation now for services
rendered according to an agreement as
binding as signatures could make it.
Inc proposition of the delegation from
Denton, he intimated, would not be ac
cepted. They offered, he said, only $500
q cash and demanded REIMBURSEMENT
81 further obligations for the remaining
seven months, until the expiration OF
The two years contract stipulated i'm the
agreement. He says he has entered
suit, in addition to the amount men
Toned, for $500 damages. He further
stated that he would have willingly
compromised with the Denton party
yesterday afternoon upon reasonable
basis, but could not afford to make the
sacrifice demanded.