The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-04-25
The Silver city Telegraph.

service between this place and Silver
city. This line did a good business
which would have continued to increase,
but it was finally killed with a boycott
by the Western Union Telegraph Co.,
which was brought about by the under !,
handed work of one Annett, who
worked the people of Boise and Nampa
and had them put up a telephone line
to Silver City and present it to his com.
pany. The people of Silver City pro-
tested at the time and told the project
ors fairly that it was not telephone
that they wanted; that their mining
companies sent most of their messages
in cypher and that a telephone would
not fill the bill. Annett, however,
backed by the people of Boise City,
insisted that the telephone was the
only thing they needed, and so earnest
were they in the matter, that they built
q line to Silver City at heir own
expense, in face of the protests of the
Statesman and a few other far-sighted
men. Silver City, however, insisted
that they knew what they wanted and
Il Telegraph Company was formed of
her business men, and with the assist
ance of Caldwell. telegraph line was
built to this place. From the start the
new line did big business, and not
only was it a great convenience and
help to the mining business of Silver
city, but it actually promised to pay
the stockholders dividends. The tele-
phone line was scarcely used a. all and
was useful only as an ornament to the
eternal hills. Seeing they were at a
great disadvantage, the Rocky Mount
ain Bell Telephone Co., through Mr..
Annett, stopped to underhanded work.
by some means influence was brought
to bear upon the Western Union Tele-
graph Co., and.they began to discrimi-
nate against the Silver City Telegraph.
For Il time they refused to receive mes
sages at all, but as they could not sus-
tain this position, they imposed condi-
tons which had the desired effect.
Even under these most unfavorable
circumstances the Silver City Telegraph
line was kept in active operation until
ii few months ago, when business was
suspended. The loss has been keenly
felt at Silver City by the mining men
1t is impossible to send cypher mes
sages over the telephone, and they are
crying for the telegraph again. The
following from the Avalanche express
rs the sentiment of the Silver City peo'
pie:
Everybody in Owyhee is familiar
with the controversy which took place
between Silver City, Boise, Nampa an(
Caldwell over the telegraph and tele
phone matter. Boise City, at cost Of
building the telephone line won in thi!
contest. by so doing they inflicted ;
nuisance upon Silver City people. il
spite of their protests, which has Ger
tainly been long enough endured. The,
destroyed telegraph service wllicl
otherwise might have been made eff
cient, and gave us instead a TELEPHONY
which is a constant source of annoy
,nce. Have not our people borne thi
intiiction long enough? There are no,
three mining companies here and il
de Lamar, which send weekly cable
to London in cypher. by the telephon
and transmitted at Boise City it
only 4 chance that one ever reaches it
destination correctly, Our Telegram
line can be readily put in repair, an
the business it would now readily con
-tmand would justify the expense of a
operator at Caldwell. Let us start
again. Then by Il proper represents
ton of the situation to the Wester
Union Company perhaps we may pei
Suade that company to do us justice, !
spite of that veritable humbug Z.
yAnnett's efforts to injure us. Letever!
body agree rs they should to psltroni1
only the telegraph line.
Let Caldwell also take hold of I'll
matter and revive the telegraph lin
We think that were the matte prope
ly laid before the Western Union, jul
tice could be obtained. The inc coul
be extended on to DE Lamar. nnd one
more placed upon paying bi bis.
Hon. John A. KassonI Of low
says the position taken by Italy in Il
New Orleans affair is correct and jus
and that the United States had r
excuse for not complying with ltudini
demands. Give him n nan( lorgan ar
u monkey.
Passengers from the Nest boul
for Boise City are compelled to stay