Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-23
WANTCHEAP PHONES
n, Chamber Of Commerce Using It's
Influence in This Direction.
TIlJ OPPOSE KEV FRANCHISES.
,.,,,ce 20 Wait on tho Council and
rrce That Competition He Invited
Conditions i'm Other Cities,


..,o. on Postal and Telegraph Service.
,o- 70 the question OF telephone
There was a fun attendance.
49,. II. Yarbrough. chairman OF this
.,c-if;ec owing to hts absence from the
.o the occasion OF several meet
called upon MIR 4. II. Deane, who
,rf,a as chairman on these occa-
.s 20 make n brief statement OF
..,.,sfion. Mr.. Deane. In response 20
... ,.,.ost. explained that the question
.,,es had first been brought to the
...~,.o of the Chamber by COM
..-,t,sn from Mr.. Samuel REGISTER.
-.,.rln, Il clipping from the Knox
.r. sentinel. quoting the manager OF
v-oxyile Exchange as promising the
...rs of that exchange reduction OF
ana POSSIBLY so. upon the regular
~ 81 (Which was the charge Tor
.t,n-s IN business-houscs at Knox
ani That this reduction was con-
,..at.l IN consequence OF expifea
.r.ts used by the telephone company
lh would save the company large
,.l.,s- they had previously paid.
,,- u.sue said these royalties had
..,,, he,n one of the strongest argu-
, - the telephone people in ad-
-..g their rates to the present nigh
Another argument, he said, was
, mo cost Of the service was increased
Il. the Increased number OF their
.-~. whereas every Businessman
r mat as a business was enlarged
r,..- and savings could be enected,
. r. thought this was especially the
with the telephone business; at least
.-. WIS prepared 10 b iieVo that the
Instrument was less % the com
.r Richmond, when they hah i"
and charged q lower rate, than
NOW. when they had over 1,VD
....t.. that FOR himself he believed
... th,ir rates had been lower all
th.v would have made more
... ,v IA Iargely-increased business
~,tr KNOXVILLE REDUCTION.
,. ,.s subsequently, reported TO the
,t.-s committee, Mir. Deane con-
. nat an actual reduction Of eigh-
..-lrs had been made by the Knox
81. Exchange. and this report was
,.4 ,u a letter Of the committee 20
:, pthuonG Exchange. but though the
..+.... was mlsinformed in this par
,rr the actual basis OF the demand
.l.y..r rates existed in the reduced
,.. " the service due to expired royal
o.. ana therefore. the committee stiil
....lt their demand for reduction of
f..t twenty dollars per instrument
PERFECTLY legitimate one. This de-
~.-I lad teen formally refused by the
,.r..ffAfive OF the telephone company.
tr.tauGing this. the company now
.-.f.. D. secure from the city the priVl-
t.. e constructing sub-ways in the
i.-..'. Il Richmond. which. unless grant
with such guarded restrictions ana
-.t..r- as il Is believed the telephone
... wnl bo unwilling TO accept, viii
..r In serious barriers being placed
rtt- way OF any rival or competing COM
.rr ma serve To strengthen the posi-
q. g the present company as mo-
%, r The committee. under these cir
distances. thought 1t imperative at once
f RI the situation and their con-
,-.a.
VAST PRIVILEGES WITHHELD.
j. r,lr report the committee say:
-,rr request and urge the Board OF Di-
r. q. II this Chamber 10 address with
os. i,lsv a communication 10 the honor
. rI'v Council OF Richmond upon the
n,- Importance Of Withholding all
irl.r grants and privileges 10 the South
ell I.H Telephone Company.
.E.fff!ug TO the movement already
r... ly ihs company before the Grounds
I.ullngs Committee of the CITY
Clrril for further privileges, and to the
s....ft for this movement sought from
,.z.r. % Richmond by means of peti-
rrl.w being circulated. your committee
.r. ffuc.l 10 make the above recon-
r.r..tl.n from the well-founded convic-
t trHt lt will be but short time be-
t.r. ,.mQ,tins companies VIII apply for
.. 'ft il.res OF franchises necessary to
f.lgpErna CgTEtG.
O. ... citizens Il Richmond at much re-
G.-i rates. and with probably greatly
rr.-.I facilities for communication.
... l.f ,.4t. rm 70 restrictions ana regu-
its which viii be vastly 10 the bene-
81. t1. city Of Richmond. Should the
J I Telephone Company be now invested
V't a.. tiuual or increased grants, sucn
t.rte ,tU. iD the opinion of your COM
''... .i.rlte AS serious obstacles TO any
r4 r' Hn',s desiring to construct and
..... a telephone plant in Richmond:
0 'hc opinion of your committee,
'r.F can demonstrate the vital Importance
Inviting such companies 20 enter the
il .ai viii hc glad 10 appear before
'r for the purpose of doing SO.
.0 rn.cii1n with these views your
ic'm q proper TO report that
r'N- ftN c.rresp spondence with the Rich
'. rrre entatiVes Of the Bell Tele-
Company upon the question OF a
'. r.laction In telephone rates.
IL imuracticable To make any
''''.' '...rt IN that direction. and beg TO
't correspondence of the commit
f. ir.u that subject in support Of
'' t0n. a11 also letters bearing
- spect of securing more rea-
f'.c from other companies.
'..\NrrlON ~ KNOXVILLE.
~ on - the last Of the CORE
between the committee and
'.chm'ni Exchange. letters were
tn 'm s. retaiy j. W. s. Frierson,
= IT, knoxville Chamber and Mr.. W.
I'' .n of LyaciDL'g 2. hearing on this
Nr Frlers)n says:
tAe expiration Of the Eel pa
"'. 10 January 'ast. Mr. HaIr rlson. the
tHtr here. hal assured us. and we
give uht that he was so authorized
3. '' 'lmrsny. that any reduction in
i.i accrued 20 fis company by the
'' f-H ~ the BeN patents would be
"'l % the patrons Of the company.
i'- ,t,sl'f expired. but no reduction was
A howl was raised ana a new
talked o. Therefore Manager
i'.'.-.H announced reduction Of SEQ
i'' .a--m on ali telephones IN residences
N'''a a cir'.lt of ,ne mile OF the tele-
.N' s'atiuu This virtually amounted
i' relief ana on May s. 1894. the
.-"'r ~ Commerce took the matter
." N"4 ana passed the resolutions,
iF q which ! herewith enclose. A
RIVER Ycs written the president
.. 'h- East Tennessee Telephone Com
.] inviting him to r Get our committee.
Mr. Hunter secretary OF the Ten
Telephone Company. met our
.i'i'f and may have demonstrated
'' own fatisfaciion. but not 10 that
.-i committee. that a reduction was
iiieiicabie. You will see from the en-
i statement what the profits were
t''.i 'faie ng all the betterments, which
I-'d almost an entire new line. The
.H ~ Mr. Hunters demonstration was
"'' ihe Peoples Telephone Company was
.in'zeI and by putting the rentals ut
60 .rr annun. against Ni. charged by
''' East Tennessee Telephone Company.
an making contract for five years. the
company secured the majority of
o.. ora company's patrons. and large
NtH'er 81 n-w ones. Rights OF way were
4'@luy secured from the city. and work
vas vigorously commenced. and as yigo-
i'1'iy pushed. until now the new line
= nearly completed. and viii BE- ready
''f use some time IN December"
ID