The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-07
THE STANDARDS PLANS.
PROMISES MADE 10 THE COUNCIL
no DE PROMPTLY CARRIED OCT.
An Important Question IL, What VIII the
Bell Company DO When Their Fran
ehi.e Expires on 18th ofThis month";

Ricbmond's future telephone service Is
a sLuJecJ whicn Just no" Is asitauIs
'1e in,nds Of many y'hss 5s men rh IN s ans
watching win eager interest the final
result vi the rect III controversy
As the matter now stands, the Stand
ara Is III possession Of the held, ana mas
an exclusive franchise IL h We'll known
mat the Board OF Aldermen last " ed
ncsoay night conc .geu III the action OF
the Common Council 10 give the stan
GARD the franchise Tor me city, ana
refused 10 concur IN the action or the
lower branch TO grant 4 franchise also
10 the Home Telephone company. no
representative from the Ben Telephone
Company put in his appearance before
the board, and that company rested quiet
~ on its oars, ana maze no visible eiort
Tor privileges curing the long ana varied
controversy. The Board turned down
phone and Telegraph Company also. and
this put the Standard In the lead, with
the exclusive franchise.
THE BELL TAKING 1T EASY.
The ordinance reyoking the privileges
Of the Southern Bell Telephone Company
goes into effect December 18th, but II ~
not known yet what course either the
city or the company VIII pursue. IL Is
pretty generally understood, though, that
The company has no idea OF abandoning
the field.
Superintendent McCluer, OF the Bell
Company here, is reported, In an inter
view, as saying that he had not as yet
received any instructions from his com
pany as to what course 10 pursue. Coun-
sci for the company, when approached
on the same subject. stated that no or
ders had been given ln regard TO &C
ton being taken when the ordinance re-
yoking their privileges snail 20 into ef-
feet on the 10Th instant.
Captain George ID. Wise, OF counsel
Tor the Home Company said that he
had not been advised OF any intention
on NE part OF his company to make a
furtneT contest. lie predicted that tho
Standard Company would not construct a
new line but would use tho poles now
belonging TO the Bell Company.
TIE ORDINANCE SIGNED.
Mayor Taylor yesterday signed the ordi-
nance granting the telephone privileges
OF the city 10 the Standard Company
! called upon Mr. J. c. Robertson presi-
dent OF the Richmond Standard Telephone
company. yesterday, ana found him
closeted with Captain a. B. Guigon. at
tOrney Tor the company.
In reply 10 Inquiries as TO the plans
and purposes OF the company, Mr. Rob-
ertson stated sai he was just discuss
ing some preliminary measures He add
go that he thought the Richmond public
would be more Interested in seeing the
poles ana wires going up on the streets
Than in any stai dement's he might make
regarding the intentions Of the COM
pany He could only say that all Of the
promises made to tho Council would la
carried out TO the letter and promptly
lie stated further that neither the ten
days limit for putting up the bond nor
the thirty days for starting 10 work
would be- utilized, but that the forfeiture
bond would be covered into the treasury
within tine next few days. and that the
work would be started as soon As bids
could be received from responsible con-
struction companies which are already
figuring upon the cost Of construction A
good deaf OF preliminary work has al
ready been done in the way Of locating
suoscribers. preparing maps Of the city,
and the like.
Az EFFICIENT SERVICE.
When asked what the Bell Company
proposed 10 do, Mr.. Robertson declined
20 express any opinion, but said mat
in the impending contest between the City
Council and the Bell Company. his com
pahy proposed 20 give force ana erect
to the city's fight by furnishing prompt
and efficient service TO the citizens at
the rates named
Mr. Robertson promised further details
as soon as specifications are prepared and
DIRiNG THE INTERVAL.
The question is being asked In many
quarters what Richmond viii do for a
telephone service during the time be
tween the 18th instant. when the Bell
franchises expire. and the time when
the Standard get their exchange into
operation This Is question OF more
than ordinary interest, as IL will re-
Quire some considerable time for the
Standard TO get their exchange In opera
ton and for a city and suburbs with
nearly 10000 people 10 be without a
telephone service l. no trivial matter. II
is thought that. the Standard Will either
secure Tie nolls and wires from the Bell.
or that the latter company will get the
special privilege OF giving Richmond a
telephone service until the Standard can
get their affairs I'm shape 10 commence
ODerafiOns.