The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-16
COMMUNICATED.
Telephone lsohopuv.
NORFOLK, Va. February Is, 1895.
Editor Norfolk IiyYa.iu,,:

been operating the Norfolk Tele
phone Exchange for the past sixteen
years, under the American Bell
Telephone Company's puteut, have
| not had any street franchise granted
by the city (tney did not require
any, rs their patent gave them all
| the protection against competitiOu),
but as their patents have expired
aud competition IL ready, they have
| mt the last Common Council meet
ing, under cover Of au ordinance
for moro fire alarm protection, of.
| fered to construct for the city
81. 600 worth additional fire alarm
| system for $500, aud in cOusideru.
ton thereof the Southern boil Tele
| phone Company are to have the
rights and privileges of continuing
and renewing their now existing
poles and wires.
| This ordinance, il passed by both
branches Of the Council, Will give
the Southern Bell Telephone Com
pnny the right Of streets forever,
and allow them to charge what they
please for telephones.
This Will practically exclude all
competition, ms tho Southern Bell
| Telephone Company would, as soon
MS any competing company hnd
started construction, reduce The
price OF telephones to probable 81
per year. If necessary, until the
competitor IS wiped OUT, and with n
franchise from the city without any
limit as to telephone charges, would
make up any loss sustained for u
time being, by charging Whatever
price they felt the people would
| stand
The American Bell Telephone
Company, which is the parent com
pnny, has been gathering millions
of dollars from their branches eli
over the United States, ind in order
continue to gather more millions
they cannot auu will not let money
stnud III the way To wipe out any
competing company so as To keep
all their branch companies III rX
istence. The Virginia Telephone
Company. which has been chartered
for the purpose Of furnishing good
| phone service ut 33 per cent. less
charges, aud us it Is impracticnhe
to have but one telephone exchange
III one city would necessarily, If
successful, break up the Bell lele
phone monopoly III Norfolk. It's
charter members are all Norfolk
citizens. namely: VIM. II. White,
Judge Il. w. Arnold, Washington
Taylor, Maj. Chns. Pickett and ID.
Lowenberg; and whenever the eX-
elusive franchise from The city is
granted whereas the company agrees
to furnish phones from SO to $40,
or 335 per cent. reduction in all
lines, aud not until then, will The
stock subscription books be open
TO tile citizens Of Norfolk, giving
this preference first to nil sRUscrib
els Of phones. thereby nllording
the phone renters the opportunity
OF receiving the benefits OF the
rental charges.
Unless, however, an exclusive
franchise Is gwen to the Virginia
Telephone Company, conditioned
that the charges Shall DO Que third
less thaD present charges, under
such reasonable restrictions and
conditions rs may be found right
and proper to impose, /, ms presi
heht OF the company, would not III
vest single dollar III telephone
exchange plant, nor would remain
president OF the company, as, in my
| opinion, the money invested wonld
be lost to the stockholders, with such
monopoly as the Bell Telephone
Company for competitor.
| 1t isa very plain matter for the
| Norfolk people to decide, whether
they want 10 continue to pay 500 or
more per phone II the Southern
Bell Telephone Company. which
Will let the net earnings amounting
10 thousands Of money go ont OF
Norfolk, or whether they prefer to
pny TO their own citizen stock
holders ) 10 per phone and Keep tie
| net earnings in Norfolk TO assist IN
developments. ii tie city VIII over
ate the telephone service which they
might do rs easy as they operate
Inc water works plant, our comuauv
would be willing 10 Withdraw its
iranchIse peiltion, n we are only
alter breaking up IA monopoly and
20 make igir return ii money is III
vested. The Virginia Telephone
Company Will cover ali territory
now covered by the Southern Bell
ieephune Company at "a reduction
OF oue-third present charges.
Ii IS well known TINT cities in the
Nest with a large population rs
Norioik. are successfully operating
telephone systems, which give bot
Ter service thnn tie Eel system ut
prices ranging from $50 to $40 per
phone, alu Lynchburg has inst
completed and put III the Mason sys-
tenn, which am informed is giving
good satisfaction.
VIRGINIA IEhErnoNE CuMrASY,
Oy u. LoNENBERG, President.