The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-20

4 Letter in Reply to One Published 10y TN
President of the standard.

The following letter Of II. NJ. Smith, Jr,
and Hon George ID. Wise. who are rep
resenting the interests Of the Home Tele-
phAne Company before the Council IN
the matter of a telephone franchise for
this city, is in reply TO a letter OF Pres
ident Robertson. of the STANDARD COM
pany. which appeared in the star or
Thursday.
Richmond Va, oct. 10, 30
Dear Strive agree with Mr.. Robert
son that inc first point the Council should
consider IS, which is the best phone ana
which will give the citizens the best ser
vice. on this point. the Standard Com
pany have not telephone in practical
use i'm the United States to-day. They have
no factory anywhere established, ana
while they say they own patents they
refuse 10 give the numbers Of them ana
circulate the most eXtravagant claims
about them. The Mason Company has
had its telephones in use for months IN
almost every State in the United states,
and has exchanges established. which
have succeeded IN driving the Bell Com
pany from the field at numerous points.
In Lynchburg. Va. the Bell Company
vainly offered free service to its old sub
scribers for year in trying To keep
them from using the Mason telephones;
IN hanover 1tiln.s 4 Ht iNfNpibs VII ~
tober 9TH, stated that the Bell Company
was endeavoring to purchase the plant
which was built by the Mason Company
some time ago.
As TO the Standards promise 10 ostab-
lish a factory here. If they are given a
franchise. what has the question of fran
cnse 10 do with establishing factory?
Either Richmond is the best place for
them to build a factory or 1t is not. If
it is. they viii build a factory here
whether they get a franchise or not: II
IL is not a good place 10 establish fac
tory. they viii not do so. This same
promise TO establish factories IS being
made in Cleveland. Pittsburg, and numer-
Gus other places. In Baltimore. the
Standard manager claimed three months
ago that they had franchise in Rich
mond. had put up their poles and were
stringing their wires in order TO sell the
stock Of the Columbian Standard Tele-
phone Company. IN Portland. ore.
they claimed to have a factory already
built in Cleveland. and to be building a
plant in Newark. though they have not
even applied for a franchise in Newark.
and are not doing any work there or
anywhere else-except on paper.
We do not question that the telephone
exhibited here by the Standard Company
IS good instrument. But IL is a Bell
telephone. and We are ready 20 demon
strate this at any time that they viii per-
NIT an expert TO examine it, 1t infringcs
on. the Watson, Roosevelt. and other
patents owned by the Bel Company. and
is an exact duplicate Of the Bell long
distance telephones used throughout the
country The Standard Company has
been denounced in the most causiic terms
rs a swindle worse than the crecn-goods
game by ELECTRICITY" a reputable Jour
nal published in New York city. but
they have MAIZE no defence. ELECTRICITY"
asserted that they have no factory: That
local companies. which have paid money
for rights have been unable TO secure
satisfaction AMI hat they believe that
every man who has paid 81. into the
treasury of this company has been the
victim of gross swindle. ELECTRICITY"
also reprints circular letter Of instruc-
tdns sent out by the parent Standard
Comrany. in which IL is suggested that
bS the plans nrcposed THE TRONOT-
FRS OF THE LOCAL TELEPHONE
COMPANY WOULD HAVE 5000 IN
CASH NET PROFIT TO PLAY WITH.
AND a STOCK INTEREST IN EVERY
TELEPHONE OF $500 TO CREASE
COMMON COUNCILS. TO SELL. To
LOCAL THIRD-FLOOR, SUB-CELLAR
INVESTORS, ETC
We think II you would publish the
whole article, 1t would make mighty in
terestins reading just at present in Rich
mOnd.
The Board OF Directors Of the Homo
Telephone Company include J. y. Cul-
lingsworth. J. u. Patton. s. W. Travers.
r. A. Catlin. =. Whiicck, Junius A. Nor
ris, J. d. Crump. and J. J. Montague, all
OF Richmond. Does the local Standard
Company dare to print its Board OF d.
rectors or q list Of its stockholders?
II. NJ. SMITH. JR.
~ ~ GEO d. WISE