The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-05
Norfolk on Speaking Terms With the Bigger
Part Of the Continent.
THE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE
Opened Yesterday with Great Eciat-
Mayor Mayo Tains to various
Netnbies- Hen, Wa Young Called
up-compiotaiy Successful Test
An Idcal Spread.


gatherings and the interchange of social
courtesies, never contained better
Pleased thfong or witnessed more
agreeable celebration than that which
yesterday marked the opening of the
american Long Distance Telephone
company's line in this city.
Not the least striking feature of the
airalr was the splendid spread that had
Geen prepared for the guests in the
9inlng rooms of the association, consist
ing or cold meats of every imaginable
variety. prepared in the most delicious
manner. In the next room there was
something to drink, and 1t is said by
those who tried It to have been par
excellence. 70.
rms spread was patronized through
out tne afternoon and evening In the
most informal, though persistent man
ner. At frequent intervals cigars were
passed around, aiid throughout a. gene
raj feeling Of good fellowship and con
z tentment prevailed
ne local management, indeed, had
prepared everything with admirable
foresight and nothing was lacking TO
fenuer the occasion pleasant, profitable
and instructive
In the reception rooms of the assooi,
tton had been placed two transmitters
ana TWO box-like arrangements, each
Win twenty receivers ATTACHED BY this
method two people could talk to differ
ent points and forty people could listen.
nearing both ends of the conversation.
THE MAYOR OPENS.
The first point called was New York
and General Meany. president of the
company, was called TO the 'phone. His
Honor. Mayor Mayo, took his seat az
thls end and two score Of Norfolk's
most prominent business men placed the
receivers to their ears n
The MayOr In
lated General AIeany and the company
upon the opening OF their line here ond
, through him, he said, Norfolk, the CEN
tral port of the Atlantic seaboard, sent
iiraternal greetings to the great metropo-
lis of New York
The General, in perfectly distinct and
pleasing tones, responded gracefully.
!h1fklns His Honor for his conEra tu-
iatons and assuring him that he felt
lt an honor to he the medium of ex
lending to New York the greetings of
mher young rival on the Hampton
The Mayor then expressed the grati6-
eatlon OF Norfolk to be upon speaking
terms with the metropolis she has
knoWn so well and so long
ihe hght In the Councils for the fran
ealse was then brought up. and General
Meany said that while he should al
ways remember with great qualification
company by the majority, he believed
the minority had In view the best inter-
ests or the city, and this was why he
nad pressed the point more In Norfolk
than IN any ether city in the Union,
ioE He pelleved that now the Long Dis
lance phone was established, the minor
ity would Join the majority. 1t would
pe Inc company's care, he said. to cs-
tabllSn mere system Of rates which
would bring it business. and that the
company should SO conduct itself that
furthet legislation would be unneccs-
sary.
After some further remarks, conclud
Ing with an Interchange Of courteous
sniutations and good wishes. the conyer
satton ended, and Mr. 10 B. Freeman.
one of the minority In the Council re-
Ierred TO, picked up the thread OF the
conversation and senr his congratula-
tions. Then Mr.. L. w. Davis tool, tho
omar and told General Mcany that he
believed every man. woman and child
Nj Norfolk wanted the phone. and that
now the company should come up like
q little man and accept q maximum
1Wait till we get a little closer" re-
plied the General. 1--WE are about as
far apart in miles as we are on the
question of the maximum rate."
Mr.. Davis assured him of warm
welcome when he did come, and turned
the, phone over to Mr.. u. .Lowenberg who
sent congratulations and said we were
proud Of being the first city in the South
to'get the long distance telephone. but
hoped 1t would not interfere with the
!ocal business, Mr.. Meany replied that
Norfolk had gotten beyond the range
or merely local affairs and that we
must not be harrow in our expecta tons.
a JOISP ON MIR. JONES.
Mr.. S. S. NOttingham and Gnnero1
Meany then held an extended CONVEX
sation, after which Captain Thorn In.
troduced Rev. Arthur 9. Lloyd tn Gen
Meany, saying he was engaged in look
Ing after the spiritual welfare of Mr.
Henry Jones.
General Meany said that Mr.. Jones.
was In good hands and no hoped by
this time he had experienced n change
of mind
Mr.. Lloyd then went on to tell General
Meany that his friend Jones was a tough
customer and that he must not judge
Norfolk by Mr. Jones. as he was the
only one OF his kind here.
Fhls necessltated Mr.. Jones getting to
the phone, which he FASTENED to do,
telling the General that, although his
friend. Mr. Lloyd, was a nreacher--
We'll. he must take what he said about
him cum grano soils.
Mr.. G. A. Woodard thes, offered his
congratulations, after which Mr.. Adolph
S. Ochs, owner Of the New York Times,
was rung up and Mayor Mayo intro
duced to him. The Mayor told Mr.
Ocha that he was glad to make his ao-
quaintance, assured him that Norfolk
stood ready to take care OF New Yorl's
surplus grain trade, and complImented
the Times upon being q clean news