The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-02
And Poor People Can Afford a
Telephone.
FATE HAS BEEN REDUCED
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION HAS
DONE WISELY.
LOVER RATE ON FIRE WOOD
A Lively Fight Over the Change OF the
Route of the Raleigh and
CASTOR Railroad at
CASTOR.
CASTOR,

The Railroad Commission yesterday
did the right thing in reducing telephone
rates for the State of North Carolina.
They have had the matter under CON
sderation for several months All in
terested parties have been granted a
of their business or any other facts
bearing upon the rate question; and, af-
ter it all, the Commission has decided
that the present maximum rates of $40
and $50 charged by the Bell Company
are too high. SO, yesterday, an order
was issued making them $34 and SD
the rates heretofore charged by the In
ter-State Company-a rival of the Bell
Company. The $34 rate is for a place
of business on a special wire and the $24
for residences. Other classes of service
are reduced in the same proportion.
In the hearing before the Commission
yesterday the Bell Company was repre-
scented by Mr.. r. G. Strong, of this city.
He filed the following statement of the
company, touching its business in North
Carolina: Asheyille-gross revenue, $10,-
235; expenses, $7,675; net earnings, 81
$50. Charlotte-gr0ss revenue, $6,314;
expenses, $5,7TS net earnings, $3.50.
Concord-grOss revenue, $3.50; expenses,
S31S; net earnings, 312. Raleigh-gross
revenue, S7,761; expenses, $1,000; net
earnings, $3.50.
At the following places the Bell com
petes with other companies and claims
in its statement that it is losing money
by rate war: Durham-gross revenue,
Sill; expenses, $2,264; net loss, 81, 152.
Wilmingt0n-gross earnings, S4,715; ex-
penses, 5000; net loss, $4,394. Win
ston-gross revenue; S3,5S1; expenses,
$5,259; net loss, $1,611.
Another matter that excited much in
terest and lively fight was the petition
Of the citizens of the counties of Hall
fax Northampton and Brunswick, Va,
protesting against the changing of the
line of the Raleigh & CASTOR Railroad
at CASTOR. The petitioners were repre-
scented by Capt. Thos. w. Mason and
the defendant road by Capt. w. III. Day.
Capt. V. Il. McBee, the general superin-
tendent of the road, and Capt Gwaltney,
the chief engineer, were examined as
witnesses Capt McBee did not think
it would Inconvenience the citizens at
CASTOR and the surrounding country
very much, as it was proposed to build
a new depot within about mile of the
old one, and to open new ferry. For
these reasons he thought it would be
rather an advantage to the people.
Capt. Mason didn't see it that way
He thought it would be a great incon-
venience to the people on the north side
of the river who now do business at
CASTOR; he thought that the establish
ment of a ferry at the point suggested
by Capt. McBee was impractibale. From
the north side Of the river. he said, there
were at least 1000 bales of cotton, a
large quantity of fertilizer and other
articles now brought across the
ferry and put in the Castor warehouse
for shipment On the north side of the
river there are two or three large stores,
u thcllly populated community and a
prosperous agricultural people. The
greater part of the business of CASTOR
comes from this section. The removal
of the depot, Capt Mason thought.
would destroy this business and the peo-
pie who now trade at CASTOR would have
to 70 to stations in Virginia. The reve
nue. from freight at CASTOR depot now
amounts to $4,000. CASTOR is the old
terminal point of the road, the people
have invested their money there, the
trains have been coming and going
since 1853. and even now the track can
be Strengthened without leaving CASTOR.
After the conclusion of argument, upon
the suggestion of Chairman j. w. Will
SON, it was agreed that Superintendent
McBee, Chief Engineer Gwaltney and
one of the Railroad Commissioners meet
the petitioners at CASTOR on next Sat
urday, June 5, to look at the surround
ings and endeavor to come to com
promise of the matter.
Complaint having been made to the
Commission from a number of places in
regard to excessive freight rates on fire.
wood, the Commission orders the follow
ing low rates: to 10 miles, per cord, so
cents; 10 to Is miles, per cord, So cents
10 to 80 miles, 60 cents; 30 to 40 miles,
20 cents; 40 to so miles so cents. These
rates apply to all roads.