Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
THE NEW YORK TRIP.
THE STREET COMMITTEE EXPECTS
TO GO THIS EVENING.
KILL NOT USE RICHgOND PHONE.
Council for Long-Distance Company
Decline to Allow These lnstru-
ments Tested I'm Connection With
Their system.

on Streets who have been contemplating
a trip to New York and Philadelphia at
the invitation Of the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company of Virginia for
the purpose Of investigating the practical
| operations of the long-distance phone are
| expected to leave via the Richmond. Fred
erioksburg and Potomac railroad this eve
ming at 71O o'clock. They will be accom-
panied by Mr.. Clarence L. Young a rep
resentative Of the company. and Colonel
| George Wayne Anderson, of counsel for
the org-distance system.
1t was thought that Captain A. 3. Gut
gon, general counsel, and Mr.. S. A. Duval,
superintendent of the Richmond Telephone
Company, would go on the same train,
but in view of correspondence that passed
between counsel for the two corporations
last night, it is more than probable that
Messrs. Guigon and Duval will not be OF
the New York party. IL they do 20 it
will be, as had been contemplated all
along. at the expense of their company,
and not as members Of the long -distance
cOmpany's invited party.
This correspondence, which is given
further on, had reference to the matter
Of allowing a test to be made of the Rich
mond Telephone COmpanys instrument in
connection with the system and instru-
ments OF the American company.
1t is pretty certain that six or seven
members OF the Street Committee will go
along. Those who, it Is understood, will
make the trip are Messrs. James Bahen,
John j. and John NJ. King, J. II. Lawder,
Sol. l.. Bloomberg, w. T. Woody. and
Gilbert X Pollock. The committee. it is
thought, will be met in New York by
General Meany. Of the American COM
pany, but it is more than likely that
Senator Daniel. general counsel for the
company. will not be able to be present
THE INVITATION.
The letter Of Colonel George Wayne An
dersOn inviting the committee and certain
city officials to make this tour OF inspec-
ton was submitted TO the committee on
the evening OF February 22d. In this letter
Colonel Anderson said:
81 have learned that the Richmond
Standard Telephone Company has in
vited, and has had your members to visit
and inspect It's exchange and switchboard.
l am informed that various. and mt
doubt, impressive tests and experiments
and guidance. 1t seems that ii IS only just
that you should make a like inspection OF
our methods and system before deciding
the important question that is before you.
We feel impressed. and properly So
think with the fact that this proposition
is one of great Importance 20 this city,
as well as TO ourselves, and will affect, in
unknown measure its future commercial
greatness and prosperity. For this reason.
as well as because we realize how imper-
feet is the knowledge that even intelligent
and wel-informed men have of electricity
and telephony, we have determined to in
vite you to inspect our system and me-
thods, as you have inspected those OF our
opponents We. therefore, cordially and
respectfully invite you to so as our guests
10 New York and Philadelphia, leaving
Richmond about the 18th day Of March,
and returning In time for business on the
morning of the 10th. In New York you
viii be shown our methods, plant, and
system, and be furnished an opportunity
TO investigate and test it in every way.
In Philadelphia you will be shown every
detail concerning the extensive conduit
systems of that city, and learn Of Its eX-
perence I'm that regard
And in conclusion Colonel Anderson sald'
Assuring the committee. that they shall
be free TO make any and every inquiry
and investigation that they. or. any OF
them may wish to make, we trust they
will give our great enterprise the same
careful and personal investigation that
they have given to that Of those who OPP
pose us"
The invitation was accepted after
long discussion, by the vote Of TO 3-two
members being absent.
WANTED THEIR PHONES TESTED.
When the Street Committee met last
Monday night Mr.. GuigOn laid before the
body a letter Of some length, in which he
made this suggestion:
LAS / learn from the public press that
some Of the members Of the committee
desire to be informed upon the feasibility
OF connecting the American Telephone ana
Telegraph Companys lines with our IN
struments in Richmond, / respectfully
suggest that the acceptance Of that COM
pany's invitation be made conditional at
least. upon their agreeing TO furnish ia
cflities for such a test. and permitting the
presence Of our representatives at each
end of the line upon which said test shau
be conducted.
After the letter had been reed the mat
ter was discussed between sir. GulBon
and Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, Jr., the latter repre-
senting the long-distance company ana
when they had concluded Chairman Alleh
asked Mr. Smith if he understood MIN 10
say that the long-distance company Woulu
tive the Richmond Telephone Company
chance TO make a test of whether the two
lines could be connected and properly ope-
rated Mr.. Smith replied that Mr.. Guigon
could write down what his company de-
sired and the American Telephone ana
Telegraph Company's representatives
would do whatever the Street Committee
might within reasonable bounds, see III
10 require. .,,,.,
THE subject was talked over by members
NJ the committee several Of whom thought
II desirable TO have such test as MT
Guigon suggested. while others insisted
az thew had always done, that the trip 10
New York and philadelphia was entirety
unnecessary and inexpedlent
PHONES SELECTED.
Some DAYS ago Mr.. Guigon addressed
letter 10 Mr.. Smith, asking him to name
the date. hour, and place at which such
test as he (Guigon) had proposed might
he made. Mr.. Smith was called out OF
the CITY soon after this and was absent
tue davs. and il is not known that he
has replied 10 the letter of Mr.. Guigon.
Yesterday afternoon several mepDers
of the Street Committee, by INVITATION
OF the Richmond Telephone company Hi0S
at it's headquarters and selected FOUR
phones out Of the lot in stock to be taken
10 New York with a view 10 the test oe-
ing made. These are packed and ready
for shipment but Of course, VIII not De
taken to New York unless Messrs. Gulson
and Duval go.
DECLINE TO MAKE THE TEST.
Colonel George Wayne Anderson, Sc
Nor local counsel for the Long Distance
Company, returned 10 the city last night
from a trip TO New Orleans, and imme-
diately held a conference with Mr..
Young. as a result OF which the follow
Ing letter was written and sent to the