The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07
WILL The TEST BIZ MADE?
The American Telephone and Telegraph
Company Backs Down.
REFUSES TO STAND BY The PROMISE
Made by Mr.. IL, NJ. Smith, Jr', OF Counss'
for 1t Before the Street Committee
Tho Letter to Captain Guigon
and the Latter's Uepts.

After naying, through thef fcpto'o"'
tive, Mr. II. NJ. Smith. Jr.. before tho
Council Committee on Streets. agreed
that a test should be made. on tho oc-
caslon Of the committees Northern trip.
as to whether the instruments OF the
Richmond Telephone Company would
work satisfactorily when attached to the
lines OF the American Telephone ana
Telegraph Company. that c~icerA
through Mr.. Clarence L. Young and COL
onel George Wayne Anderson. late last
night, executed complete retrogsade
movement. and positively declined 10 per
NIT such test 10 be made.
In view OF the fact that nearly every
member OF the committee has repeatedly
declared that such test was the prime. II
not the only object of the trip. there
IA good ground for doubt that the COM
mittee will make the trip at ali, ard the
impartial observer cannot fail to harbor
tho suspicion that the test would have
resulted In q victory for tho Richmond
Telephone Company.
After repeated and earnest efforts, ex-
tending over period OF four days. TO In
duce the lOng-dlstance company TO settle
definitely the arrangements for the test,
Captain A. b. Guigon. general counsel for
the Richmond Telephone Company, at
1f:4O last night received tho following
letter:
THE LETTER.
Richmond. Va, March s. 1897.
| Captain A. y. Guigon. Attorney Rich
mond Telephone Company. Richmond.
| Va.
Dear Sr.-As a courtesy duo you we
think It proper in order TO prevent any
possible misunderstanding. 20 say that.
! in making final arrangements for tho
| trip OF tho Street Committee to New
| York, we do not understand that yor ana
| your associates wish 10 be considered
| as our guests. This we understood you
to say In the recent meeting or the
Street Committee We have not there
| fore made any provision for that rur-
| pose IN our preparations.
| II Is only fair. too TO say that orr IN
vitation as extended 10 the COMMITTEES
and as accepted by thom, only contem-
| nlated showing them what our system
was and how IL operated as an onset 10
| n ike exhibition on your part or your
svstem 10 which we were not invited,
and OF which we were not even Informed
by you.
Wa do not. therefore, contemplate any
thing else. and cannot permit the use OK
our system for the purpose or testing
the apparatus OF other companies.
Yours very truly
CLARENCE T.. YOUNG,
Represeut,ng American Telephone ana
Telegraph Company; -.,
GEO. WAYNE ANDERSON
Counsel for the American IeieDnohe
and Telegraph Company.
CAPTAIN GUIGON'S REPLY.
Df,ht March b..
Messrs. Clarence f.. Young. representing
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company. and George Wayne Ander-
son. counsel 70 rthe American Ieiepnohe
and Telegraph Company;
Dear Sirs-At twenty minutes OF II
this Saturday night, / received by special
messenger your note bearing this date
to which beg to reply as follows:
In the first place. your courteous re-
mlnder that no provision had been maze
! bv YOU for mo and my associates, as your
,,,iests. on the occasion OF the proposed
trip the Stree Committee 70 New York
on your invitation was unnecessary as
vour associate Mr. II. NJ. Smith, Jr.
might have Informed you that on the
evening Of The committees last meeting
T very promptly and very emphatically
declined his polite invitation 10 accompany
tho committee as the guest OF your COM
pany, but informed him that we would
meet the committee in New York, and
verv gladly avail ourselves Of his promise
that your company would afford ~
every facility for the proposed test OF our
telophones over your lines and I'm con-
junction with your instruments. In TINS
connection II may not be improper Tor
mo TO state that [ have In my pocket az
This moment two round-trlp tickets 10
New York. purchased by me this after
noon for the uso % our superintendent
and myself.
DUVAL AND MYSELF.
The second part OF your letter is more
serious. You will permit me TO say IN
> passing that we have never mado any
formal exhibition OF our system to the
street Committee but once, and that
WAS when our exchange Was first opened
for business, and was required OF Us by
the terms Of our franchise We do. ho"'
ever. avail ourselves or-every opportunity
I IN show and explain our system TO all
members OF the Council and TO the public
generally. and, having nothing 10 conceal.
we take great pleasure in showing our
friends what has been accomplished IN
our city BY local Industry and local capt
tai.
/. note with surprise spd regret that yot
cannot Permit tho use OF your tour sys
l TEN for the purpose ol bcSt.s eHc ~Pie
ratus OF other companies. L say, WIZ
surprise and regret. because you has refus
ed 10 carry out and perform the promise
; made by your associate. Mr. Smith. 10 IN
committee, and 10 me very nearly on
week ago.
. The proposed test was merely 10 inform
: tho committee by practical demonstration
whether our telephones were capable
y being connected with your long-cistan!
telephones over your lines, and or giyin
u satisfactory service In that conjunction
u Your representatives have repeated
stated publicly that this was a physioa
I impossibility, and as you have al this LAT
= hour. and almost on tho eve or the con
mittee's departure for New YORK. dc
;, ciined to carry out your associates
8 promise. and permit the test conside
a that am entitled TO believe and dc
Il clare that you do so because your con
a pany knows the test would result 10 on
advantage, and In the complete demoiis'
ment of your claims.
o Yours very truly.
A. r. GUIGON.
n General Counsel Richmond Telephor
ia Company.
~ AK URGENT LETTER.
ia Early Yesterday morning captain Gu
= con sent the following letter to Mr..
q NJ Smith: ~, ..
= n NJ smith, Jr.. Esq, OF Counsel q
American Telephone and Telegraph 90
Z, Bank street city:
+ near sir-It IS vitality important ft
d ma TO have your reply 10 my letter
D. ~. "A asking you for detailed informi