The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-18
VIRGINIA TELEPHONES.
JRRING EMENr, uIDI FOE cor
UEBBIN. mr. >TiIf,
Work To BE Begun Very shortly tn Bring
Iyuchburs and Norfolk within
Hello" Distance

Those interested in the work of Sc
curing telephone service throughout Viz
rinia. who have been in session Tor three
a-vS past in the offices OF the Richmond
Telephone Company, concluded their ar
rangements yesterday and adjourned.
Those represented at the meeting were as
follows:
j. l.. Keelyn. president Western Teie-
phone Construction Company, Chicago
H., Columbia Telephone Company. Wash
ington, d. c.. Maryland Telephone Com
pany. Baltimore. Md; Pennsylvania Tel
ephona and Telegraph Company, Phlld-
/ delphla, Pa, Anthracite Telephone ana
Telegraph Company OF New YORK ana
! Pennsylvania. Pittsburg * Philadelphia
/ Telephone Company Of Pennsylvania
| Carolina Mutual Telephone and Telegraph
/ Company Charleston. :. c., Chicago, en-
cinnau * Richmond Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, Chicago. H.; kanawah
| Telephone Company Charleston, w. Va
Southern States Telephone Company Nor
| folk, Va: Lynchburg Telephone Compa-
ny. Lynchburg. Va; Mutual Telephone
COMPANY Petersburg. Va, Richmond Tel
| ephoue company, Richmond, Va. Tide
water Telephone Company. King William.
| King and queen. Essex. and New Kent
counties. L. r. Catlett. representing lines
which embrace nfty-three points In Glou-
cester. NHddlesex and Matthews counties,
! W. Newton Smith. OF Tarhoro, y. G., ana
NIessrs. W. b. McIlwaine and Gillian. OF
Petersburg and H. Wilkinson. of West
/ Point. Suffolk Telephone Company, Sut-
/ folk. Va. and ". +. Roberts, Lynchbuis
/ Va.
GREAT INTEREST.
| An enthusiastic interest was shown III
| the development Of long-distance lines
/ through Virginia capital. Ii was shown
that the cost Of the lines would not be
| very great and that they would pay a
good interest az low charges for service.
10 was determined that lines be imme-
datey built to connect Richmond, Pc
I tersburg Norfolk. Lynchburg, and other
/ cities. IL is expected that Stanton.
/ Roanoke. and Alexandria, as well as
! Washington. ID. c.. and North and South
/ Carolina. will be connected by these long
/ distance lines before the year is ended.
m these arrangements are carried out.
I irdonendent telephone lines will be built
and in operation before the American Tel
ephone and Telegraph Company dong
distance BclD lines are started in \lr-
einia.
An organization was effected for the
purpose Of thoroughly exploiting this
work i'm Virginia. and from all sppear-
ances the State Will be- cobwehbed WITH
these local long-distance telephone and
telegraph lines.
CONNECT FARM-HOUSES.
II IS promised that these lines will b'
so arraneed that even the farm-house'
along the public roads Will be connected
with auXilary lines.
10 was agreed by an present that me
Long-Distauce American Telephone an'
TELEGRAPH Company is fighting to men
the Southern Bell Company ana II wa
claimed that it was practically owned Boz
the Fell Company of Boston.
n was claimed that the Bell Compan,
was irving to monopolize the business
and Kin or the new companies.
Those present az the meeting pledged
themselves 10 organize and inausurate
feht for the people of the Southern state
against the Bell Companys encroach
ments.
IL was stated that the latter was spend
ing large amounts OF money 10 lobb'
through franchises in Southern town
: and cities.
WILL CUT RATES
rrornfscd 10 connect more towns togeth
, er in Virginia during this year than m
Bel Company has in twenty years an
acted as If they meant what they said
They propose to cut telephone rates D.
two and expect for this reason that m
public will support the movement.
Mr. j. r. Koelyn president OF IN
Western Telephone Construction Compa
nv. and representatives. Of strong syn
dictate were present and assured inde
pendent connections OF Richmond. MOI
folk Lvnchburg and the Southern state
with Baltimore and Washington, Ne'
York Philadelphia. and even Chicag
and Northwestern points within yea
without relying upon the Bell companif
I'm any place lie declares that the pros
poets are that the American Teiephon
and Telegraph Company will be glad
even Get q connection with these mae
pendent companies before the year Is on