Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-11-24

the last 6 months service $446, or 1892
for the use of 80 drops in the switch
board, which is nearly $23 per annum
for each crop. and in addition they
built the lines into the drops and paid
him $500 for the switch board, which
is $50 more than he says it cost, and
he still owns the board. So that We
paid for tie board plus 500, built all
our lines into it and pay him neatly $23
per drop per annum tor the use of
each drop, when lie is iei tiog similar
drops to his city subscribers at $40 and
SIS each and furnishing phones and
lines free and keeping them in repair,
and yet he says he is "giving us SER
vice."
let us dissect his claim that it costs
him S. per phone to serve the county,
and this assertion is not backed by
any figures. At cost of SIS per phone
there being 37S phones on the main
lines of the associatIon-the expense
would be 81, 800 for SO drops, or SOL per
drop. Apply this rule to the>5OO drops
in the city exchange and Mr.. Watts
would be bankrupt in "a hours, as his
expenses for city service would be
ss25, 500 per year, and his income Sc, $50, j,
a loss of nearly $4,000 per annum. AS
Mr.. Watts runs the city and county
boards with the same power and ope-
rators it will be hard to show that one |
section of the board costs S51 per drop
and another section $40.
The association, which Mr.. Watts |
refers to as ''these people" is composed |
of 500 of the most intelligent, respon-
sible and sensible people of Augusta
county, and if they cannot contract
with Mr.. Watts to do their switching
at fair and reasonable price. they are
old enough and able to buy d switch
board. and if they conclude to do SO,
they will probably conclude that the
cheapest and best place to put it, is
not on the edge of the city, but in their
own building where their lines con-
verge.
Mr.. Watts lays great stress upon
the fact that he owns s year and 10
year franchises in various places, and
yet when his county friends ask him
for year contract for switch board
service he refuses to entertain the
idea.
The members of the association de-
sire above all things a permanent al.
rangement that will prevent this ever
asting iangling every year, and they
believe that they are paying a fair /
price for this service when they pay {
S23. 90 per drop per year for the use of
their own switchboard. and they posi-
lively decline to be gouged to the tune
Of $500 per year per drop. 6
We are ready and willing to con- ,
tract with Mr.. Watts for 10 years, but
be does not seem to desire an equita-
ole and permanent arrangement and
when men cannot agree they should
separate without alimus. In
Mr.. Watts statement that about t
one half the lines of the association a
nave indicated their intention to re- G
main with him, is made for effect. and i
ike his statement regarding the four 8
Iears free service, should be taken 8
,um grano sails. Id
The 800 phone-holders of the asso- e
;iation are bound together by a con- t
,ract voluntarily assumed. and Mr.. |
W ats assertion that one half Of them '
lave indicated their intention to be- /
ray their comrades is'a reflection on f
heir honor and an insult to their in q
diligence. 8
If Mr.. Watts present contract gives 7
lin such poor returns why does he 7
guarantee 6 per cent. net profit on its 6
capitalization of $4O,OOO.0O including 5
water? &
We appeal to conservative people to
suspend judgment and as Mr.. Watts q
article in the News" was IAN adver- t
,isement paid for at regular rates. '
We take the liberty of replying 6
through THE SPECTATOR which is 8
mutual. 8
JNo. S. RICIIEY, Secretary, {
Augusta Co. Mutual Tel. Assn. t