Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-11-24
TELEPHONE GOSSIP.
County and City Wires About
To Be Stretched Apart.
Meet AGAIN TOMORROW
Superintendent Watts Demands a
Higher Rate Which County Peo-
pie Refuse to Pay---Action of
Meeting Held Last Saturday.

The telephone, which people use t.
talk through so much, is now ca using
a great deal of talk on the outside, oc
casioned by the recent action of N
G. Watts. superintendent of tn
Staunton Mutual Telephone Com
pany, in raising the charge on service
to the county people from So to S. ant
then dropping to So for the first yea
| and 81 for the second. This storm
threatened to come last spring prior tt
the county election, but was prevent
ed by a six months contract at the ole
| rate, and now that the contract il
about to expire there is every indica
ton that there will be trouble. THE
SPECTATOR quite recently gave a
forecast of what might be expected
and the .truthfulness of our report is
vouched for by the action of the meet
ing held last Saturday, the 18th. On
that day at II O'Clock the Augusta
County Telep phone Association met in
the Supervisors room in the court
house. The attendance was large and
the room was taxed to it's full capacity.
President G. B. Coiner, presided, and
John s. Richey officiated as secretary.
The first business was the report of
the secretary, who reported that the
only terms on which N. q. Watts
would contra ct for the year beginning
December LIST, next, were So per phone
for main lines and 81 so per phone per
annum for side lines for one year, and
81 and 81 respectively for the second
year, beginning December 1, 1900.
The prevailing sentiment was against
Mr.. Watts proposition and
in favor of renewing contract at the
old rate. There was also feeling IA
vorable to the establishment of anoth-
Ell switchboard. John S. Richey, Capt.
Coiner, A. H. McCue, J. s. Cochran,
A. Henry Towberman and J. s. G.
Myers made speeches in support of
such a step.
At this juncture Mr.. Richey called
attention to the action of the Board
of Supervisors in allowing Mr.. Watts
the use of the county building for an
exchange and followed up his remarks
with resolution favoring the accept
ance of Mr.. Watts proposition for six
months.
A vote was taken and the resolution
defeated by vote of 30 to 8.
w. s. Finley here obtained recogni-
ton and moved that committee of
three be named for the purpose of
waiting upon Mr.. Watts and propose
o renewal of contract for five years at
the old rate. MIR. Finley with j. W.
and A. H. McCue were
appointed, and were absent from the
DOM but short while when they re-
turned with a statement from Mr..
Watts refusing to accept the PROPOSE
ton, but Offering to sell out for $25, 900.
This was followed by motion by
Mr.. Richey favoripg the appointment
Of committee to make thorough in
of the cost OF the switch
board and the maintenance, with all
on the subject, and report
to the meeting on tomorrow, the 18th
instant.
This motion was considerably de-
bated, but to bring matters to close
Thos. Hunter offered resolution ia
voring a five year contract with Mr..
Watts at $3. This was defeated by a
vote of q to Is and Mr.. Richey's mo-
ton adopted. Mr.. Richey, Jos s.
Cochran and W. 4. Crawford were ap-
pointed to make the investigation.
Hon. John W. Todd placed before
the meeting q resolution calling upon
all representatives to stand by the as
ISOLATION. Mr.. McCue favored max
ing it stronger, but the Todd resolu
ton was passed without amendment.
During the meeting Jas. r. Kemper,
J. Alex. Bumgardner and j. D. Peale
rendered their designations as mem
bers of the board. Their places were
promptly filled by the election of W.
A. Crawford, A. H. McCue and ]. G.
s. Myers.
As before stated the meeting was
largely attended and much interest
The meeting tomorrow
will probably decide fully the questions
at issue.
An Address to Business Men.