Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-30

company are not to be altered. A re-
porter Tor the Virginian-Pilot called on
MI. j. w. Crews, special agent of the
Southern Bell Telephone Company, last
nisht to learn If any change would oc-
cur as the result of recommendation of
the committee of the Board of Trade.
That report and recommendation said:
AS the officials of the Southern
States Telephone Company guarantee
first-class service at the much lower
rates named, it naturally follows that
this line should be chosen as the most
available. We believe that, with few
exceptions, our citizens can obtain all
necessary communication in this way
and thereby reduce telephone expenses
from sos per annum to S3S for business
purposes.
1T is also suggested that as tcle-
phone companies are granted large
privileges by our city legislation, that
all companies doing business in the
city should be placed under the same
restrictions identically, and maximum
charges made to conform"
Mr.. Crews said there was no truth in
the rumor that the Southern Bell Tele-
phone Company intended to rescind its
action. He said 1t would be impossible
lose money at any lower rates than
those recently proposed.
lie said that the rates proposed now
are the lowest of q number of rates
that have been discussed for year by
the company They were the lowest
rates at which the company can do
business and not to lose money. No
other company can give the same ser
vice the Bell company is giving at
lower rates and not lose money. Hence
there is absolutely no truth in the
rumor that the new rates are to be
withdrawn. The company cannot with
draw them without continuing the
heavy losses 1t has sustained.
The rates are as follows:
BUSINESS RATES.
Special line, unlimited service, SIS per
month.
Duplex, unlimited. n month, 81
Message rate, 100 outward messages
and an unlimited number of inward
messages month, 49,
Inward service, no outward, unlimit-
ed for business stations, a month, $3.50
RESIDENCE RATES.
Special line, unlimited, n month, So.
Duplex. unlimited, q month, 81.
Message rate. so outward calls, I'M
limited number of inward calls n
month. $3.50.
Unlimited number of outward calls,
no inward. n month, 1.
Speaking further, Mr.. Crews said
that the two telephone companies
doing business IN Norfolk had no
agreement with one another about
rates: that neither one owned stock in
the other, and that there is no arrange
ment by which one shall take the fran
chise of the other.
Mr.. Crews said that the rates named
have been designed to meet the varied
demands of the public, and that first
class telephone service is now placed
within the reach of the smaller users
at nominal price.
THE ORDINANCE.
The ordinance granting permission to
the Southern Bell Telephone and Tele-
graph Company. its successors and as
signs. to construct, erect, operate and
maintain sub-ways, poles. wires cables
and other electrical conductors upon,
over and along the public ways of the
lows:
Section 1. Be it ordained by the Sc
lect and Common Councils of the City
of Norfolk, Virginia: That permission
be, and hereby is, granted to tse
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company, its successors and assigns,
to erect, operate and maintain its lines,
including the necessary poles, wires
and fixtures. upon, along and over and
| sideways, with the necessary manholes
and other anpnrtenances, under- the
surface of such public ways, for the
purpose of transmitting communication
! by electricity, the use of such public
| ways to be under such regulation af-
| fecting the general supervision and
maintenance of such public ways as
may be prescribed by law and the or
| dinances of said city; provided, how
ever. that within that section Of the
| city as described in IAN ordinance ex-
| tending the business section of the city
| in which conduits are to be placed"
passed by the Common Council on Feb
| ruary Sth, 1898, and by the Select Coun-
Gil on February 24th, 1898, no pole or
overhead fixture shall be erected, eX-
| cept poles and fixtures for local dis
| tribution; the use Of such public ways
to be subject to the general regula-
| tons relating thereto as may be pre-
scribed by the laws of the State of
Virginia and the ordinances of the
City of Norfolk governing the manner
of the use of such public ways as
aforesaid
Section 2. In consideration of the
rights herein granted to the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany, it's successors and assigns, said
company shall supply to the city of
Norfolk, when demanded by the City
SouHcis, lIee service LOT the IRE alarm
wires of the city, such wires to be
placed on the topnlost arms or fixtures
of all poles erected, and space shall
also be provided by said company, free
of cost to said city. within all subways
constructed under the provisions of this
ordinance for such wires. The said
company shall also furnish, free Of cost
to said city, ten telephones to be placed
as designated by the City Councils, and
shall also pay to the city three (3) per
centum of the gross earnings realized
from local telephone exchange service
within the corporate limits OF the city
of Norfolk; but this does not exempt
the said Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company it's successors end
q SSlgnS. from any lcense