Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-09
GOES TO THE COUNCILS
The Board Of Trade Report on
Local Telephone Matters.
Councils VIII Then Know Officially How
the business Men of Norfolk Regard tho
BELL Company's New Rates Average
Rates Elsewhere are sss and SEA
Rates In Richmond $50 and sa4.

At the regular monthly meeting of
the Board of Directors of the Board of
Trade and Business Mems Association,
held on Saturday night the secretary
of the organization was instructed to
send copy of the report of the special
telephone committee of the Board of
Trade and Business Mems Association
to the Councils of the city of Norfolk.
This report is thus put in the official
channel for the attention of our City
Fathers. The report, it will be remem-
bered. was as follows:
Norfolk, Va, Sept. %, 1900.
Your committee appointed August
18th to confer with the Southern Bell
Telephone Company and the Southern
states Telephone Company, and ascer-
tain all the facts bearing upon the in =
creased rate of toll and to make IL
prompt report with recommendations
to the board. proceeded promptly 10
execute their commission, and Al n full
meeting. held the following day. inter-
viewed Mr.. j. w. Crews, special agent
of the Southern Bell Company. who,
when questioned, stated the following
rates. which his company proposed 10
establish in this community to all new
subscribers and to all old subscribers as
their contracts expired and were re-
newed:
THE NEW RATES.
business phones, unlimited special
line thiS being present service), So per
month: duplex, two parties on the
same line, 81 per month within u rad
iuS of four miles: unlimited special line
inward. no outward calls, $3.50 per
month; message rate, 100 talks per
month. So.
Residential. special line unlimited,
50 per month; duplex. 50 per month: so
outward talks. Sl.50 per month; unlim-
tied outward. no inward. 81 per month.
MIR. Crews stated that these new
contracts would he made for one year.
payable in monthly installments He
also stated that the advance in charge
was made necessary by reason of the
installment OF new and improved meth
DDS of telephone communication. and
the fact that his company In the past
had lost money in its operation in Nor
folk and vicinity.
The following day your committee
had before II Mr.. Bonney. the manager
of the Southern States Telephone Com
pany, and ELECTED from him that his
company, on new contracts. proposed
to make the maximum charges allowed
by its charter. which are sSs for bust
ness and SIS for residence phones; and
at subsequent meeting Mr.. G. F. AK
tell. the secretary and treasurer of the
Southern States Telephone Company,
appeared before us. Mr.. Axtell stated
that at the rates allowed them under
the charter his company could profitn-
bly, and would give subscribers in Nor
folk and vicinity firSt-c class, up-to- date
service. and would keep up with all
modern improvements as developed.
USUAL RATE ELSEWHERE.
Our investigation further showed us
that in other cities, the size of Nor
folk. the average rates were In keeping
with the charges heretofore made by
| the Bell Company and now made by
the Southern States. An average oi
six cities being $3S for business and So
| for residence, with unlimited service
while other Virginia cities, with the ex-
ception of Richmond. whose rates arc
| $50 and $24. are much lower. 1t ap-
pearing to us. under these circum-
| stances. that the claim of the Bel
Company that they would lose money
in operating in Norfolk at lower rates
| than those proposed, while they were
| operating elsewhere so much cheaper
| was unreasonable, we requested that
|, they modify their new rates and en-
| deavored to effect Il compromise with
| them. This request being refused, the
| only remedy we can see-and that we
| would. therefore, recommend-is that
! our people endeavor. as far as possible
| to get in telephone communication
with each other on one line. so as &c
! avoid the expense of two phone con-
| nections.
RECOMMEND S. {. PHONES.
AS the officials of the Southern
States Telephone Company guarantee
| frst-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 al
! necessary communication in this way
| and thereby reduce telephone expense
from SOS per annum 10 S3S for business
| purposes.
1T is also suggested that as tele-
| phone companies are granted large
| privileges by our city legislation, tina;
! all companies doing business in the
city should he placed under the same
restrictions identcally, and maximum
! charges made to conform. The pro-
ccedings of your committee have been
| carefully recorded. and we would ask
that they be duly filed as a part of this
report. Respectfully submitted.
| wv. ii. WALES. JR.,
chairman;
! 'R. HENRY JONES,
! I'D. j. CALLAHAN,