Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-11
USE OF TELEPHONES.
They Are Now Uniting Widely
Scattered Communities.
The Now Long Distance Telephone system
and Its Network of Wires Telephone
War in Martinsburs, West virginia
Mutual Company Rates at staunton Ad-
vanced.
vanced.

The Richmond Times of Saturday.
has the following:
Telephones are taking large part
In the communication and the life of
the people in rural Virginia, both in
business and social affairs.
The remotest districts are being
brought into close touch with the outer
world. and the possibilities of quicker
and improved methods in man, direc-
tons by the use of the telephone in
"Ruratania."
IMPROVES SOCIAL LIFE.
Perhaps the greatest effect so far has
been in the social life OF the country,
where, by the use of the phones, infor-
nation of meetings and invitations are
given with promptness and eXpedi-
non increased that was unknown to
old country ways.
the elect on the marketing of prod
ucts has also been great. Where, be-
fore the advent of the phone, the
farmer living from ten to fifty miles
from his market sent them to town at
any old time, and took the chances of
not striking the market in y glut he
now keeps in touch with the commits
sion merchant and hurries up his OPP
erations a few days or holds his prod
ucts back, SO as ito strike the market
right"
NEWS GATHERING.
The telephones have also revolution
lied the business of news gathering in
the remote counties of the State, and
those sections only reached by boat
or overland conveyance, from which it
took from three to five days to get a
communication, are now in reach of
the human voice over the vibrating
wires, and these people who were once
strangers are now among our nearest
ncighbors.
TIMES ELECTION RETURNS.
The Times report of the Presidential
election last month gave n striking OK
ample OF the new era in news gather
ing which dawned with the adaptation
of the telephone to the country dis
tricts
The morning after the election The
Times published full reports from
many counties In remote parts of the
State. and partial reports from all of
them.
1t was an attainment In news gath
ering In Virginia, never before at
tanned.
few years ago 1t took q week to
get the returns from the Southwest
border counties. and. even with the
advent or the railroad it took three
days to get them all. and 1t was that
long before the result OF an election
in the Ninth district, in which these
counties are located, could be deter
mined.
TELEPHONES DID 1T.
Last month The Times published the
returns from these counties the next
morning. The telephone lines gathered
the returns from remote districts in
the counties, and they were telegraphed
from the nearest railroad telegraph
station
The Northern Neck station, one re-
garded as one of the most remote, is
now being covered by net work of
telephone lines.
News received from the Northern
Neck in two days was regarded as
quick news two years ago. Now all
the important happenings of that rich
section reach The Times the day of
their occurrence.
THE TELEPHONE WORLD.
A great deal is going on in the tele-
phone world. and the system is yet in
it's infancy.
In speaking OF the great advantage
OF the long-dstance telephone system.
now under construction, the Newport
News Evening Telegram says:
The line on the Peninsula from
Newport News to the State Capital will
give outlet to all the cities in the
State. for instance, Richmond, Man
chester. Petersburg, Lynchburg, Roam
oke. Bristol, Lexington, Charlottes-
VILE Staunton, Clifton Forge, Hot
Springs. Warm Springs. Harrisonburg
up and down the Valley of Virginia
to Winchester, and even into Pendle-
ton county, w. Va.
IN OTHER STATES.
Besides covering all this State, the
line Will connect as far south as Mem
phis, Tenn.
The connection in West Virginia
will be made as far out as Ronceverte,
and the other way from Harrisonburg
into Pendeton, Clarksburg, etc
in fact. the Citizens Company. In
conjunction with the new Long Dis
lance Company, can send messages.
not only over its own lines. but over
connecting lines into Pennsylvania
from Winchester.
"All Of the longdistance lines are
under construction. according to SUI
| perintcndent Watts, with seven gangs
Of lincmen placing poles and wires
over seven different routes"
TELEPHONE WAR.
Advices from Martnsburg say that
telephone war is now going on there
between the Winchester and the Ches-
panies. The latter went into the town
about fifteen years ago. but never
pushed the business and had only
| about thirty phones and charged $50
year for Office service.
Two years ago the Winchester Com
| pany constructed a splendid service
and now have nearly 200 phones at