Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-31
COURT HOUSE TELEPHONES.
On the Order of John Lynn, the Delmarvi
Instruments Are Removed.

inbLruhebth are theinDNeus
In response to O communication bear
ing the name of Clerk OF the Pence
Winfield s. Quigley, which stated that
John Lynn, chairman of the Levy
Court, made the order, the Delmarvia
Telephone 20. Friday afternoon re-
moved it's eight telephones from as
many offices In the Court House. In
the letter, II was announced that il the
company did not remove the instru-
ments, other means would be tagen to
remove them. The purpose OF their
being ordered out was that alterations
were to be made. No other reason was
given the company, which has ex-
pended good deal OF money in estab-
fishing q system Of telephones at the
Court House. 1t came to the knowl-
edge Of the company that John Lynn
circulated q petition In Offices there
to ask the Levy Court to remove the
Delmarvia instruments, on account OF
inefficient service, and that one official
refused to sign Ii. The instruments at
the Court House have been ON the two
on-a.line system, and have cost the
county total Of $3.50 year.
When subscribers throughout town
and persons at the Court House desir-
ing to talk to subscribers elsewhere,
found that the instruments had been
removed, there was good deal of in
dignation. and Of asking why 1t had
been done. So far as could be learned,
Mr.. Lynn acted on his own motion, and
without the authority of the Levy
Court. No action on the subject has
been heard in open court, and 80 far as
learned nothing has been done on the
subject in private meeting. Another
member Of court said Saturday that he
heard Mr.. Lynn say that the Delaware
& Atlantic Telephones Co. IS instru-
ments are to be put in because they go
everywhere, including his house, at
Elsmere. This member had heard no
complaints concerning the Delmaryia.
Mr.. Lynn himself was seen and asked
why the telephones were removed. He
replied that the officials complained
about the system. He said the Della
ware & Atlantic instruments we're to he
installed, as cheaply, and possibly less
than the Delmarvia.
When General Manager J. H. Mehaffey
of the Delaware a. Atlantic company
was asked concerning what his com.
pany was to do, be said that each Office
| is to have separate wire, the connec-
tions to be made direct from the ex-
change, but be did not know just YET
what the cost would be. He could not
| say that it would be $3.50, the arrange
ments not having been made.
A reporter Of The Gazette visited
one OF the offices at the Court House
and asked permission to use the tele-
| phone; he was told to help himself,
but the telephone had been taken
away. ''You will have to ask John
Lynn TO do that" he was told.
There appeared to be peculiar hest
| fancy among some of the county
officials when asked concerning the
service given by the Delmarvia .
Sheriff Samuel A. Mcdaniel had nc
kick to announce, saying he never used
| that telephone, and he asked the in
| quirer to see him again on the subject.
| Clerk OF the Peace Winfield 8.
| Quigley did not like the Delmarvis
| telephone because two instruments
were run on one line, and that caused
| trouble. As he has the Delaware &
Atlantic at his house he preferred it tc
\ be installed at his Office. Prothonotary
Frank L. Spealzman said the Delaware
& Atlantic 10. was the more satisfac
tory and he had signed petition fol
/ it; the other instrument had beer
4 found very slow of operation at times.
Recorder Of Deeds Delaware Ciarl
| did not care to be quoted conoefniDf
the Delmarvia, but one of his clerk
| said it was unsatisfactory.
| Court Stenographer T.. O. Hardesty
said that the Delmarvia was very con
venient and he did not want it re-
moved.
County Treasurer Horace g. Rettev
said the Delmarvia was all right so far
as he knew.
D. Taylor Bradford, deputy register
OF wills, said that they had 10 calls or
the Delmaryia to one on the Delaware
& Atlantic, and the service was al
satisfactory as telephoning generally H.
Registerin Chahcery Colen Ferguson
stated that his telephone worked al
right aud he had never heard com
plant about it.
So much for the views Of the varioul
officials. Apart from them are tn,
many persons who have Delmarvis
telephones only, who are now cut of
from communication with the Cour
House. Those who have the Delaware
Il Atlantic instruments. have beer
able to get the Court House through
the instrument in the sheriff's office
and just now that is the only telephon,
in service in the building. 1t is helt
that both systems should be permitted
at the Court House for the public
accommodation.
1