The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-17
BELL COMP ANY
NOW WANTS PEACE.
Appeals to the City for
Franchise.
TIRED OF THE FIGHT.
Defeated in the Courts, Telephone
People Change Their Tactics
WANT THE HATCHET BURIED.
Petition Filled With the City Clerk
pleads for Restoration of AMIGA
bic lIclations, and Promises
Richmond II aIodcrn and
Up>to-Dnte Phone
Service.
WANT THE HATCHET BURIED.

The southern Eel Telephone Company
Yesterday filed with the clerk Of the Coun-
an ,etition FOR permission to use tie
streets Of the CITY.
This action brings to. an end pro-
tracted litigation which has gone on Tor
months and years, passing from one
court Ia another. and finally reaching the
Supreme Court of the United States
The company has contended that 1t was
in possession Of the right TO use the
streets of Richmond without the cohtro1
and free from the authority of the Com
mon Council of the city. This position
has been vigorously resisted by tle Guy.
The later incidents of the long pro
traoted litigation are the decision oil the
United States Circuit Court OF Appears
in favor of the city, the appeal to the
Supreme Court by the Bell CompanS'
and the petition of the city, presented oy
its Commonwealth's attorney, Mr.. h. r.
Pollard, on Monday last, praying Tor tl6
dismissal of the appeal by the supreme
Court. The court has not announced It's
acton.
The petition OF the company to the
Council expresses regret that the relations
between the company and the city
have been strained and a desire Tor the
establishment of cordial reiatlo1h,,
which win enable the company to es-
tablish in Richmond a modern up-to-date
telephone system.
There have been rumors for some time
that this action would be taken by the
Bell Company, and several members OF
the Council have stated that they were
ready TO give such Il proposition favor
able conSidera ton.
THE VERY BEST.
A representative OF the company, when
seen Yesterday evening, stated that should
the petition be granted by the city, It was
the purpose of the company TO construct
an entirely new plant which Will be most
complete and up-to-date in all respects.
The present equipment OF the company
will be discarded altogether. Every teie-
phone both office and residential, Will be
of the long distance pattern, capaple OF
being used for both local and long DIS
tance business. The phones to be used
will be like those in use in Norfolk. Inc
No removal of the receiver from the
hook connects with central without
any ringing or delay, and the CONVERSE
ton proceeds at once. The wires OF the
company will be put underground Inc
company is prepared to spend several
hundred thousand dollars In bringing
about these improvements.
During the past two years, or more,
there has been an earnest effort on the
5>art of the officials of the Bell Company
to bring about Il change of feeling IN
Richmond towards the company. They
state that they much regret the unfor-
Of
that the future has in store for the COM
pany and the city a period of the most
pleasant relations They point to she
large increase in the number OF SUD
scribers during the past TWO years as an
evidence of their success in the work OF
favoratJly bringing their company before
the attention of the city The subscribers
now numbers about 2.lND an increase Of
about 100 per cent. over the number three
years ago.
The officials of the company believe
that in spite Of the unfortunate differences
OF the past the Council will give their
petition fun and impartial hearins.
THE PETITION
The petition is as follows:
To the Honorable City Council of the City
of Richmond, Virginia.
Genetlrmen:-Gourp petitioncr.thc South
crn Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany, respectfully represents that it most
earnestly desires to establish rotations
with the city of Richmond which VIII re-
suit in disseminating the litigation now
pending between the city of Richmond
aud the company, and enable tho COM
pany to furnish first class local and long
distance service to the citizens of Rich
mond morc than two thousand Of whom
are now subscribers by the construction
of an up-to-date telephone exchange
plant.
The company regrets cXtraalolv the un-
fortunate differences which led to this
protra cted litigation. and with q desire to
establish satisfactory and cordial relations
with the city government of Richmond
and provide for the citizens of Richmond
adequate facilities for the best type of
telephone service, both local and long
distance now applies to your honorable
body for permission to use the streets of
the city of Richmond. In case this per-
mission is granted. tho company hereby
agrees and binds itself to commence
promptly and proceed diligently to estah-
lish facilities which will enable the COM
panty to furnish such telephone service.
:rhc company is willing TO meet tho
expressed views of the City authorities
by placing a large portion of the new
plant to be constructed by it UNDER
ground. and will remove from the surface
of the streets a very large proportion
of it's wires and poles now located there
on and to enter into such further agree
ments as may be reasonable and proper
in the premises.
Respectfully submitted
SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH COMPANY,
BY {siened) Edw. j. Hall, President.
January 9TH. 1901.