The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-08-05
NOW A CAMPAIGN FOR RURAL TILE,
PHONES.

! Progressive Farmer,as the pioneer ad-
vocate Of rural free delivery in North
Carolina. began its campaign in be-
half of that now popular and steadily
growing innovation, the prospects for
its speedy introduction into this State
were not very bright, however sue
ccssful it might have been in the
! Western States. But other papers
| Joined us, a start was made, the good
results we're advertised, and now we
have nearly 200 routes-and shall have
500 not very many months hence.
But it looked as if we were prepar-
ing for a much longer campaign when
on July 80, 19O1-a year ago last
week-ve began an editorial with
! these words: "The time doesn't seem
ripe for an agitation of the matter
Just now, but after our people shall
have learned and come to appreciate
fully the advantages of good public
| schools and rural free delivery of
mails. we hope to join in a movement
for the introduction Of the telephone
throughout all wei settled rural dis
t%ricts."
But now the time does seem ripe for
this improvement, and VIC expect to
labor for it as earnestly as we have
Iabored for rural free delivery Of
mails. 1t is encouraging to see that
since Jour editorial of last week APP
peared, both the Charlotte Observer
and the News and Observer have unre-
servedly endorsed this rural telephone
idea, and it is to be hoped that they
will continue the agitation until
Wake and Mecklenburg make an even
better. showing than Union.
1t is not our intention, however, to
set forth again this week our views as
given in the last number of The Pro
gressive Farmer, but-what is better
to present the following letter from
Editor Green of the Marshville Home,
which letter not only explains it
self" as the time honored phrase has
it, but also explains several other
points about which our readers stand
in need of information:
Marshville. n. c., July 80, 1902.
Mr.. Clarence II. Poe, Editor "The
Progressive Farmer" Raleigh, n. @.
Dear Sir: I note with pleasure
your editorial in last issue of The
Progressive Farmer in favor of tele-
phones in the rural districts, and
hasten to reply to your inquiry for
further information regarding the ex-
tension of the system in Union, the
cost, etc. Until a few years ago one
concern had a patent on the telephone
and no one could secure this conve-
nience, even in towns and cities. ex-
ccpt at an enormous cost in the way of
rents. But since the time of the
patent has expired, telephone factories
have sprung up rapidly all over the
country, and yet some factories can
not supply the demand for phones and
are frequently several weeks behind
with their orders. Now, instead of
one concern owning the telephone sys-
TEN, there are Independent companies
in almost cvorv town. The principal
towns and cities Of this State are con-
nected by phone, and al that is nee
essary for farmers to Be- connected
and on ~"s2cal.n@ toms With the out
side world, So 10 s-nal. IS to have a
line connected With d town or city OK
change direct CT r. ice distance is over
three or four miles, form ~ uai2hInr-
hood telephone coHpa,yl p0l in n
switchboard, connect tbs w..h a towl
exchange or with sonc Other neigh
borhood exchange which has councc-
ton with the town e@onan@e- anyway
to get there the cbeapcs. for good ser
vice.
The cost of establishing the tcIe-
phone system in the countrv varies
with conditions, but under 10 coudi-
tions have we ever known a farmer in
this county Union) after having had
the use of a phone in his house to en-
terrain for a moment any idea OF
abandoning its use on account Of the
expense, and even many renters, WHO
do not own the land they cultivate,
have phones in their houses and can
talk to persons in any part of The
county OF neighboring counties.
The first thing needed to establish
a neighborhood exchange is to get a
switchboard and 1Oca+a ubaro oil VIII