The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-23
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EPHOHES MAY
Soon CONSOLIDATE
Continued from First Page.)

If the deal which contemplates the alb
sorption of the Richmond Telephone
Company by the Southern Bell Company,
is consulnmated it will close chapter
as full of stirring fights for franchises
and rights as makes part of history for
any city in the nation. Contentious have
arisen since the organization OF the IN
dependent company in Richmond seven
years ago, between its interest and these
of the Bell Company, which have car
ried the telephone situation here not only
through the Common Council, the S ate
LEGISLATURE, but into the highest courts
of the country. It has been tight from
the beginning, which, on occasions, nave
so aroused the citizens as to crowd them
in great numbers. either i'll the Counc1l
chamber or the halls Of State legislation
according to the shifting OF tne con''lcr
from municipal to State jurisd. ction.
About eight years ago the independent
company was organized by Mr.. John c.
Robertson and Captain A. B. Guigon as
counsel. under the name of the ken
lnond Standard Telephone Company ana
on December 6. 1895, it was granted ! s
franchise by the City Council AT the
time it was the largest INDEPENDENT sss-
TEN ever put in operation and was con-
sidered largely experimental AT the
time the Bell Company had been operat-
ing an unsatisfactory system IN Rlcn-
mond for fifteen Years, becoming more
and more unpopular, until 5the puoiic'
harassed by high rates and ,bau service:
demanded some relief. This was offered
by the Richmond Standard Ielephoile
C'nmnany.E and the Installation of It's
plant in May. le!b, Wasa "eAeoi'leo 4io
pe,iing il the city.
The Bell Company at TINS tlme helo
no franchises in Richmond. but had in
view securing such priviliges:-and was
alert.
Another fight was made when the
American Telephone and Ielegraph Com
pany of Virginia, then owned by the Bell'
but now owning that company, made an
effort TO enter Richmond for Its long-dis-
lance connecticut Win WHICH theS ssheo
a local franchise: &fs1 81
DANIEL TI1EIREC0ENSEL.
Senator Daniel appeared is counsel for
the would be invader. and Captain Guigon
for the independent interest. In this
the Bell Company was defeated.
The fight now shifted to the Legisla-
trre The Bell Company wanted the Elr-
GINA Telephone and Telegraph Company
Incorporated With such tights as would
have enabled it to enter any city In the
state without the consent of the Council.
This passed the Senate without arous-
ing suspicion, but was caught in the House
by the Richmond Company. and finally
defeated. largely by Senator Carter
Glass.
Next the Bell Company camo out in its
own name and before the City Council
asked for a franchise, This brought on
a bitter fight. 1t passed the Council, but
but after a hot fight made by Captain
Guigou, as leading counsel for the Rich
mond Telephone Company, it was laid
on the table by one vote, in the Board
of Aldermen. This only temporarily ended
hostilties and in the meantime Captain
Guigon. who had for years been most
formidable foe of the Bell Company, re-
signed as counsel for the Richmond Com
pany.
-Four months later the Bell Company
secured it's franchise.