The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-04

Il meant a disposition to encourage the
by a likelihood OF business.
To other questions as to what long dis
lance service would cost. Mr.. Ingram
said that every talk was charged for:
the price being regulated by the num-
Der of miles over which 1t vas desired
TO talk n the length Of time the talk
woul require. He explained that the
more n talked the cheaper Ii got, for
instance. coupon books were sold and
the more one bought the cheaper they
were-so much for a 1000 mile book,
less in proportion for Il greater mileage,
tic. He said that from his investiga-
lions he was led to believe that his
company would get business here. To
questions he said, his now
Cperates lines as near Wilmington as
Charlotte and Raleigh. As to the ex-
pLnse of telephone service, he aid the
cost was some greater than that of the
telegraph, but like the telegraph ON
lanes, talks between 6 p. m. and Z p.
III, were at half rates. As to the adj
vantage of telephone service he said
d letter was quick. the telegraph was
quicker and the telephone was instan-
taneous. One could send a message
Aid sit at his desk ana get ii back i'm
mediately.
Our bid for patronage. said Mr.. In
gram, is based on goou service. That
WIN " boAAo q llLlc lllCS
1t can be first class and reliable I'm
every respect. The cheap plan had
been abandoned, n only a very high
grade of construction had been adopted.
1t was a metallic service and the con-
struction was very expensive but obso-
idtely reliable and gives absolute sat-
islaction. In mentioning further the
price Of talking, he aid so much was
charged for so many minutes talk; that
I n urnC n fI-n -
hVe minutes every fraction of time over
five minutes would be in the same
ii oportion. The highest price for talks
was $40 which is the price from New
York to New Orleans. He explained
that n in Wilmington who wanted
70 talk to Mr.. Smith at Charlotte,
would pull down his lever and ask for
tie connection. When the talk starts
he telephone operator pulls down a
liver which marks the time on a lard
and when it is finished she pulls down
the lever and marks the time at which
the conversation ends. If there is no
rcSpons from the person called there
!! no change. Another advantage is
tnat the company sends out messages
for instance, if a message is sent to
one living in the country a horse is
hired n the message is sen to it's
destination at actual cost. The COM
pdny also sends out for any one who
IL called up and is wanted at the phone
and makes dates with persons who are
wanted at the phone. For instance, il
one in Wilmington wants to ak to
one in New York at 9 a. m. or any
given hour. the company makes the
date with the party wanted and lets
the caller know whether he will be on
Fand Or not. No charge is made for
making appointments.
President jacob said there is quite an
extensive local exchange centering at
Lumberton and extending 10 many
towns in North n South Carolina,
and inquired of Mr.. Ingram If his lone
distance service could be put in con-
nCctTon with that exchange. Mr.. In
gram said that wherever traffic ar
engagements of that kind could be made
his company always did so. That IN
Georgia his company operates IN con-
nect1on with many local exchanges
and he had no doubt bat mat the Lum-
ierton exchange would he glad to con-
leCt' as 1t would be advantageous to
both.
10 a question by Mr.. jacob, Mr..
ingram said that anyone at Clarkton,
FOR instance. or at some mill or store
efCng the line. could have a phone put
IN Other questions were asked by Mr.,
J. I. King. Colonel Walker Taylor
and others, and Mr.. Ingram gave very
fall and satisfactory information on all
matters connected with lJng distance
service
On motion of Mr.. ". f. Worth tne
IoIlowing was un animoussy adopted:
Resolved. TIL t it is the sense of
this meeting that we should nave Ions
distance telephone connection with the
outside world: that in the opinion of
this chamber the business in Whining
ton Will fully justify long distance
service. n to that end the secretary
DC instructed in behalf OF this cham Der
10 request the Southern Bell Telephone
and Telegraph Company to continue
their long distance lines to Whining
Ton by the most advantageous route
anu at the earliest practicable time"
On motion of T.. w. Clawson, a vote
OIL thanks was extended to Mr.. Ingram
fol his courtesy in addressing the
chamber and for the clear and compre
nenslve manner in which he had stated
the proposition before The chamber.
President jacob announced that sew
eral very important matters will be
considered at the next regular meet
il2 or the chamber on next Thursday.
among them will be an effort to secure
Il larger appropriation for the improve
nient of the lower Care Fear. Captain
Lucas, the engineer in charge had re-
commended $500, 900 fol this work but
the committee had cut the estimate TO
$50. 600. There are and f11s
at Bald Head. The Rocks and other
places on the river. and 1T will be neces-
Sary TO get the full appropriation II the
Improvement Of our river is to main
tanned.
He also said a committee would re-
iort eso!utfons on the death Of the
late MI. James II. Chadbourn.
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