The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-03-06

II. w. Angus Why cannot the far
mer operate his system as cheaply as
the Bell Telephone company.
j. II Thatcher don't know that he
cannot, but | am offering youa cheaper
and better plan than the farmer can get
for himself, because it gives him the
benefit OF the Hood River exchange and
the long distance telephone,
] ii. Systematically we have to put
up the system Of poles and wires our
selves?
Mr.. Thatcher-Yes, sir,
j II. Shoemaker-And keep it in re-
pair?
Mr.. Thatcher-Y Yes, we simply furnish
the phones and maintain them in good
condition?
G. L. Copple--How many phones can
you put on one line2
Mr.. Thatcher-There should be no
more than is or l6.
l.. Morse--Mr. Thatcher | would, like
to hear you talk about what you would
build and main ain the lines for?
Mr.. Thatcher--We cannot reduce our
rates for the present. Whenever the
company reduces our royalty we will re-
duce our prices here We are doing bus
mess on the basis of the years last past
aud must keep within our bounds. So
far as the farmers, line is concerned, I
really think it is cheaper to lease our
phones at $6 a year than to buy their
own phones at $l8 or $40.
j. H. Shoemaker-Do we understand
that if you continue the present system
in the valley that 50 would be thelowest
price you will charge.
J. ii, Thatcher-Yes, that is the low
est we can afford at present.
j. II. Shoemaker-Well, Mr.. Thatch-
er, can tell you one thing, you will not
do much business in the valley. / know
of half dozen or more out our way who
are going to take their phones out, and
you will not have half dozen in the
valley.
j. III, Thatcher am very sorry. l
shall regret to lose our country sub
.scribers, but we cannot reduce our rates
now.
G. r. Castner-We think we can get
up list OF 800 subscribers. If you
conld secure 800 subscribers would you
reduce the rate2.
J. H. Thateher-That is matter for
my superiors to answer. | might give
you an answer later, but cannot do so
now. 1t depends greatly upon how far
reaching the lines are you will have to
build. You see we cannot have more
than, say, Is sub cribers on one circuit,
that would take 20 circuits or 40 wires.
| don't see where you can get poles
big enough to justify you in carrying SO
many wires. Then, you will need at
least two good line men to keep your
line going. You cannot get first class
line man for less than $3.50 to SO per
day. We are paying as high as $S 90
per day in Portland.
F.W. Angus-Would it beharder to get
wires from the 800 into town than to get
them in from 302
j: II. Thatcher-Yes, there would be
more wires. Ii you have more wires
you will have to use heavier poles, and
with so many wires you will have to use
cables in the city, and cables are ex-
pensive.
Here Mr.. Thatcher retired and the
meeting resumed the business before it.
f. W. Angus-Shall we continue the
organization?
The chairman answered that it would
be necessary in any event to effect an
organization to construct the lines
whether we buy our phones or lease
from the Bell company, and might as
well proceed.
j. ii. Shoemaker-The committee has
sent for organization records The only
reason why we have not incorporated
was that it was necessary for me to 60
down to Newberg, and we have been so
busy at other things. We will get our
stock ready and open up for busi-
ness at once; that is our intention, to 60
right ahead and proceed with the or
ganization as soon as possible. If the
stock is subscribed we are going on.
G. L. Markham-If the stock is not
taken-that is no reason why we should
not 60 on with the organization. do
not see why we shouldn't go on.
NJ. X. Noble-It is time to commence
kicking, SO | will register my kick now,
Some one is going to organize right away
but who is going to do it2 | was put on
the push committee and given paper
ahN NSht oub u bhC Oau1Obs but
found people up there that wouldn't
push, lots of them, until they knew
who was at the head OF the concern We
can run the business just the same way
here that they do at Newberg with one
switch board here in Hood River. We
can get the poles and everything and
| don't want to pay any s25 in money,
| want 10 pay it in labor. am in favor
OF making it just as cheap as we car get
it here.
B. +. Shoemaker-You think If they
incorporate some one will make some
thing out of it. l do not understand it
that way.
NJ. r. Nobel think the people here
are able TO put in this work themselves.
We are just as competent to maintain
and keep the line in repair as those who
are running the system at Newberg.
They support a central there with a
small number Of phones, why could we
not keep one when we have so many?
We can get 800 subscribers in the valley
besides a large number in the city.
J. II. Shoemaker-In regard 10 that
central that Mr.. Noble speaks about,
We wiil'take care Of it all right. We
will want, say, one line in the Noble
neighborhood and on up the canyon,
another right out from town south, and
another out on the East side.
&. h. Castner-lt would be bad busi-
ness with 50 many companies in the
valley, each line will have company OF
its own. | don't see how we can work
without plan.
j. II. Shoemaker-That reminds me
OF speaking to Mr.. Edwards. / made
him a rough dFaught of the valley and
showed him with Mr.. More. their ex-
president, and Mr. Wilson, their pres
ent treasurer. and showed him how
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