The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-11-19
TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH
MAINL 'ND CONNECTION by 1Wo
= ~ !
SYSTEMS NOW OFFERED
Mr., Lain Congratulates Friday Harbor
Upon Securing the Wireless Telegraph
and Urg's Continuance cf support for
the TolephU Gable Project.

The following communication was
received "a little too late for publication
lat W ok, but the islander gladly
gives space to ii in this issue. 1t Is self
explanatory. All that Mr.. Lain says
Is quite true. " lille the establishment
Of wireless telegraph station here will
ramove to a greet extent the disad.
vantages OF our insular location by az.
fording III means of quick communlca-
ton with not ony the states out The
wor DIS centers of trade and activity,
it vii not lessen the advantages which
would accrIeto the county as II whole
from the establishment of an efficient
system of telephone clhle communica-
tt II. 1t is TO be hoped that Mr.. Lain
will rece We all the encouragement he
re Iuires 10 insure the success of the
cl'Ie pro ect.
Whatcom, Wash, Nov. 9, 1908.
E litor THE SAN JUAN ISLANDER
have read your article in the issue
of tho ISLANDER of 5th inst. relative
to the establishme 1T OF wireless tele-
graph station at Friday Harbor.
think your people ale to be congratu.
lated upon the certainty of having this,
the newest development of teiegraphy,
paced within their reach
There nay be some concern as to
how the establishment of wireless
tel graph station at Friday Harbor will
affect the consumma ton of the plans
for the prop sed telephone cable be-
tween Whatcom and the islands of your
county. In 80 far as | am concerned /
should consider that my investment
in the phone lines, if make it, would
b enhanced in value, if affected at all,
because of the wireless station in yonr
county. | recall the CONSERVATION felt
among owners of gas stock few years
ago when the popularity Of the then
new electric | ght became an sstab-
ished fact. Practically everyone be.
lieved that tile gas companies would be
obliged to retire from business. How.
ever, the newer and more powerful
light created such demand for an in
creased illumination that the manu-
cturers of Illuminating gas found, to
their surprise, that the demand for
their product was very greatly incrsas-
Ell because of the introduction Of the
electric light.
Now there is, of course, competition
between these two forms of lighting;
but there can be little between tele-.
phonic and telegraphic communities
ion. The telephone provides for q
conversation between the interested
partes-the telegraph delivers your
message with the assistance OF the
messenger boy. Consider, for mo-
ment, of what limited use telephone
line from your county, to the main
land would be ii it did not connect
with the telephone system over here.
Yet this would be Of far greater service
to your people than any method OF tele-
graphic communication conld be. 1t Is
no new thing to find both telephone
and telegraph service provided be-
tween the same places. This condition
exists over the entire country. Yet |
never heard that the telephone COM
panies com claimed of the competition.
Possibly the telegraph people have
some reason for such complaint In
the words of nelghboring telephone
company:
"The mail is quick Telegraph ia
aucker!! Long distance telephone is
instantaneous
1t can be said that, while have not
vet completed the canvass for sale Of
business for the new line, some OF the
citizens here have shown their interest
in very substantial manner, and If
your people will continue their generous
support, the desired telephone COM
munIcatlons between your county and
the mainland is practically assured.
Yours truly,
DAVID Z. LAIN.