Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-06-02

Phone Companies at the Local
Company Refused Connection with
Louisville People on Account Of
Non.PaTment of Dues-Bad State Of
Affairs.
Clinton district is the only one
10 the county that is almost entirely
cut off from telephone connection
with Morgantown. All other sec
tions oil the county are reached
by the Peoples lines or their eonnec-
ton
A local company of which Mr..
Philip Low is manager, With central
Office at Louisville has erected sever
al miles of wire, and installed quite
a number of phones in Clinton dis
tIict and up to Arnettsyille in Grant
One line connects with Halleek and
and many other points in Clinton
are reached by this local line.
But by an unfortunate disagree
ment between the two companies,
Morgantown 10 cut off from eommu-
nication with Clinton district over
the lines that reach her territory.
1t is bad for the people of Clinton
and Grant who rent phones from the
louisville Company, and also puts
MorganteWn at a disadvantage, be
cause these phone holders have con-
nection with Fairmont, Clarksburg,
Grafton. and other towns TO the
south of us. This naturally draws
their business to other towns, and
away from Mofgantewn, their own
county seat.
Persons at SmithtoWn and 0pekis
ka for instance, who have phones in
their houses report that they are not
allowed to talk through them to
Morgantewn. For the frat year af-
ter the company was organized at
| Louisville there was an exchange
arrangement with the Peoples Com
pany of this place, by which all the
subscribers to the company s phones
had communication with this place.
Mr. Holland, the manager of the
Peoples Telephone Co. was seen
about the matter. lie stated that
his company had refused connections
with the Louisville Company longer
because it had refused to pay the
exchange rate agreed upon. This
was SOC per quarter for each phone
He said an agreement had been
made by which the other company
should nse his lines and connections
at this rate of compensation, but the
bill run up te about $25, and in de
fault Of payment he had refused tur
Their service.
In lew OF the small number of
phones owned by the Louisville Co,
Mr.. Holland says it is manifestly
unfair for it to ask the use Of all the
Morgantown Company's lines, with
out compensation. He also request
ed Fairmont to refuse it connections
over it's lines, but from reports this
request seems to have been dsre
garded
ANY local telephone company do
ing business in the county, ought to
have connection with Morgantown,
in order to held over people together
| for business and civil purposes.
This is the seat of the court house,
the principal shipping point, the
school center, the banking institu
tions are here and it is also the cen
ter of industrial activity All our
relations with the people of the
county make imperative that com
munication should be established
with this city in preference to all
others. The telephone Ecompanies
owe that much loyalty, TO the coun
try, and it is to be hoped that the
barrier between Morgantown and
Clinton District nay soon be re.
moved.
Mr.. Holland says it is the inten-
ton of the local company to build
into Clinton district after a while,
It already has 9 contract with the
government to furnish phone com
munication to the lock tenders along
tie river soon as navigation is open
cd to Fairmont.