The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-05-21
SERVICE
MATTER TAKEN UP BY wHATCQM
COMMERCIAL CLUB
Committee Will Endeavor to Interest the
Sunset Telephone Company and In
Event of Failure a Local Company
May Be Organized.

The Whatcom Commercial Club has
at last taken up in earnest. apparently,
the matter of the establishment of tele-
phone cable communication with this
county. AT a recent meeting OF the
club quite discussion followed Presl-
dent Donovan's verbal report of con-
versation he had lately had with the
editor of the ISLANDER relative to the
matter and the immediate result was
the appointment of committee of
three leading business men to take it
in charge. In letter to the editor
the chairman of the COMMITTEES says it
is the committee's purpose TO take the
matter up with the Sunset Telephone
Company and endeavor to induce this
company to undertake the business, in
preference to the organization of local
company, which is another plan sug-
gested. In response to the committees
request for certain specific information,
the following has been furnished:
l. The population of the county is
between 5000 and 1900.
9. The Financial condition and
earning capacity of the people" are ex-
cellent-probablg not excelled in any
other rural locality of equal area in
western Washington.
8. The names of tbs islands which
it would be desirable to connect are
Orcas, Shaw, Lopez and San Juan in
this county and Lummi in Whatcom
county, to which last mentioned island
telephone cable is already in opera
ton.
4. The government charts and hy-
geographic records indicate that no
difficulty would be likely to De expert
enced either in the laying or operation
of cables.
5. AS to route, the most practicable
would probably be, first, from Lummi
island to the eastern end of Orcas.
From there there should be land line
operated to Deer Harbor, near the
western end of Orcas, touching Doe
Bay, Olga, Newhall, East Sound, West
Sound, Orcas and some outlying points.
Shaw island can probably be reached
by an overhead line via Pole pass and
Crane island and it il possible that
such connection could also be made
with Lopez by erecting high, steel
mast on Canoe island, in Upright
channel. A cable, however, would be
better. Connection with San Juan
island, at Friday Harbor, could be
made by cable across San Juan cnan-
mel either from Shaw island or from
Lopez. Answering question No. 10
also in this connection, the total length
of cable would be approximately eight
miles and it Is estimated that the cost
laid would not exceed $500 per mile.
6. The Island Telephone Company
CDR. V. j. Capron, of Roche Harbor.
and Aired Douglas, of San Juan valley
now operates twenty-five to thirty
miles of lines on this island and about
fifteen miles on Orcas. They have
about seventy-fve instruments in use
on the two islands.
7. They could not afford to and
would not "lease for nominal rental
for a long term of years." but they
would sell at reasonable valuation.
DR.. Capron expresses his belief that
there would be no difficulty In getting
guarantees that would assure an in
come Of between $1,000 and $4,000
wear. This answers also the 8th and
9th interrogatories. 1t is believed that
at a reasonable rental and with good
service assured between 200 and 800
subscribers could readily be secured.
The service would be of very great
value to all business and farming in
terests and would greatly promote set
tlement and development. The San
Juan archipelago is one of the lovellest
in the world-rich in natural resources,
scenic attractions and climatic advant-
ages. The islands might easily sustain
at least ten times their present popula-
ton.
The editor has little hope that the
Commercial Club will get much satis-
faction from the Sunset Telephone
Company, which has extended and