The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-04-16
STOCKHOLDERS MET.
And Perfected Plans for Independent
Telephone System for Corvallis

Telephone system Ior corvallis
At a meeting of..the stockholders
Wednesday evening, plans were
perfected for an independent tele-
phone system to connect with rural
phones brought into Corvallis by
farmers of Benton County. The
meeting was held in the county
court room and there was a fair at
tendence. W. D. DeVarney, rep
resenting the Kansas City company
that offers to furnish three-fourths
of the capital forithe enterprise, was
among those in attendance.
A foremost question that was upI
for consideration was the figure at
which the capital stock should be
placed. It is estimated that about
$500 will be required to build and
equip the plant and get the system
in operation. The figures contem-
plate the finest system that can be
provided. It is what is known as
the Central Energy system with Sc
1ect System of signaling. That
means that the battery or electrical
force is all in the central Office, and
that there are no batteries in the
lower portion of the phones as is
usual. 1t also means that a signal
from central for certain person on
party line rings only the bell of
the person wanted. 1t means fur
ther, that the mere removal of the
receiver on phone is signal that
the central Office is wanted, which
is in itself a matter of great conven-
ience. An additional valuable fea-
ture of the central energy plan is
that the moment line is in trouble
the fact is manifest in the central
Office, and the subscriber is spared
the necessity of reporting the fact
by trip to the Office. The switch
board and appliances in such sys-
TEN will cost nearly three times as
much as the ordinary arrangement,
but the local company wisely figures
that it is only by the best service
that a formidable and successful op-
position can be carried on against
the Bell company. 1t is said that
when completed, the new system
will be as good as that in any of the
larger cities on the coast, in fact as
good a system as is in use anywhere.
It is for this reason that the capital
stock was finally placed at $4,000,
of which $500 is to be paid ur
one-fourth by local stockholders
and the balance by the Kansas City
people.
A brief delay in proceedings will
be occasioned now, pending the con
frmation of the plan by the Kansas
City company, whose only repre-
sentative on the Coast is, w. D
De Varney. The latter is not au
thorized to make contracts of th'
sort without approval from the heat
Office. AS the latter invests three
fourths of the capital, the sanction
of authorities there is necessary witt
7 reference both to the character @
, the system and the plan of operation
l Full details have been sent forwar,
by mail, and an answer is expecte'
by wire. Meantime articles of in
corporation are to be prepared, an
a formal contract between the 1oca
company and the Kansas City hous
( arranged. In the latter there is t
be provision as to what phones, aI
; pliance and all materials are to b
furnished for, so that a complete al
} rangement as to actual cost of tn
system can be arrived at when com
pleted. There is also to be pre-
f vision to the effect that the 1oca
, stockholders can at any time acquir
| a controlling interest in the stock a
, actual cost, plus six per cent inter
est.
!, 1t is estimated that two month
, will be required to build and pu
: the system in operation. Furthe
? arrangements with reference to tn
t interest of local stockholders are LEI
e temporarily in the hands of the loca
board, consisting of County Judg
Waters, A. J. johnson, J. R. Smitl
Robert Johnson and Z. H. Davis
n Another stockholders meeting is t
. be held before the Inauguration c
the enterprise is finally determine
E upon.
e When finally arranged the mar
: agement of the new company wi
l be in the hands of board of fv
e directors, of whom two will b
t chosen by local stockholders an
e three by the Kansas City people
The local people will elect the sec
: retary. The active management @
e the affairs of the company. particu
S larly with reference to the operativ
: department will be wholly in th
1. e IL. Il