The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1905-10-27
THE LIMIT
People of Goldneld ~Incensed at Inade.
quate Local Telephone Service


When the people of Goldfield want
anything they usually get il, and Il
not where the chicken got the axe
either; although the thoroughly made
quate and exasperating telephone serv-
ice here might incline the newcomer to
believe the contrary. To obtain s. right
phone connection in Goldfeld is n.
times an absolute failure. and upon a
request to be connected with the Com
bination mine, the depot, the Stock Tx
change, or any equally important in
dustrlal point, the petitioner is quite
as likely to discover that he has been
connected up with some residence
phone.
No one perhaps has a keener appre-
eiation than a newspaper man Of the
fact that it is impossible To suit each
individual entity hat goes to make Up
the dear public, and he is therefore in
a position TO understand the troubles
which beset the telephone operators.
but when apparently no effort Is made
by such an important factor in tho
transaction Of business affairs as a tele-
phone company to meet the demands Of
ITS patrons, he is quite as likely to
raise his voice in what is probably i'm
potent protest as any other ind vidu9l.
During the past month The News has
been put TO serious Inconvenience by
lack of attention paid to calls for its
office. In a number of instances when
connection with The News has been
requested some other connection has
been made, and as a result facts and
figures intended for The News readers
solely, have been unintentionally trans
united by their author to other ears.
Complaint was made to the superin-
tendent and president of the telephone
company and the promise was made by
them to take up the matter with the
local manager for the purpose of aseer-
tanning the origin of the leak. This
promise was made over two weeks ago
but as yet nothing has apparently been
done to remedy the evil. Yesterday an
~offense of the character mentioned
again occurred and from present indi-
cations 1T appears as though they
would continue forever and forever.
What is true in the case of The News
applies equally to other patrons of the
company, and the same apathy in rela-
ton thereto marks the action, or to be
correct, inaction of its officials.
Mankind are long suffering and the
circumstance is one with which public
utility concerns are thoroughly con
versant; at times, however, they press
the limit beyond the point of endu.-
ance and when they do steps are taken
to abate the condition. The local tele-
phone company in place of being a pub
lie servant is decidedly a public nuis-
ance, for instead of assisting in the
furtherance of business affairs it is
rather a detriment to their transaction.
The condition applies not alone to mer-
camille establishments in general but
is equally true in relation to railroad
matters. AT the present time, pending
the completion of the line of the West
ern Union Telegraph company, trains
on the Goldfeld railroad are being dis
patched through the medium of the
telephone. In speaking on the subject
to a reporter for The News recently
a prominent official of the road stated
that as a result of the poor telephone
service trains were frequently DELAYED
for long intervals and that at times it
was impossible to secure any phone
connection whatever with way stations.
Dispatching railway trains is by no
means child play, for under the most
favorable conditions an element of
danger to passengers and crews is al
ways. present, but when to this is
added an inadequate dispatch system
the danger is increased until it be-
comes a menace to life and property.
At Los Angeles, Oakland and other
points competition has entered the
field as a direct result of poor tele-
phone service and the local company
would do well to profit by those object
lessons. What has happened there
may possibly become operative here,
and should it do so the Goldfeld con
cern VIII awaken from its apathy too
late to benefit thereby.