The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-01
COUNCIL MEETING.
SUMTER TELEPHONE co. ASKS
PERMISSION TO SELL TO BELL
COMPANY.
An Ordinance Proposed Authorizing
the Sale and Granting Permission
TO Increase Rates ON Residence Tel
ephones to 81 per Month After July
1ss, 1907.

LIST, 1907.
The city council held a regular
meeting at 1850 .. M. Wednesday.
Present: Mayor W. B. Boyle, Alder
men II. D. Barnett, w A. Bowman, j.
H. Chandler P. P. Finn. H c. Hayns-
worth, z. H Rhame and R. K Wilder.
Absent: Alderman r F. Hayns-
worth.
Messrs. I c. Strauss and Marion
Noise representing the Sumter Tele-
phone Company appeared before
council and stated that they had open
ed negotiations with the Southern Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Company
for the sale Of the Sumter Tel
ephene Company to it, and had
agreed upon terms upon the IN
aerstanding that they would secure
the passage of an ordinance permit
ting the Southern Bell Company to
purchase the Sumter Telephone Com
pany,s property, and operate the same
they submitted an ordinance pro-
yiding for this, and also stated that
they had induced the Southern Bell
Company to signify its willingness to
enter into a. separate contract with the
city as to rates.
The ordnance submitted was essen
tialy the same cas- the general Tele-
phene, Ordinance now Of force. except
as to rates. Rates are named in the
proposed separate contract as follows:
Until July 1st. 1907: Special line
business service, $3.50 per month
Duplex business service, $500 per
month. Special line residence SER
vice, $50 per month
After July l, 1907, the residence
rate for special line service to be 81
Der month,and for duplex residence
service $3.50 per month and these
rates to continue until $50 subscribers
are reached, unless in the meantime,
y agreement with the city, substan-
tial charges are made in the appa-
ratus or in the character Of service
When the number Of subscribers
within the city shall reach 75o, an ad-
ditional increase of so cents for each
telephone shall be made, and this in
creased rate shall be Of force until
a5oe subscribers are secured, and af-
ter that, the rate shall not De higher
than those charged by he Southern
Bel Company n other cities Of about
the same size for the same class OF
service under similar conditions.
Z All telephones, other than residence
telephones, to be deemed business tel
ephones.
The service to be first class and
continuous, day, night and Sundays !.
The proposed contract further pro-
vded that all subscribers to the sum
Ter Local Telephone service may
communicate with all other similar
subscribers for such focal exchange
service without exetra charge there
for, although such subscriber may live
without the city Of Sumter.
Mr.. Strauss addressed the council
at length and stated the reason why
his company wished to sell; the de-
mand for telephones had outgrowa
the ability of his company to furnish
them; the. stockholders had never
received a dividend. and refused to in
-rest more money in their proftless en-
terprise; the price agreed upon was
considerably less than the book value
OF the property; their system is de-
feriorating, and they have not the cap
ata to renovate and extend their lines;
it would be impossible for them to
continue at their present ratee, and
the rates stated in the proposed ordi-
nance are reasonable and just.
Major Noise reiterated the state
ments made by Mr.. Strauss and de-
aclared that the telephone business of
Sumter has reached that stage wnere-
it is necessary for it to be placed in
the hands OF people With ample capi-
tai who will not make it a side issue;
and that the long distance connec-
tions which would be secured if the
trade was consummated would be OF
great value to Sumter.
? Mr.. Strauss further explained to
the council that the Sumter Telephone
Company did not construct and does
not own many of the country lines
running into the Sumter exchange,
and thar consequently he could not
put into the ordinance a provision re-
curing that such liues be maintain
ed, but that he was assured that the