Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-02-09
ADVOCATE NEW LINES.
Too Many ..Rubber-Necks" at
the Phone.

Editor Gazette: I have just
returned from a trip down the
valley to the counties north of
Benton looking up the seed busi- .
ness, and while there I tried to
talk business over the telephone
lines to Corvallis. On account /
of so many ..rubber-necks" on
the lines it was impossible to
transact my business. I never
before entertained the idea that
there were so many "rubbering"
on the lines. It seems that
when the bell rings down goes
the receiver on most of the
phones--if there are any who
don't rubber I did not find it out.
l must say that Mt. View line is
an exception, on this score, as
there is very little ''rubbering."
Now, what I want is for the
farmers, and the business men
of the towns between here and
Portland, to get to thinking
about putting a commercial tele-
phone line through from Corval-
lis to Portland. Say, start at
Corvallis and go to Monmouth,
thence to Dallas, McMinnville,
Hillsboro and on to Portland.
Then start again at Corvallis and
run to Albany, thence to Salem,
Oregon City and on to Portland.
Let the people south SO far as
Eugene, or farther, do likewise
and connect with these lines.
Now, my idea of doing this,
in making the start, is for the
presidents of each line to call a
meeting and get together. The
various presidents could be the
board, talk the matter over,
select their committee and get
the matter on foot as soon as pos
sible. The farmers, and busi-
ness men of the towns, should
pull together and use their time
and money to bring about this
telephone system. Let the men
of each county run to the county
line and then those of the next
county connect and do likewise.
1 do not like this idea of hav-
ing to pay IS cents toll several
times dav-it counts up in a
year. 1t is better to pay for the
line and then the charge will
only be for repairs, and switch
board services until an automatic
system is established. The tele-
phone line from Corvallis to Al
bany has put on charges of IS
cents. Now, listen: The first
thing you know these million
aires will get their lines through,
then we will pay dearly for our
talk and wish we had improved
the time and put our own lines
in first.
I am in favor of the farmers
and business men that live here
and do business owning all coun-
try lines and even centrals in
towns: Now is the time tc
strike, while the iron is hot
don't wait until it is too late.
Say every farmer or business
man who owned a telephone, OF
used one, would put up SIS each
that would mean considerable
money. Still more can be raised
if needed. With these line:
, once established we can buy ant
sell to Portland and keep postet
! on prices, and get the entir'
, profit without the middlemel
, getting bit out of all our pro
duce.
Start the ball to rolling-don'
sit down and wait for it to tur1
r up itself. If you want it to turl
up get out and make it. w
q ''hayseeds" have been pokin:
!. behind long enough by takin'
: what people pay and paying wha
r they ask. Raise the best ther
e is, no matter whether it be stock
seeds or produce. If it is th
8 best you can ask a reasonabl
t price and get it. ~
l am looking for a brigh
s future for the farmers of this val
a ley. There is as much money t
n be made here as in. tie East
,. you take advantage of the epic
d ups' that await you. Rails
+ more clover, vetches, artichokes
e keep more good cows-payin
3 cows, not some old things thu
: will mot pay their keep. Tn
time is not far off when th