Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-04-20
Farmers Telephone Line.

Continued from last week.
In the fall and winter OF 1896, after
the busy season was over, the farmers
got to work on their line. They USED
so poles to the mite and these cost
them 40 cents each, delivered, or
about ~ cents on the stump. Thus
it will be seen that the pol5s cost SI2
per mile. These poles were rs feet
long, and six inches in diameter at
the top. Cross-arms were attached to
these so that they would carry four
wires. Provision was made for the
attachment of another cross-arm
carrying four more wires. but these
were not put on until several years
later. One wire was run the entire
distance OF twelve miles. The second
ran eight miles, the third six and the
fourth four miles. By putting those
farthest away on the one wire aad
those closest on the shortest wire il
served just as good a purpose as If
each wire had been run the entire
distance.
Arrangements were then made to
have man in HarIisonburg to oper-
ate small switchboard and he was
to get So per 'phsne, pei year. The
switch board was to be owned and
operated by him. The pins used IN
the cross arms cost one cent each.
The b, ackets used on side lines cosi
Id cents each. The No. II galvan-
lied wire used cost 81 90 per mile
Each farmer built his own side line to
the main line or if there happened to
be several farmers who could reach
the main line with che side line, each
paid his pro rata share When the
whole thing was finished it was found
that TIE line bad cost $40 all TOLD,
which divided between the SO share
holder, made little less than $I2
each. In order to have little fund
ia the treasury for incidental expen.
ses the comp any made each share
SI3 so. Then each shareholder was
at the expense of pntting in his own
phone. which, all told, cost him SI6-
SO, making a total OF $50 to each man
a Dung man in the community was
appointed lineman, and he installed
the tele phones and look ed after things
generally, for which work he was
paid IS cents an hour while engaged
When this littl~ company got into
working order the farmers along an
other main road TO Harrisonburg took
it as a model and organized Que just
like it. Then another community
followed suit, and then another. Then
each little company appointed dele
gates to general III seting OF the vari
Gus companies and they were all or
gained into one general system
known as the Rockingham Mutual
Telephone System. This general
system had, and has, nothing to do
with the strictly local affairs of the
various little companies, but only acts
N those things in which the various
local companies are mutually interest
ed. such as obtaining a charter and
The necessary franchises from towns.
1t also employs lawyer by The year
to look after all Of its legal business
for which, l think. they now pay $50
per year. The revenues OF the,general
system are derived from the payment
OF S. by each local company for each
time 1t has entered the main switch
boar |, and by annual assessments Of
about so cents per phone. Out Of
this it pays all taxes, salaries. etc.
In the FIRST years OF Its existence
the joint stock telephone company
fought the farmers systemImos bit
terry. 1t tried to keep them out OF the
towhs, tried to keep them from build
ing their lines along. certain roads,
and in every way sought to hinder
them. But day by day the idea OF a
telephone service at first cost became
more and more attractive, until i,
finally resulted in an; agreement OF
the lint stock company to throw up
is stock and come into the mutual
system on the same terms as the
Oilers. That wac in 1898. Since
then the mutual system has controlled
.>erything.
BONJ FILED
The Plaintiffs in the iniuuction suit