The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-29

mas auA GLNrA- NC AAfN 49,
a point OF equilibrium where unless We
make a change. the outgo must hence
forth exceed the income.
! The citizens here are expected To-
SAY. Mr.. Superintendent, you have
stated the case. what do you propose
TO do about it,"
Nv FIRST reply is that would
rather be the instrument in your
hands Of trimming the vulture's wing
than to have any other honor in your
power to confer.
We simply have the choice now OF
belieing our past record, and. when
the future is brightest. surrendering
20 the enemy, or by taking the tide OF
fortune at it's food sail safely away
from the Scylla of our own poverty
and the Charybdis Of Bell deviltry.
Ny proposed plan has been the re-
suit of much earnest thought.
It's purpose is first to construct an
up to-date system; that is an abso-
lutte essential, matters not how II is
subsequently conducted. Secondly, to
make It possible for every single far
mer and business man to have the
opportunity of getting a telephone for
all future time at just rate. To give
service always at cost; cost to include
go dividend to the stockholders on
the money put up to start the system.
Before going further feel that can
confidently assure you that all these
things can be achieved with but a
small or possibly no increase in the
uresent rate. How this may be &C.
complished. hope to make plain
To accomplish the first of these pur-
noses. viz. to build an up-to-date
plant, it is necessary to raise sumo
lent money. How this may be ac-
complished, will appear later.
: The second purpose, viz, to make II
, practicable for every person who
wants a telephone to have one at
; inst rate it is absolutely necessary To
establish sub.exchanges in the centre
] of each neighborhood. All the people
!, who live in that neighborhood, say
: like Santa Fe, Williamsport, ETC., are
4 tn he connected up with their respec
e tive sub-exchanges. From these SUD
s exchanges as many lines are to con
J. meet directly with the main centra
e ONCE in Columbia as will De toune
|, necessary to meet the demand OF eacf
9 sub-exchange.
j To any one who will take the tim'
It to reflect. it ought to appear yer!
X Mainly that in order to provide prac
g ticable plan for all who now want ant
the many who in the near future VII
e want telephones, this suo-excnang
h Man will be a physical pecessitS
Is Even now with only small percen
IS tage of citizens whom we eventuali
n hope to serve, the matter Of the mrs
le cost of installing a telephone ten O
S fifteen miles from an exchange Is
10 serious. and often an insuperaDle OF
e. stacle to serving the public.
- Even If this obstacle were out
'' the way, there remains the fact Una
when we have put up say half enoug
- lines on any main road out to give
~ neiehborhood, we have an expenslV
III nronositjon to maintain. II ever
= irrespective subscriber in,say theCu
I'll Ieoka neighborhood, wanted tel
- nhone. it would be, utterly impractic
es h1o "a build and maintain the heav
% trunk lines necessary to give III
'n sarvice direct from Columbia. If
nc are TO build a system that aims
~ serving all the people, sub-exchang'
'n will be a necessary feature. TO T
0T canitulate: it is my idea that v
u should build a system consisting OF
= exchange located in the centre OF ea'
- neighborhood; that these several {
ey changes are to be connected up WI
90 each other through a main Centr
u L. located in Columbia. The Coiump
10 exchange to be connected with tn
u main central exactly as will be u
other exchanges.
80 Now it is proposed that all subscri
ia ers connected with any given exchan
&c shall have in return for the month
no charge, free connection with all 81
his scribers connected directly Win
exchange. but that when any supscr
or calls for connection that requir
nc the use of lines connecting up MS
change with any other in the coun
trunk l!nesl there shall he collected
~. toll charge for said connection. WI
"a this toll charge should be, ! am
oot now prepared to definitely sugge
non Anywhere from one to three cen
Now do not throw up your hands a
n exclaim that the proposal is prep