Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-01-21
TO THE PHoNH-HoLDHRS AND CITIZENS
OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

The Winchester and Washington City
Railway Co has applied to the County
COURT of jefferson County, for permits
sion to erect poles and string wires
along the public roads from Charles
Towp to Shenandoah Junction thence
to Bardans thence TO Kearneysville so
as TO furnish power to the new town OF
Jacksonville at Shenandoah Junction
and also to farnish power to the Stand
ard Lime plant at Kearneysville. To
grant this franchise will put out of bus
mess the tel phone lines that the elec-
trio lines parallel.
The Citizens Telephone Co., of De-
satur, Inu., are now suing the Fort
Wayne and Springfield Traction Co.,
for rnining their business. There has
also been filed three injunction suits in
the Porter Circuit at Valparaiso, Ind,
BY the Western Union and the Postal
Telegraph Cos, and Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern r. w. Co.'S VS..
Lake Shore aud South Bend Electric
Ry. System asking for permanent In
junction against the Electric Co.
These two cases prove concluslvely,
what high tension electric wires will
do 70 telephone Co.'S. Now the ques-
ton arises which company is Of the
more use tt the farmers aud citizens of
jefferson county. The telephone Cos.
are anxious and willing to serve every
ia. mer and citizen Of Jefferson county
at uniform moderate rate. The Elec-
trio Power Company only serves GER
tain interests, and only benefits the in
terests it serves. IL serves the Electric
Light Co., Of Charles Town and posi-
bly, gives them cheaper power than thew
have hereintofore enjoyed, but have
you heard of the Light %. reducing
their rate to the consumer ? Suppose
the Bakers get cheaper power at Kear-
neysville. do You think that they will
increase the price Of labor or mo like
ly reduce the number of laborers!
The jefferson County Telephone Co,
was organized to serve aud profit the
interest Of the citizens Of Jefferson
county and its rates are fixed in its
charter granted by the State of West
Virginia and in its franchise granted by
the County Court of Jefferson county
and by the Corporations OF Charles
Town. Shepherdstown Harper's Fer
~ aud Boil var aud the good citizens OF
jefferson have expended about $4,000
in building up first class plant. Now
the electric Co., the w. and w. City
serves but few interests and are now
running a high voltage power wire
along one Of our most used highways
from Charles Town to the Clarke Co.,
line IS miles, carrying dangerous and
valuable ,ower to benefit whom? The
citizens or interests Of Jefferson coun'
ty? no, certain interests in Berryville
and Winchester. Should not this val
liable power be taxed as W, II as gas aud
oil that is piped out Of the State al
though if the County Court will COM
pei them to fence or place their danger
Gus current unde, ground, l believe that
there will be very little opposdions TO
their granting the franchise ordered.
Now. do not want to throw sim
gle straw In the way Of public improve
ments but do want to see the public's
interests properly guarded, aud would
be false to the interests intrustei to my
care If did not protest and protest
firmly against the granting OF this fran
chise and now | sincerely nope that 1t
will be your pleasure to come to Charles
Town VI nday. January 25th an ap-
pear before the County Court to protest
against the granting of this dangerous
and unnecessary franchise along our
public highways.
ii. @. GETZENDANNER,
Mgr. jeff. Co. Telephone Co.