Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-01-12
To The Phone Holders And Citizens
OF Jefferson County.

The Winchester and Washington City
Railway Co has applied to the County
Court of Jefferson County for permission
to erect poles and string wires along the
public roads from Charles Town to Shen-
andoah Junction thence to Bal dane
thence TO Kearnevsville so as to furnish
power to the new town of Jacksonville
at Shenandoah Junction aud also to fur
nish power to the Standard Lime plant
at kearneysvilie. To grant this franchise
will put out of business the telephone
lines that the electric lines parallel.
The Citizens Telephone Co., OF
Decatur, Ind are now sung the Forr
Wayne and Springfield Traction Co
for running their business. There has
also been fled 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 X. w. Cos. VS. Lake
Shore and South Beud Electric Ry. Sys-
tenn asking for permanent Injunction
a gainst the Electric Co. These two cases
prove couclusively what high tension
electric wires will do to telephone Cos.
Now the question arises which company
Is OF the more use to the farmers and
citizens of Jefferson county. The tele-
phone Cos are anxious and willing to
serve every farmer and citizen of Ieffer
son county at uniform moderate rate.
Tbe Electric Power Co only serves GET tain
interests, and only benefits the interests il
serves. 1t serves the Electric Light Co,
OF Charles Town and possibly gives them
cheaper power than they have hereto
fore enjoyed but have you heard of the
Light Co reducing their rate to the con-
sumner? Suppose the Bakers get cheaper
power at kearneysville. do you think that
they will increase the price of labor or
more likely reduce the number Of labor. |
ers
The Jefferson County Telephone Co |
was organized to serve and profit the in |
terests of the citizens of Jefferson county |
aud its rates are fixed in its charter
granted by the State of West Va and
In its franchise granted by the County
Court of Jefferson county and by the
Corporations of Charles Town, Shep-
herdstown, Harpers Ferry, and Bolivar,
and the good citizens of Jefferson have
expended about $50, 900 in building up
first class plant. Now the electric Co.
the w, and w. City serves but few in.
-erests aud are now running a high
voltage power wire along one of our most
lsed highways from Charles Town TO the
Clarke Co, line Is miles, CARVING a
dangerous and valuable power to benefit ,
whom? The citIz-ns or interests of Ief
erSon county? no, certain interests in
3erryville and Winchester Should not
his valuable power be taxed as well as
,as and oil that is piped out of the State;
Though if thesCounty Court will com.
vel them to fence or place their dangerous
urrent under ground believe that there
vii be very little opposition TO their :
Irantng the franchise ordered. /
Now, do not want to throw a single !
traw IN the way of public improvements i
'ut | do want TO see the pubic interests
properly guarded, and would be false
the interests intrusted to my care If
I'd not protest and protest firmly against :,
lie QTqntinU If thfc -.
ow sincerely hope that it will be your d
ieasure to come to Charles Town Mon !.
ay, January 2sth, aud appear before the
'ounty Court to protest against the 4
rantipg of this dangerous and unnecces- =
AIRY franchise along our public highways.
H. c. GETzENDANNER
Mgr. Jeff. Co. Telephone Co.
The West Nirotttfa I 90 iclafr,ra