Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-03-12
INDEPENDENT" TELEPHONY
The Experience of Crawfords-
vile, Indiana.
From Chicago Public Service. March, 1909.

Under date of January IS, the
telephone committee Of the Craw-
fordsville Commercial Club published |
the following statement, headed ITO |
the Public" In the Journal of
Charlottesville, Ind. The statement
was signed, "The Commercial Club
Telephone Committee, by Charles Il.
Lacey, Chairman; A A. Mccain,
Secretary"
The Commercial Club telephone
committee desire to call attention to
a scheme now being pushed by the
Home Telephone Company which we
believe is directly hostile to the in
terests of this community.
I'VE are informed that number OF
citizens have been approached with
requests to act as trustees, directors
or other officers Of this company or
a proposed reorganization thereof,
with the intent that the Home Tele-
phone plant and system shall be re-
built, extended and operated, and at
the same time given the appearance
or cast of local concern.
From statements reported to us
by some Of these citizens so ap-
preached they have been misled both
as to the facts existing and the real
intentions of the Home Telephone
Company.
"Any such movement on the part
of this company or either company
calculated to further the existing
competition Is 10 increase the bur-
den OF the public In dual telephone
nuisance and make increasingly
more difficult and burdensome con-
sOlidation Of the present plants.
at Is being represented To these
citizens by the Home Company that
this company proposes TO rehabiliti-
ate It's system and thereby give the
local public Just what II wants. The
public emphatically wants and de-
mands single local telephone sys
TEN with every possible long distance
= facility. This is exactly what the
Home Telephone Company Is pro
!, posing not to give"
= ANY movement by either com
pany, other than toward consolida
tion and unification OF the presen
systems, we earnestly believe, !
ity, is not prompted by any homes
motiye towards the public or tele
a phone patrons, and IL, under tn
existing circumstances, violation O
a public trust.
!, 1--WE call attention to the fac
= that the real ownership OF the HON
y Telephone Company is In the hand
OF parties utterly foreign to thI
r community or It's welfare; that thes
" parties are part and parcel OF
II group OF promoters whose record "
,e are assured does not entitle them
D. encouragement by anyone mindful
the needs and interests OF this plac
Of I'VE call attention to the fact th
at these parties have repeatedly a
tempted to deal unfairly with Il
~ local public. They attempted to pr
v. cure and fasten upon their patro
an unjust and unfair rate.
- "They attempted TO forestall Z
IN inquiry OF the Commercial Club In
90 the question OF reasonable RAJ
he and endeavored TO cause inspir
1873 evidence to be presented to the Co
,st mercial Club.
Ia Ia "They have attempted to "a
their ends by bribery and corrr
- practices.
They intended. and we belle
still intend, TO grossly water
overcapltallze their property, a
thereby dispose Of fraudulent SECT
j ties 10 the investing public.
I'VE desire at this time TO a
~ call attention 10 the fact that
~ have submitted q plan TO these p
w ties whereby their property wo'