Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-09-16
An Arrested Development.

From the Mississippi Advocate.
Becoming somewhat enthuSed over
the rlan suggested in last week. Advo-
of the telephone in the country districts
we endeavored to fortify ourselves with
facts and figures, so as to demonstrate
to the farmers that the rural line ex-
I tensions could be put in at small cost,
and would more than pay for them
time savers, but in protection and
security to the home as we'll as being
means of disseminating information.
We were surprised and disappointed
to learn that not only has all work on
these farmer lines been held up in
definately. under some claim that the
contract by virtue of which these ex-
tensions are made, and have for years
been mace to the satisfaction to all
parties concerned, are in some way
violative of the exact letter Of the
Mississippi antitrust law.
Desiring further enlightment, and
concidering the interests of the farmers
almost as much identified with rapid
cheap and reliable means of communica-
tion orally, as with the rural free de-
livery system and the parcels post, the
Advocate tried to ascertain just what
the hitch is, and what is the obsticle
now in the way retarding the develop
ment of this necessary telephone ex-
/ tension. and the facts as we find them
after inquiry are:
Suppose. for instance a small COM
munitv of say, fifty or sixty phones,
but from which exchange will radiate a
network of farmers lines" or ''rural
extension lines" as they are called,
wants to put in telephone exchange.
OF course they want the long distance
service-a telephone is of small value
without that. The people of the COM
munity are rot able to put up several
thousand dollars for switch board, wire,
poles, instruments and other equip
ment.
An arrangement is then made wit h
the Cumberland Telephone Company by
which that company rents its standard
equipment to that community. 1t
stipulates, however, that no other
telephone lines or neighborhood ex-
changes shall be connected wife its
long distance exchange without it's
consent---which is natural and reason
able recruitment. In the first place the
long distance connection in Mississippi
alone have cost the Cumberland hun
dreds of thousands of dollars, a! d it is
not strange that the company desires to
get the benefit of it's investment and
protect its patrons and subscribers
against inferior service and contracts
over which it has no control. In the
second place, other instruments of
different and inferior makes and con-
struction will render Indifferent and in
ferior service,
Also the Cumberland requires that if
rural extension Is put in to Farmer
Smith. Brown, Jones and Wilson, they
shall not allow others to connect with
out the company's consent. This in
sures better service to it's patrons, the
farmers, and protects them and the
company against wild cat and badly
constructed concerns which might crowd
ont the regular patrons of the company
and utterly destroy the business.
We cannot see that these are unreas-
enable requirements. Yet because of
these and nothing else, the Cumber-
land is being sued for a million and
half penalties on the ground that it,
h., +hoSa ro0uirouoonta 10 SGkaoo;ooU,,11
guilty of violation of the antitrust
act.
In addition. IN our investigation we
find that the question of rates has
nothing to do with the matter, and
that the telephone company has not the
power to make rates. Being under the
supervision of the Railroad Commits
sion, that body fixed and prelmulagates
the rate for telephone service and the
company must acquiesce.
Our information is that there are
many hundreds of applications on file
with the company now for these rural
or farmers lines" 1t speaks well for
the enterprise of our farmers, and
shows that they are determined to use
advanced and business. like methods.
and get in touch with affairs and con-
Duct their business like other business
men do.
But it is great pity that just at
this time when our people are trying to
develop, that they shoald be baked in
this way with suit or suitsthat means
the absolute stoppage of any telephone
connections anv further fo the noonlo