The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-02-25
ORDER NO. S3.
COMPLAINT NO. 147.


j. O. MEYERS, Er AL, Of skcdec ComtaManh
rcfusoN, TOPEKA &sANrA FE RAILWAY COMPANY
Defendant
On the 9th day Of May 1908 the citizens of Skcdc filed a
plant with the Corporation Commissions asking that the defendant
be required place telephone depot the Of Skdcc
that the public may have the thereof and the conyennrc affords
in transacting business with the defendant
On the 23rd day of july 1908 the case was heard by the
mission and evidence having been introduced by the complainant
and the defendant after due consideration Of the the Com
mission finds that telephone in the depot Skedec necessary
convenience to the peop OF 9kedee and ven and at the coma
on similar all dpots in the State OF Oklahoma wlcr
there is telephone exchange maintained in the town
The Commission further finds from the evidence that "a.
Of Skcdee there is operated small telephone exchange a
Blackburn inland town of about three hundred people there
small telephone exchange and that the conacce
by toll line with free service 10 the subscribers OF each cNcnge
and that there are also other rural mes II ue Vcmy h m
depot Skedee about three four blocks from the business see
ton Of the town and that in addition TO the freight delivered to The
people in Skcdee and vicinity the town OF Blackburn and probably
other inland towns receive their freight there The evidence further
shows that by the OF the telephone avoids delays os having
telephone lines waiting mail nasmuch many peop
living miles in the country who have gone TO the eXpens
of equppmg themselves with rural telephones could not receive
communication through the posoffce of the arrival freight with
making trip the postofiice This great inconvenience,
and unnecessary expense under the telephone system of communca
on in the busy Of the year BY the Of the telephone
depo informing the telephone central Office of the time OF arva
of passenger trains the general public in the communication
with the exchange ascertain the aness Of The train and THEREBY
avoid the annoyance and the exposure Of standing around depots
great crowds with constant string OF questions to the agent thereby
impeding the efficiency OF his service.
The Commission Of the opinion that it the duty Of the
defendant to furnish OF communication with the public accord
ing the modern uages aid customs If the defendant SHOULD
place deaf and dumb person charge OF the station Skedee
could be conended that this adequate service and mamuc
all business such nqung to time OF trains the arrival
freight rates and various other questions can be and usually art
transacted over the phone we see no reason why the same means
should be extended and become part OF the service between the
railroad companies and their patrons and customers
Our conclusion on this point is strengthened by the fact ta
railroads most all competitive points have found necessary
install telephone service their stations If this service is necessary
competitive points and the railroad willing pay for the
why should not be required to install the SAM
service at other points similarly situated
The only objection installation of h.
service at Skedee that will entail cost Of $500 per month"; not
wthandng the notifying all Of its OF the arrya
Of freight required if the had to be done by mail woul
entail greater postage than $500 per month While hC
contentious of the defendant that this service would be Of fnan
c benefit to it, and would assist in the transaction OF its bust
ness the Commission does agree with these contentious and OF
the opinion that telephone dpots does assist the defendant ii
the proper transactions of its business and that this small item Of
$500 per month should be paid by the defendant gladly pays
this charge where has competition and possibly does less bushes
than at Skedee and Tor the further reason tat IS HpraccaD
to depend upon community to such expenses by contribution
The Commission Of the opinion and holds that telephone in
depot where there telephone exchange maintained in the towi
is necessary and essential part Of the equipment to make the fell
es and the service depot adequate for the reasonable use and
necessities OF the public
therefore ordered by Corporation Commission that the
defendant the Atcson Topeka Santa H Railway Company install
for the of its agents answering all inquiries Of the public for
which telephones usually used That said telephone sinai
tanned until further ordered by the Commission.
Guthrie, Oklahoma August 25 1908
Defendant made motion for a trial; motion over
ruled made was completed signed and filed.
February 20 1909 received mandate Of Supreme Court Opinion
Of the is a follows
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
THE ATCIISON TOPEKA < SANTA Re RAILWAY COM
PANY APPeHant
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, ET AL. Abbeleea
No. 443
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT.
The telephone is indispensable aid in the conduct of
business Of carrier any center of population and
become necessity both within the rule Of the law well
by the provisions Of section 49, article (sec Bus Ed Sny
der's Ed. p. 238), Of the constitution Of Oklahoma.
With only railroad station in town having c
phone exchange and inland about six miles distant with
about three hundred population having telephone exchange said
n-n r.c.i.lu. an ~ n. t..Lt nv tL ~ ;d .a..r nL