The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-08-03
OPPOSITION TO BELL
COMPANY
Independent Telephone Line
to be Built in This
Valley.

The ciizens of Payettte, Fruit
land and New Plymouth, and the
farmers living tributary to those
towns, are up in arms against the
Increase of rates put into effect
since the merger of the Bell and
Independent telephone companies
and are determined TO organize an
Independent company, with the mu-
tual company of Fruitland as nue.
leus that shall take in the entire
Payette valley from Emme to Pay
ette. Mass meetings were held
at Payette and New Plymouth last
week for this purpose and commit
tees were aapPointed to inYesti-
gate conditions At the lat
ter place the committee reported
that such a step was feasible and
was desired by Payette valley Deo-
ple in general and that in their
opinion there would be no difficult
" encountered in securing the CO.
operation of the entire valley. Facts
and figures regarding the cost OF
the new organization were present
ed by the committee in support OF
their statement and after gem
eral discussion of the question 1t
was resolved to organize and incor-
porate an Independent telephone
company. Fifty business men and
farmers signified their intention of
going into the independent company
and S1250 was quickly subscribed,
with that much more promised at
an early date. Six committees were
appointed to canvas the country
districts TO secure additional mem
bers. The meeting demonstrated
that business men and citizens gen.
orally are up in arms over the tele-
phone toll rates which have recent
" gone into effect and that they
do not propose to accept the s'tua-
tion as it stands at he present TIME.
At Payette the people are equally
determined The Enterprise says:
'Indigant at the arbitrary manner
in which the Bell system, since TAX
ing over the Independent telephone
system, has put on toll charges for
all talks to Fruitand and New Ply
mouth the Payette Commercial club
held a largely attended special SIS
sion Wednesday morning at 10
o'clock and at this meeting 1t was
the unanimous opion that mutual
independent systems should be built
at once and a committee was or
dered appointed to investigate costs
and methods and report at another
special meeting to be held next Fri
day evening.
Ever since last Saturday when
the new toll rate governing talks
to Plymouth and Fruitland where
we have heretofore enjoyed free
exchange went into effect indigna-
tion has run high finally culminat-
ing in the special session of the club
The meeting was largely attended
almost every business man in Pay
ette being there besides represent
atives from north of town and from
on the bench.
THAT the sentiment is strong
enough to carry the proposition
through and that the line will be
built there can be no question. Prom
inent ranchmen from every commun-
ity expressed their willingness to
assist and pledged the support OF
their neighborhoods.
at is also understood that New
Plymouth will adopt the same course
and that an effort viii be made TO
interest Emmett in a mutual line
which if success 'u1 will mean solid
mutual phone in this valley and
one upon which there will be free
exchange to all portions of the Val
ley"
No overtures have yet been made
TO Emmett people to join the or
ganization. If any increase in rates y
has been put into effect here, no
official announcement has beenmade
and no complaints have been made
public.