Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-08-31
INwooD TELEPHONE COMPANY
QUITS BELL COMPANY


Force the Company Out Of Business
1T VIII Be Associated Hereafter
With the Winchester company--A
Statement to the Public.
Last night the stockholders OF the
Inwood Rural Telephone company held
a meeting, and discussed the attitude
OF the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company. Because of the ut
ter disregard the latter company has
for its contract with the Inwood com
pany it was voted to sever relations
with the company the first OF October
and ally its interests with the Win
chester company.
The matter was Thoroughly discuss
ed and before any action was taken
every stakeholder present understood
the question. All of the violations of
the contract with the Bell Telephone
Company were explained and all pres
ent were unanimous in their belief
that If the Inwood company Is to live
and have its rights respected that no
relations whatever must be had with
the octupus, which is now seeking to
drive out of business every independ
ent line in the country.
Some of the things the Bell COM
pany has refused TO do is that 1t Will
not grant new line for less than six
phones, and will not allow new line
until fifteen phones or more are on It,
III oil wi
single party line for less than $50,
and, further the Bell people have no
interest in the construction or main
tenance of the lines, it has seen fit to
make these requirements when the
contract specifically says otherwise. 1t
was also agreed that the Inwood Com
pany would not accept any service the
Bell Telephone Company may desire
to perform.
To fully explain the Inwood Com
pany's position the following state
ment is hereby given to the public:
Since telephone controversy has
arisen, and the people are anxious to
know the true status of affairs, We de-
sire to offer a statement, which con-
tains uncontrovertible facts, as fol-
lows.
1-Seven years ago the farmers
around Inwood organized local tele-
phone company
2-At the time of its organization
the provisions were made mutual, and
under those provisions it has been OPP
Grated and continues to grow
AT the time OF the organization
of the company an arrangement was
made with the Bell Telephone Com
pany for an exchange, which was be-
lieved at that time would prove bene-
fetal to the subscribers.
4-The Bell Telephone Company has
failed to live up to it's agreement in
different respects.
5-hmong the different violations
are: That all phones connected with
Shepherdstown were to be free to the
Inwood subscribers.
6-Hagerstown was also to have
straight ten-cent charge.
THE local company was to con-
struct it's own line without regard TO
the number of subscribers per line.
S-The Bell people were not to solic-
it or take phones in the local commun-
ity covered by the companys lines.
ALL of the aforementioned con-
ditions and many others have been
broken.
10-The Bell people have harassed
and worried the Inwood Company in
every possible way in order that they
could with the hope of forcing the
company out of business.
11-But for the fact that the Inwood
Company continues to exist, the Bell
Company would be enforcing the rates
of SIS, s24 and s36 per year instead
Of only S. per year, which the sub
scribers of our local company have
to pay.
12-That the rates to Shepherds
town to Martinsburg or any place In
the county ten cents, thus discrimina-
ting against Berkeley county.
13-The rate to Charles Town is
ten cents, and from there to Martins
burg or any place in the county twenty
cents. Here again the Bell people are
discriminating against the city and
county.
14-By the extension of the farmers
mutual lines throughout the county,
the people of the county will be able
to save from $19 to $50 per phone or
many thousands of dollars annually.
JOHN F. STAUB, President.
\ r. f. WHITING, Secretary.
Inwood Rural Telephone Company