Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-08-17
BLAMING THE
COMPANY.

quarters to find fault with the Elko
Telephone company. 1t is said that
rates are too high and the service In
efficient. The claim Is made that the
plant and equipment are inadequate.
Even admitting all this what is the
best plan to go about getting better
service? Is the proper way to de-
stroy the telephone company utterly?
What is to he gained by abusing the
company and its employees?
Even the telephone company does
not claim that its service is all that
could be desired. But 1t takes time
and money to- make improvements.
Growth in ali things is gradual.
The telephone service is not the on.
ly thing in Elko that has not vet
reached perfection.
Our sewer system needs repair and
extension and has been a source of
much vexation.
Our sidewalks are a hodgepodge of
inequality. We might we'll center at
tention upon them in an endeavor to
get a uniform grade.
Our streets might be hardsurfaced
or oiled. But even as they are they
make pretty fair travel.
Elko at n time was known as a
town OF rags. That was back In
1863. the ear the railroad was CON-
pleted, and when there was nothing
but tents on the TOWNSHIP.
b are many residents of the
town who remember that time Of for.
ty-seven years ago. Elko has made
many marvellous improvements since
that day. Those who have watched.
the town grow through all these years
of toll and hardship know what It
costs to bring about these modern con-
veniences.
Those pioneers suffered many de-
~privations unknown in these modern
times. We now have automobiles and
electric lights. We have modern no..
tells and two banking institutions of
the best.
We have a water system giving us
a pure supply of water. We have a
sewer system that needs only repairs.
We have churches and schools and a
county court house that would be an
ornament to any town.
We have brick buildings. We have
shade trees and lawns that for many
years have teen the objects Of loving
care We are just making a start
for a city park.
1t has taken AZ years to get under
way a county fair. And after all
these years on the frontier we are Just
about to hold only our fourth annual
Rodeo, u week of holiday.
And now after nearly half a GEN.
tury Elko Tor the first time has a
newspaper with ~telegraphic dispatch
es. You can get a city paper of 80
pages all for Ave cents. Yet It costs
more In proportion to publish your
home paper Of four pages than It does
that mammoth edition Of the city
press.
Elko has moving picture theaters
equal to any In the cities. We have
modern stores, and in service and
goods carried they will compare favor
ably with any in the land. And their
prices are always fair for the time and
place.
The old saying is that Rome was not
built In a day. All these improve
ments have come about through the
slow and painful years. They repre-
sent the savings OF many a hard work.
ing pioneer.
The telephone company is one OF
Elko institutions. Its manager and
the girls In charge of central are al
ways courteous and obliging. To say
that they are not is plain libel.
The telephone company's lines in
places may be overcrowded and there
may be times when every line is busy.
No doubt the office should have more
modern equipment. 1t takes time to
do away with the party line and It
also requires money to make the
change.
Let us be fair. Let us be reason.
ahlea There is nothing gained by mis-.
representation and abuse.
1t Is safe to say that the money in.
vested In the Elko telephone system
would have yielded far greater returns
* 1t had been put into a stock ranch.
Therefore NC can not say their rates
are unreasonable. No doubt with the
srowth Of the system rates a be re-
duced.
Here is enother point that should
not be overlooked. The Blko postof-
nee some time ago reached the classi-
fcatiop that should give It free city
delivery. TIE n OF the office
are about double what is required to
entitle the town to this service.
But Elko does not get free city de.
livery. Our houses have been numb.
cred and our streets named end our
sidewalks are solid and dry enough
for our own use. But the department
holds on. It is held that we are not
mp 70 the required standard in these
respects.
Why should we expect perfection In
tho telephone company when the
whole town js thus under han NV The