Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-08-08
PHONE COMPANY
ASKS MORE Time
Lengthy Discussion of Service,
Improved System and Increas-
ed Costs Before City Council

Granting the pleas of repre-
sentatives of the Cumberland
Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany for a little more time in
which to make a definite propo-
sition to the City of Richmond
for establishment of improved
service, and establishment of a
reasonable rate, the City Council
at it's regular meeting Thursday
night, deferred until it's Sep
tember meeting, enactment of
the Ssd5iIiaSsae 5iIiaSsa requiring removal
of the phone, lighting, and power
wires .from the business section
af town, which is soon TO ibe
I paved.
District Superintendent Webb
came here from Winchester and
fanked by Attorneys Burnam
and lGreenleaf and local Manager
ager Harris, made convincing
argument as to the difficulties
under which tthe telephone ibusi-
ness has rlabored sinue the war.
The enonpany came before 1.-THE
council with "a formal request
for continuance of the present
rates established under govern
unent control, up until iDecember
lst, at least. MIR. Webb STATED
that expenses IN all departments
have increased so tremendously
that even the present ,unsatis-
;fautary servire cannot he given
at the pre-Ax@r rates, which
the city can enforce through its
contracts with the company. In
reply to a question, MFR. Webb
stated that ahe best wear tthe
company had had in Richmond
for ,s0me time was in f9l7owhen
it made 4 z-10 per cent on its
investment.
Tine Mayor and prautioally ;all
of the oouncilmen engaged in
the discussion, which occupied
the greater part of ;tfe pr@eeed-
ings during the evening. 1t is
manifest that fhe members of
the city council and other officials
desire to he entirely ifair IN
every way with the telephone
company and to give it every
possible opportunity TO maike IA
reasonable retnrn upon its invest
ment.
Councilman iEerrill remarked,
however, that the council feels
that the interests ,uf the people
deserve and will obtain just as
much consideration as those of
the company, and the council
will be glad ito consider the
matter of living rate for tthe
company, when it has assurance
that the company is TO FURNISH
the public an improved service
within a specified time
Attorney Btirnam admitted
that while the present service Is
perhaps had-not perfect-yet ii
telephones were taken out every
ONE would miss greatly even the
service that Ms lbeing gwen at
present. He said that there is
mo- doubt bat that the people
want the improved common bat
terry system. He reminded the
council and officials, however,
that some, years ago the COM
pany came before tine council
and offered to INSTALL the I'M
proved system but it was reject
ed after months of cotasidera.i
tion, He said that Danville did
accept the company's proposition
and the improved service was
established there. at a cost of
$85,O00, and that everything that
goes to make up a telephone
plant is fully twice as costly now
as then.
In respect to removal of the
telephone poles from Main street,
the telephone people pointed out
that to move them ats present
would cost cool $4,000, and
which would be dead loss. How
ever, it was pointed out, that i'll