The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1920-12-30
Will Appraise
TelephoneLine
Commercial Club Meeting Held to
Determine Sentiment Relative to
County Phone System

One of the most largely attend
ed meetings of the Churchill County
commercial club held in late months
was the Monday night affair at which
the principal topic was the county
phone system. Many spoke on the
subject and the general verdict was
that the system is suffering in
more or less deplorable manner from
Inadequate equipment which will not
suffice to serve existing demands to
say nothing of those that will be
forthcoming with the further growth
of the Newlands project. No strict
ures were indulged 1t being the voic-
ed opinion that the county authori-
ties are doing the best that can be
done with the facilities at hand. On
the other hand the proposed rates in
the monthly phone rentals which
constitute raise as compared with
the schedules now In effect gave in
centive for the discussion of Monday
evening at the conclusion of which
a motion to importune the state pub
lie service commission to sponsor
public hearing at which all local
viewpoints may be aired, was passed.
The public service commission is
also to be asked to send representa-
tives here to thoroughly go over the
physical phases of the county's tele-
phone equipment and make recon-
mendationss relative to administra-
tion and future projects. The belief
seems to be entertained in most
quarters that the system cannot sur
vive unless the county's taxpayers
come to its aid with a substantial
bond issue that will admit of the in
stallation of needed betterments.
Started in 1889 when the number
of telephones served was less than
half a dozen, it has grown until the
local exchange now furnishes SER
vice for nearly 1000 telephones.
The most rapid strides forward
have been made in the last five
years and the present deficit in the
county telephone fund is attributed
to new construction, which has been
extended in every direction from
this city to serve new districts
wherever ii has been possible for
the county commissioners, the gov
erning heads, to grant demands.
Additional demands are rcw on
file with the county authorities and
these cannot be considered without
additional funds, which can only be
provided through county tele-
phone bond issue.
There is favor in many minds for
the sale of the county's phone sys-
tenn to another auspice but strong
opposition to this plan will prob
ably exist until it has been fully
demonstrated that sentiment should
not nor cannot properly enter into
the conduct of the public's business
affairs just as it is not properly a
part of private business policy.
Many suggestions were advanced
at the meeting Monday evening and
expectancy will be the phase of the
local mental attitude until such
time as the. states public service
commission has told us what is
what on this moot telephone SUBJ
ject.
Other matters discussed at the
meeting concerned the project of
sharing with Idaho hay men
$1,000 per ton freight rate on baled
alfalfa hay to Missouri river points
Southern Pacific traffic gave scant
encouragement to this undertaking
asserting that the fact that two
lines would share in the traffic
would initiate against the success
of the undertaking.
1t was announced at the meeting
that the commercial club auGhori-
ties would give a smoker for the
visiting Reno people and local
friends of the club at the club
rooms tonight following the dedica-
tion ceremonies and show at the
New Rex theater. This will be a
very generally attended function
and all public spirited men should
be on hand to give our visitors a
rousing welcome.