The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-10-14
TELEPHONE SYSTEM
IS BEING IMPROVED
WEST SHOWS THAT
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOL
LARS HAS BEEN SPENT.

| The "attack" on the Moscow Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company, plan
ned for the chamber of commerce
luncheon today, resulted in a victory
for the company which showed chat
| it has been doing much to improve
the service but has been handicapped
Iby inability to secure material and
by the scarcity of competent labor.
Dean F. A. Thomson, head Of the
school of mines of the University Of
Idaho, led the attacking forces" with
statement that he had not used the
word rotten" as reported III The
Spokesman-Review, as that word was
too mild to express his feeling when
he had been terribly provoked over
the service. DR.. Allen said that he
had been terribly proviked over the
service and had recently gone to Mr..
Langdon, the manager, while my ire
was at white heat" and had complain
ed. He said that when Mr.. Langdon
showed him what the company is do
ing and had done and is planning to
do to better the service, ''it took all
the fight out of me-"
A. T. West, president of the COM
pany, made long statement in which
he showed what the company had
done and is planning to do to better
The service. He stated the company
1as spent $4,000 for betterment in
Moscow since March l. He read tele-
grams showing that a contract had
oeen let to a Chicago firm for equip
nent last February, and after wait
ng until August for it to arrive and
earning it had not been shipped, can
elled the order and ordered by tele-
sraph from another firm, after re-
ewing a telegram, which he read,
tating shipment would be made that
week. He read many kilograms to
md from the company in regard to
his material which is essential to
omplete the work and showed that
t had not arrived yet but is expected
almost any day."
He told of many improvements be-
ng made including new switchboards,
wo miles of cable, including a 200
7ire cable to the University of Idaho
o replace the 10-wire cable now in
Sc and which is overloaded" He
aid the company is striving to keep
p its service while making these
and additions just as
railroad rebuilds a bridge without
topping traffic He asked further
atience from subscribers and the re-
lainder of the talks were full of
for the company and prom
Sc to have patience, with one ex-
option.
William E. Lee, well known attor-
ey, said that he would say in the
resence of Mr.. West (whose home
in Spokane) as he would say if
[r. West were not present, that
le "service is the rottenest I have
yer seen and has been rotten ever.
nee Mr.. West took it and don't be-
eve it will ever be better until it is
wned by resident of Moscow" Mr..
ee said that when T. A. Meeker, of
Ioscow, owned the system we had q
olendid srevice but it had not been
good since Meeker sold it.
The talks covered so much time.
lat more than half of the big audi
ice left before they were finished
I'd the question of county fair was
IT taken up. 1t will be made the
bject for discussion at the next reg
ar meeting and luncheon, when
yestock men of Latah county will be
vited to attend and take part in the
scussion. 1t is announced that a
unity fair and livestock show will
held next fall if the citizens Of
oscow, the farmers and stockmen
Latah county and other citizens
II support it.
During the luncheon Secretary
1nson was called to the telephone
a purebred livestock breeder living
a rural route who stated he had
st then received the notice that the
II would be discussed at this meet
: and saying he could not get in in
ne. He asked that it be postponed
til next week and this was done.