The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1949-01-14
Discuss Need OF
Rural Phones AT
Meeting Here


Surveys have been completed
and a rural telephone program
will probably be undertaken
in Jackson county as soon as
practicable, T. E. Harris, state
manager for the Southern Bel
Telephone Company, said at a
meeting Wednesday at the court
house.
The meeting was called by the
board of supervisors and State
Rep. Hermes F. Gautier to dis
cuss with the telephone company
executives the extension of sefv-
ice into the more heavily populat-
ed rural sections of the county.
Telephone company represen-
tatives attending the meeting in
addition to Mr.. Harris were l.. f.
Slawson, Jackson, rural develop
ment supervisor; f. c. McGinnis,
Hattiesburg. district supervisor;
Conway Dabney, Gulfport, group
manager; L. o. Longcoy, Biloxi,
group manager, and T. S. Bos-
well, Pascagoula-Moss Point
manager.
County officials and citizens
attending included A. P. Moran,
president of the board of super
%visors; George Cruthirds, Roy
Cumbest and Joe V. Krebs, mem
bers of the county board: Rep.
Gautier. Naif Jordan, Lea Entire
kin and P. G.. Murphy, Van
cleave; George Hague, Bayou
Casotte, A. c. Petersen, Hurley,
and w. B. Herring, Pascagoula.
Point Out Need
Rep. Gautier and MI. Moran
opened the meeting by pointing
out the vital need of telephone
service in the rural areas of the
county, which are not now served
AS a result of the discussion
it was agreed that when the rural
program was put into effect it
would be concentrated at first
in serving the Bayou Casotte,
Vancleave. Wade, Hurley and
Harleston sections, which would
give the county adequate service
until the facilities could be ex-
banded on the basis of need and
population.
Rep. Gautier opened the meet
ing by saying that the Southern
Bell state executives had been
asked to attend so that a full dis
cussion of the matter could be
undertaken.
This service is vital to our
rural areas Mr.. Gautier said
land if you don't undertake il
the people are going to demand
it of the government. We think
it would be highly desirable fol
the telephone company to work
out. the problem with the REA
through use of their distribution
facilities
Surveys Completed
Mr.. Harris explained that the
telephone company has been in
the rural telephone business for
many years and that in 1888 the
company undertook a nationwide
survey, but hat the program was
interrupted by the war.
The Mississippi survey, he
said, was completed in 1916. An
extensive rural program is al
ready in the state, he said, but
the plans must be followed in
an orderly manner.
He assured the group that the
company was fully aware of the
need not only in Jackson county
but in other rural areas of the
state. The company has entered
into a joint use agreement with
the county REA, he said, and
as soon as possible and practic-
able the program will be put into
effect.
He pointed out that the entire
state operations are hampered by
lack of sufficient revenues from
the present rate structure. and
that the company is at present
seeking relief as it has through
out the Southern states.
Petitions from rural areas OF
the county requesting the serv-
ice were presented to Mr.. Harris.