Notes
It's easy to forget there was once a time when important messages were sent over a small network of wires from telegraph office to telegraph office, for hand delivery to the recipient. This particular telegram was a "night letter" received at 9:45PM (though the date is unclear). It was sent to H.B. Langille, who I believe was the city recorder at one time, from Keeler Bros. in Denver Colorado. The message said, "From the information on hand we are led to believe the city council will be enjoined whenever they attempt to deliver bonds to us. Are there any developments in this connection? Notwithstanding the foregoing our attorney is now examining the proceedings and we expect his opinion in the very near future."
I believe this had something to do with a lawsuit when the city attempted to create a city water system early in the twentieth century. Private water suppliers attempted to stop the process.
Telegrams were usually more terse than this since Western Union was paid by the word, but I'll bet these folks were passing the costs on to their clients so they had no reason to be economical.
Category: [Downtown Hood River]
Tags: city_council Langille lawsuit telegram
Comments
this posting reminds me of how much change we have seen in our life times....my start into technology was compliments of the USAF in 1960 as a PCAM operator, punched card accounting machines. that led to a 35 year career in the technology business in support of K-12 education. In my wildest dreams I never thought we would have on demand movies....free long distance....etc....why all those wires on the poles in these old days?....because only one transmission at a time on one wire.... yep, real old but do appreciate some of todays world like this site..
Arlen L Sheldrake on 6th October 2022 @ 9:22am
Wasn't this what wiped out the pony express?
nels on 6th October 2022 @ 7:15pm
Yes, Pony Express only lasted for 18 months yet we still talk about it. Terrible business idea but great fodder for Hollywood.
ArthurB on 6th October 2022 @ 7:25pm
But if the telegraph had not happened, would the pony express been viable?
nels on 7th October 2022 @ 12:31am
@nels, I think by the time of Pony Express transcontinental railroad was a high likelihood, and telegraph cables went along with it. Maybe I'm using hindsight, but I think the competitive landscape was visible by then. Maybe someone's done a B-School case study on this?
ArthurB on 7th October 2022 @ 9:20am
Do you remember placing long distance phone calls, when you could hear operators all along the line handing you off to the next link. "Operator, I have your party in Sunnyside." "Go ahead, please." It was exciting to visualize our communication zipping from our place across miles of countryside.
Barbara parsons on 8th October 2022 @ 10:34am