Metaline Had No Telephone — and Newport Was Ready to Take the Deal

J. M. Welty, of Metaline, has been here since Thursday. He has applied to the board of county commissioners for a thirty-year franchise to build a telephone line from Metaline to Colville, and has attempted to get in touch with the Colville Commercial Club to make them a proposition concerning the proposed line. Metaline has no telephone or telegraphic communication with the outside world. Now the point has been reached when a telephone line is demanded. It can come to Colville if Colville wants it. If Colville does not want it, Newport does. Mr. Welty desires the citizens of Colville to organize a company for the purpose of building and operating telephone lines throughout the county, and has $1,500 pledged from Metaline and seven miles of wire and material to proceed immediately on the construction of the line between Metaline and Ione. The general dissatisfaction which has prevailed regarding existing telephone service over Stevens County and in Colville will in time demand a change. If this change ever comes, it should certainly come when there is a chance to go in with Metaline, and secure the business of the vast country between here and the river. Mr. Welty has been connected with the Pacific Telephone Company for the past five years as construction foreman and inspector for Eastern Washington and Oregon, with headquarters at Spokane, and is thoroughly conversant with the excellent opportunities to form a telephone company here.