The Vancouver Barracks received Clark County’s first telephone in October 1878, connecting the arsenal to headquarters. Soon two more phones were installed. In 1879, soldiers strung the first telephone lines between Portland and Vancouver. That year, a phone line was added to Gen. O.O. Howard’s new house. At the time, Portland had 118 telephones and was expecting 16 more.

What was the future of Alexander Graham Bell’s new technology—transmitting voices or entertainment? New York City transmitted a piano concert over a phone line to Philadelphia, 100 miles away. Similarly, Portland sent a violin concert from the New Market Theater to Oregon City over 12 miles of wire. The distant and stunned audiences heard each concert perfectly.

Vancouver considered a municipal telephone system in about

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