The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-07-26

ment and provide fund for rebuild
ing when the plant wears out. No
other company can operate a plant as
cheaply as we can. We want bust
ness,eand we could give a cheap SER
vice for small rental, but the bust
ness men want good system, and we
furnish the best that money can pro-
vide. Last summer we started to
rebuild the exchange here at cost of
$1,000, when we were stopped from
putting poles in the streets. We eX-
pect to extend and rebuild the plant.
Mankato is connected with q large
number of cities of the state.
The Phoenix Co. cannot build
plant that is efficient to do business
in Minnesota without infringing the
Bell patents, as would be shown with
in twelve months. No company
spending their own money would
come to Mankato and put it into such
a losing investment. The Phoenix
Co. comes here only with their say-so
that they will do what they claim.
Mr.. Morgan picked some flaws in
the proposed ordinance, showing
wherein he claims it was weak. He
said that an action has already been
commenced in Massachusetts to re-
strain anyone from using the trans
mitter, which has to be used in all in
struments. Therefore the city should
require bond from the company,
otherwise every subscriber may be
made a defendant in the United
States court. The bond should be a
good one to protect the subscribers
against damages for the use of the
patent.
Supt. Wainman then took the
floor and said the Phoenix Co. failed
to secure franchise at it's home in
indianapolis. He quoted from a let
ter from Indianapolis showing that it
has partially established exchanges
at only two places, and that the off,
GERS have poor financial standing. The
two exchanges of the company are at
Shelbyville and Huntington, Ind,
and gives poor service. None of the
officers have practical knowledge of
the subject. From inquiry there is
no dissatisfaction in Mankato in re-
gard to services and very little as to
prices. We gave in reduced rates
more than the benefit of the reduc-
tion which we obtained by the expira-
tion of patents. The probability is
that during this season we shall re-
build our plant here at cost of S., 900
to $4,000. In eighteen months there
will probably not be a town of any
account in the state that Mankato is
not connected with. Any subscriber
here can talk with forty towns and
1000 subscribers, while the Phoenix
cannot afford any. 1t would cost bust
ness men as much or more with two
systems, as they would have to have
both connections.
Mr.. Mitchell wanted Mr.. Wainman
to leave his letter with the council,
as somebody was liable for libel. He
maintained That the management of a
telephone system is a simple matter.
We will not put the city into danger
and if we do not carry out the provis-
ions of the ordinance it will be Of no
use to US. 1t is true that one of the
company is travelling man, another
an insurance man and another a ban
ker who has had trouble with banks,
as shown by Dunn & Co., and as Mr..
Wainman had stated. The company
is Incorporate 'th 100000
capital. We esponsible.
Ii not, VI uon't the
Northwestern Company leave
us alone and let us fail and then boom
rates We believe that our rates are
high enough to conduct the business.
The Northwestern reduced it's rates
when it saw competition. At North
field, where it has competition, it
charges only IS cents and a dollar. If