The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-03-19
THE CITIZENS TELEPHONE co.
It's Policy and Rates ;Contrasted With
Those of The Bell Monopoly.

Its Policy and Rates ;Contrasted With
Those of The Bell Monopoly.
Editor HERALD.
The Cumberland Telephone Co.,
otherwise know as the Bell Coz has
for twenty years had monopoly of the
telephone business over considerable
territory embracing portions of several
States. There is no earthly reason for
the people to be longer at the mercy of
this monopoly. That such has been the
case heretofore is fact that cannot be
gainsaid. The citizens Of Columbia,
having mathematical turn Of mind, cal
culated several years ago that they were
paying right roundly for telephones,
but an application for lower rates was
met with the same consideration that a
Florida crocodile extends to a pick
aninny out for a swim. The policy of
the monopoly was to secure the great
est income from the least possible in
vestment. The result was that tele-
phone could only be procured where
necessity demanded it, the rate being
such as to preclude its use as con-
venience or a luxury.
Two years ago the citizens of the
Frierson and Lipscomb hborhoods
decided that, instead of paying from $40
to $50 annually for the rent of a telephone,
they would each invest an amount
sufficient to construct an Independent
plant and thereafter pay only such
monthly rates as would be required to
employ operations and maintain the
plant. The result of this effort was the
organization of the "Frierson and
Lipscomb Telephone Co.." with cen
trail Office at Frierson. Out of this
movement has grown the "Citizens
Telephone Company
The frst cost to each subscriber does
not erceed the annual rent Of u monopoly
telephone and after the first cost The
annual expense is $i2 as against $50 Il
800 for a monopoly telephone, a sGUing t.
eUery subscriber Of at least from 81 Il
$40 annually. With an exchange Of Isl
or goo subscribers this means a sayinq Il
the county Of from $1,000 to $4,000. Thi:
one item, however, does not by any
means sum up the benefits accruing to
the subscribers. Instead of having to
pay a toll of p cents as formerly for the
use of country lines, subscribers now
enjoy their use without extra charge.
Again, instead of an exchange of from
I I-0 D, ;,l L. l.
is the maximum the monopoly has evel
offered the public, the Citizens Tele
phone Company have by their NOR,
equitable rates enabled a much larger
number to avail themselves of tele
phones, so that now, although moi
year old, it offers an exchange o
nearly 200 subscribers.
Since the organization of the Cit
zens' Telephone Company the tactics o
the monopoly concern have, in the ligh
of their past policy, become an amusing
study. From their erstwhile hdUteu
they have descended so far as to solicit
} patronage. From their former exorbi
tant rates they have met the rates o
r the Citizens Company, and with a ia
surplus they are now throwing on
alluring bait to fish which they former
ly neglected as not worth the pull.
The Citizens Telephone Company i
the creation of the people, rising up il
defiance of an avaricious monopoly
: As such it merits the good will an,
patronage Of all patriotic citizens. 1t