The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-27
{(Itage Lake News.
otter From a Citi-
ian of Houghton
County.
,.,.rding Bell Telephone Go.


Appeal for the HS'"
Of a Local company.
9ousnroN, October 26. 1897.
Ala FJitor:-One OF the neatest and
-, oerlect pieces oiwork donefor many
nus sas that connected with the pro-
u ''s Houghton County Telephone COM
. .'S For years our people have groaned
'Is The exactions OF the Bell Telephone
Du a.nv We have been literally robbed
sr,horbitant charges for telephone
..;oos No othpr section OF the north
y. hoe sufiered in this respect any
than we have. We have been peri
pd;,sllv RECALLED with the assurances OF
.ss local management that rates would
sooO be reduced; but no reduction came.
|, was not until 1t was proposed to or
,.ni,e local concern that the old com
rsnv began to realize it's danger. There
40 instead OF continuing the policy OF
The people be damned" it concluded to
Ii.tsn TO the prayers and to heed their
,omnlaipts. The local company has
brought the telephone despot to terms
and the people OF this county are indebted
n and it's promoters for the great
GOOD they have done our entire commun-
nv in this respect. 1t has resulted in
having us several thousands OF dollars
Every year.
But We are informed by those who con-
INIT the management OF this foreign
monopoly, that it proposes to run out
and crush any attempt y our people to
Establish rival company. Such utter
auces are entirely due to a spirit born OF
au inexorable, merciless and relentless
career in other fields. 1t has been cruel,
and it commands wealth, and it buys
clever men to do it's bidding. But can it
bulldoze and throttle the business. indie
pendence and the manhood OF the people
Of Houghton county? We are quite apt
10 be beguiled sometimes by honeyed
words and phrases, but 1t seems to me
our temperament is such that threats and
menaces are Intellectual. What assurance
have we that the { Id comps ny will again
reduce their rates aud make them cores
spond with the cost OF material and Oper-
atng expenses, il it shall have the field
10 itself. The cost OF running a telephone
company varies from year to year. Will
the rates OF the Bell Telephone company
vary accordingly? The only assurance
Or promise OF future reduction is that
which is coupled with the establishment
Of a local company. Ione be established,
then the Bell Telephone company will
undercut it. Hence, the only certainty
Of lower rates depends on the foundation
and continuance OF the concern. By all
means then let it be organized; and let
every loyal, patriotic citizen OF Hough-
ton county man who hates OPP
preston, rapacity and greed. put his
snouIder to the wheel and do all that he
can to build up competitor to the in
satable monster, which undertakes to
suck all the vitality it can out OF our
community.
Let not our people be disheartened by
'ne cold water which men objectionable
motives may throw upon the project.
inefe is no community that has not it's
|prognosticators OF woe. and it's cbstruc.
|uonlsts. There never was an enterprise
10 any land or age. however meritorous
Of necessary, which did not have calum-
majors and Toes. The opposition "Gal-
|nnpper" will be in evidence during the
and growth of the new CON-
pany' and while his presence may be
uncomfortable. he cannot retard the
'onsummation Of an enterprise which
snail proftabIy employ our own capital,
winch shall keep the earnings among our
|Vwa people, and which shall stimulate a
business activity in our own midst.
mere Is no occasion to be afraid OF the
threatened prosecution OF the Bell Tele-
|puooe company. We need not conjure it
|spss a spectre, and then run away from
/" An examination OF it and a knowl.
'se Oh its defeat In other places where
nas tried the same tactics, which it is
vu'su'ng in Houghton county. disclose
'' 'act that it is not near 80 formidable.
'N' at first, seems to be. The local
~pany has vet done nothing OF which
may De ashamed, and it ought to be.
!, ~ commended. for the results it has
''sady accomplished.
ACIrIzEN OF HoUGHToN County.
.a' o' the big first-clast attractions