Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-11

They know, too, that this will at once
place the independent company before
the public as competitor, and that the
character of the two companies being
equal in the community, it will be a
question of short time only before
the local company must quit work. 1t
has not the illgotten gains of power
full trust behind it. 1t cannot, there
fore, furnish an absolutely free service.
1t can only be a question Of short
time under such circumstances before
it must be discontinued, and when
once out of existence. our old enemy
would speedily get its money back"
Besides, one who accepts free tele-
phone, if a belligeraDt at all, is dis
armed one, and can at best be but a
lukewarm friend of the home company.
There is no doubt but that this is the
view the enemy takes of it. This, as
stated at the commencement of this
letter, is exactly what they threatened
us with when we organized our home
company. They have expressed them
selves as surprised at the splendid
support our people have given us.
They were not prepared for it. We
aCere, for we knew that the citizens of
Wausau were united in their devotion
to the best interests of our city, and
that they excel in all those virtues
the world calls 'public spirit" We
banked on this when we put our
money and time into this enterprise.
At the time we organized, our citizens
firmly believed we could expect moth
ing but robbery from the old company.
We did not believe their statements
made to us regarding the expense of
this exchange and the profit in run
ming it. Experience has proved that
we were right in this. At a greatly
reduced expense to our patrons, we
have furnished much better service,
and have made a profit in our two
years business Of more than 100 per
cent. We are now charging $3.50 per
month to business houses and offices
and Is cents per month to residences,
and have 272 telephones in use, while
the Wisconsin Telephone Co. in its
best days here never had more than
105 in use. Our people know a good
thing, and are united in appreciation
of the good work accomplished by our
home company, and as a citizen / am
proud to Say,are united in standing
by it. The directors of our local COM
pany have been rather slack lately,
and as a result few of our best citi-
zens thought]essly accepted the free
telephone. We had a public telephone
meeting, however, week ago which
was largely attended, and the position
of our citizens regarding free tele
phones was enthusiastically expressed.
1t was an eye-opener to the trust, and
as a result many of the Wisconsin tel
ephones were taken out this week.
This letter is longer than I intend
ed. We have gone through a different
experience from yours. If the Wis
consin Telephone Co. here would
charge for its service, citizens having
extended use for the long distance
service, might fairly use both instru
ments. But under the conditions
which exist here, and which also 1oOaU
exist in your town, we cannot do this.
We must not give the enemy certifi
cate of good character. That is what
it needs most, and what it is least
entitled to receive. It is a acOIf. We
must not disguise it as a lamb unless
we are willing to be deyOured.
Neither should we falsely educate the
public that it is right to receive some
thing for nothing. Wausau expects
Grand Rapids and Centralia to stand
shoulder to shoulder with it in this
fight. There is a strong friendly feel
ing between our towns. We have the
same kind of citizens. We have Or
ganiZed our telephone company on the
same unselfish plan. Let us pull to-
gether. The people will not submit
to the dictation of the Wisconsin Tel
ephone Co. much longer, even though
that company may employ as lobby
lists the leading politicians Of both
parties. Let us make known as wide
ly as possible our experience in the
telephone business and our plan of
organization. | believe you have
copies of our annual reports, but I
send you with this copy of the circu-
lar issued last February, which con-
tains some facts which may be of
interest to you.
Yours very truly,
G. D. JONES.