Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-07
NO TRUTH IN THEM
Alleged Statements About the De-
troit Telephone Company Denied.
IT is PROSPEROUS And PROFITABLE
Gov. Pingree Sends Convincing
Letter to Secretary Woodard.
REST SING

Secretary Henry F. Woodland of the Tel
ephone Subscribers Association received a
letter this morning from Gov. H. s. Pin
gree of Michigan which has a significant
bearing upon the statement which Presl-
dent Samuel M. Bryan of the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company is said
to have made to Senator Mcmillan in re-
lation to the Detroit Telephone Company.
1t was understood by the association that
President Bryan had paid several visits
to Senator Mcmillan, who is chairman of
the Senate District committee and that
ne had stated to the senator that the
statements contained in former letter Of
Gov. Pingree concerning the Detroit Tele-
phone Company, were untrue. 1t was fur
Their understood by the association that Mr.
Bryan had informed Senator Mcmillan that
the Detroit Telephone Company was not
seif-SuStaining, but was dependent upon
the assistance of other small companies
in the immediate vicinity of Detroit
Secretary Woodland accordingly wrote to
Gov. Pingree asking him to supply the
association here with such authentic in
formation as he had tending to disprove
the statements attributed to President
Bryan.
Governor Pingree's reply IS dated at
Lansing, March ., and states that in reply
to Mr.. Woodard's favor of February 25
he had written. to Mr.. William L. Holmes,
president of the Detroit Telephone Com
pany, asking for information regarding that
company, and had received a reply from
him.
Earning Eight Per Cent Clear.
1t was follows:
referring to your favor of the 18th
uitlmo, just at hand, l would say that the
statements circulated about the Detroit
Telephone Company and the New State
Telephone Company, by the Bell company
and their agents, are often very amusing
Il inclose herewith list of the sub
scribers of the Detroit Telephone Company.
showing the contracted annual income.
we have already installed over Also
telephones, and are now earning about =
Fer cent on oar stock over and above the
interest on our bonds all cost of mainten-
ahce. taxes etc. When we get all of the
telephones in for which we have con-
tracts our earning power will be hand
scmeiy increased
we have made a hard fight against
great opposition and We're unfortunate in
starting our company in distressingly hard
times, but Notwithstanding these things
our success has been phenomenal and be-
word the expectation even Of the officers OF
the company.
There is not word of truth in the
alleged statements regarding the Detroit
Telephone Company not making money.
The new State Telephone Company, of
WHICH CoiHpdHy as well as the Detroit COM
pany l am president is also making money
IN very satisfactory manner. These COM
panies are entirely independent, except
that they have an interservice contract
which Is of advantage to both"
The interest of the general public in the
subject of the prevailing telephone rates
and the necessity for their reduction is
growing every day and becoming more and
mol re distinct as people become better ac-
quainted with the conditions The tele-
phone subscribers association in gaining in
membership. President Staples will proba-
bly, call another mass meeting to be held
at an early date, by which time it is eX-
pected that some very important facts
bearing upon the situation will be de-
veloped.