The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-21

as Given Out.
An arrangement has been made between the
Northwestern Telephone company and a num-
Der OF Independent telephone companies OPP
Grating IN the southern and western part of
Minnesota, Northern Iowa and South Dakota.
The independent companies to the agree
ment are the western Electric system. the
Western Electric Telephone company. the
minnesota Mutual Telegraph and Telephone
company and all their allied companies which
include the Southern Minnesota and Southern
Dakota telephone companies, the Union Elec-
trio Telephone company, the Western Mime
sofa and Minnesota Central Telephone COM
panies.
The deal will give the Twin Cities telephone
connections with about 400 towns and about
1900 miles Of long distance lines not before
reached. The details of the arrangements
were worked out in Minneapolis and made
public by Supt Wainman yesterday The
transfer of the lines Of the Union Electric
company whose lines parallel the Northwest
ern, will be made today.
The parties to the agreement agree that
their respective long-dstance lines shall here
after operate in harmony and In direct con-
nection. They will be interconnected so that
any town In the territory of any company
which is party to the agreement can get d.
rect telephone connection with any other town
or any of the wires of the allied companies.
The Northwestern Telephone company, as
one part Of the agreement purchases the en-
tire system of the Union E 'Ictric company
whlcn is the only one of the Independent COM
panles in the deal whose lines are paralleled
by those OF the Northwestern. The amount of
cash involved In the transaction is not given,
but 1t is the only cash consideration. The
rest OF the agreement hinges upon mutual
benefits. Each OF the parties to the deal
the Northwestern people on the one hand and
the independent people on the other expect
mutually to profit by the new arrangement
and get additional business. The independent
people are to allow the Northwestern people
to put the Bell Instruments on the indepen-
Dent lines from end to end The rental
charged for them includes the cost of re-
pairs, and is so small that the independent
people say 1t is about as cheap as they can
keep their present instruments in repair
connections will at once be made between
the two systems wherever necessary, and
within thirty days communication between all
points on both systems will be open. Those
most intimately concerned in the new deal
promise that rates will be fair and equitable
They will be on the basis of ''one rate. p That
means that where the use of the telephone in
wolves both Northwestern and Independent
lines, the rate will be the same as it would
be for the same distance on the lines of one
This is said to be the first time Bell COM
pany has ever entered into such extensive
Generally it has been the Bell policy to ignore
or. fight the independent companies. On the
other hand, there Is no transfer Of stock and
the independent companies maintain their sep
arate existence and build and maintain their
own lines, the adoption of Bell instruments
practically brings them into the Bell ranks
the independents
There is now left IN the general territory
outlined above not a single Independent long
distance line. The new alliance does not in
| tend to combat local Independent exchanges
They will be offered connections with the long
distance lines If their service is good.
Charles Webster, general manager Of the
| Western Electric system, returned yesterday
| from Boston, where he had obtained the sig
natures of the officials of the Northwestern
exchange; He was met by J. f. Cass. Of
| Sumner, 10, president Of the Western Electric
| system; Thomas Way, general manager and
| treasurer of the Western Electric company,
| and D. n. Tallman Of Willmar, representing
| the Minnesota Central company
| The Minnesota Centre company was grant
ed franchise by the st. Paul council last
March, allowing it to enter the city with
| long distance line. Resolutions designat-
| ing streets which the company could erect
| poles and string wire passed, but little if any
work has been done.
A bond in the sum of $4,000 was filed by
the company and the ordinance accepted.
The sureties on the bond were Charles
Webster and David G. Jones.
AT the same time the Minnesota Central
company was granted franchise one was
| also granted to the Mississippi Valley Tefe-
! phone company for local exchange While
there was no direct statement made at the
| time the intimation and understanding was
that the Mississippi Valley company was to
connect with its local exchange in st. Paul
and Minneapolis. with the Minnesota Central
| long distance system.
| The Mississippi Valley company is now at
work in both cities putting in it's local
| system, but the arrangement made between
| the Northwestern and independent companies
| OF which the Minnesota Central Is one, would
| indicate that the Mississippi Valley company
| even after its local exchanges are completed
| will be without long distance connections
One of the officials of the Northwestern
| company stated last evening that all the
| parties to the agreement were bound not to
| have any business relations with other COM
| nnnfn md fS &c fhn he
| Valley company will have to construct lts
own long distance lines.