The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-02-04
WILL ORGANIZE.
Mankato Citizens Telephone Ex.
change Co. to Start up.
Meeting of Subscribers Held at The
Saulpaugh Last Night Takes De-
CiSive Action.


Mankato in a few days, to be known
as the Mankato Citizens Telephone
Exchange Co. This was decided up
on at the meeting held at The Saul
paugh Tuesday, when the subscribers
to stock and instruments met seven
representatives of other independent
companies.
Those present from abroad were
Chas. Webster, of Waucoma, Iowa,
Vice president and general manager
of the Western Electric Telephone
system; H. G Hackney, of Madison,
Wis. representing the Standard tele-
phone; P. A. Potter, of Britt, Iowa,
secretary of the Western Electric Co:
w. II. Hodgman, of Winnebago City,
secretary of the Blue Earth Valley
Telephone Exchange COIL. L. Severn.
of New Uim, president : of the
New Ulm Telephone Co; W. w.
Ward an6 David s. Wade, of Fair
mont. president and secretary of the
Fairmont Telephone Co.
w. A. Funk was elected chairman
of the meeting. :.
The visitors were called upon for
remarks, and Mr.. Webster said that
an exchange had just been putin at
Owatonna with 2OO phones. Winona,
La Crosse and Albert. Lea have indie
pendent exchanges. He thought that
there would be return of fifteen or
twenty per cent on the investment in
Mankato. His company expected to
build to Mankato from Minneapolis
and other directions, which would
help the local exchange. He thought
that there would be no trouble to sell
the stock after company was Or
ganized. 49,.
The question was asked whether
company could incorporate with less
than $4,000 stock subscribed, and it
was the general opinion that this
could be done.
The probable effect of fight made
by the Bell telephone people was also
talked over.
Mr.. Hackney said that at Menomi-
nee, Wis; the independent exchange
has 22O phones, and the old company
40, of which only ten are paid for! At.
Sparta, Wis, a new company started
up jan LIST with IA phones, and the,
Bell people only hold 7 out of 35 former
takers. At .Watertown, there is new
company with ITO phones, and the
old company only holds 10 out of 40
former subscribers. At Madison, Wis,
there are nearly 900 subscribers to the
independent phones, and only 10 Bell
instruments out of 220 are paid for.
Mr.. Webster said that an independ-
ent exchange will be put in at Mime
apolis inside of a year. He suggested
that after local company organizes
here personal notes be secured from
the subscribers. @""
Mr.. Potter said that independent
exchanges had been organized at En-
metsburg, Iowa, and Waseca, during
the winter. as -.
Mr.. Wade said that since the threat
of the Bell company to'parallel his
company's line, $4,000 Of stock had
been sold, which showed how little
effect the threat had - ~
Mr.. Severn said that his company
would extend its lineltoi sMankato as
soon as an exchange islputlin here. 1t
extends to CORTLAND now:i The idea
from the beginning was to come to
Mankato. 1879
n. E. Hance wanted to know what
the outside compsn MES were willing to
do to help start the local telephone
company. sas'a
Mr.. Webster said that his company
was willing to give any aid or infors
nation possible.
AMr. Potter said that the local COM
pany could have the free use Of his
company's poles in the city.
Mr.. Hodgman said that his com.
pany would aid all it. could
Mr.. Ward said that his company
would help by bringing business over
the wires.
j Mr.. Hodgman said that the fran
chise which the Blue Earth Valley
Co. had obtained to put in a local ex-
change had expired, but that local
people ought to have no trouble in
getting a new one.
w. M. Farr said that it looked as
though the first two companies to get
local franchises had sold out.
Mr.. ,Hodgman denied that his COM
pany had sold out
Mr.. Farr said that he referred to
two companies before the Blue Earth
company had applied. il
Mr.. Hance thought that outside as
sistance should be had in raising the
balance of the stock.
Mr.. Potter said that his company
would be glad to send a man here. 1t
had done SO once before.
The matter of organizing at once
4.1Ix.l oror mr. 1op0th