Willmar tribune., 1898-01-11
TESTED PHONES.
Minneapolis Aldermen Visited
at Wi11mar and Talked In
Our Telephones,

A deleg alton OF prominent Minnea-
polls people, consisting Of Aldermen
Long, Colhurn, Dickinson. Rhode.
Phillips, Schwartz, Elliot. O'Brien.
John Mcconnell Of the water works
department and Me<srs 5. T. Johns on
aud G.. II. Deane Of the Minneapolis
Board Of Trade came up to Wi|lmar
On the midnight passenger train last
Friday night to test the utility OF the
Minnesota Central Telephone Cos
lines. This company desires to ex-
tend its lines to the City of Minnea-
polls but their admission is being Bit
terly contested by the Northwestern
Telephone company. or in other words
the Bell Telephone monopoly This
latter company has now p monopoly
of the telephone business of Minnea
polls and it is natural that they will
use every means in their power to ex-
clude a competitor if possible. The
visit Of the aldermen of Minneapolis
was to ascertain if the allegations Of
the Northwestern Telephone Co. to the
effect that the lines Of the Minnesota
Central company we're inferior and cap
able of but poor service were true.
The train bearing the aldermen was
late, owing to an accident to the
engine. but the reception committee OF
Willmar citizens were on hand On its
arrival and escorted their guests to the
Merchants Hotel, where dinner was
served. About twenty-five representa-
tive Willmar citizens participated on
this occasion. The dinner was fol-
lowed by speeches, DR.. Johnson act
ing US tOasrma ster.
In the morning the real business OF
investigation began and the lines
were placed at the disposal of the WIS.,
itors. Connections were made with
Glencoe. more than twice the distance
to Minneapolis. aud the result was
very satisfactory. The opinion of the
visitors will be best stated by publish
ing an interview for the WnLMAR
TRIBUNE with S. T. Johnson, Presi-
dent of the Minneapolis Board OF
Trade, one of the party. who said:~~
''Accepting the courtesy of the Tele-
phone Company I came to Willmar
expecting to find system of telephones
through this country which, to say
the least, would be crude. l have
found a system of telephone that. sc
far as I can Judge from using then
and observ alton of their construction
are built substantially as though they
expected them to stay and in first class
working order. | talked over the line
with Glencoe this morning, distance
I believe of POO miles aud I can tru1,
say with more satisfactory result;
than I ordinarily have had in talking
over the lines between Minneapolis
and St. Paul l have an ordinary
phone at my end but it is connected
with a long distance phone at the re
ceiving end. l do not think / am put
ting it very strong when l say l an
very much surprised at the result o
the investigation l have been able t,
make have noticed the poles AM
the manner of construction and an
agreeably surprised. do not believ
= if it was put to vote that there woule
be one single merchant or business
man of Minneapolis but would vote il
favor of this system being connecte
with our City. The business interes
*s of Minneapolis want to do bushes
with the merchants of these towns i
the easiest, most direct and most salts
factory manner possible and that ca
only be done through the telephone
In my opinion there will be no oppc
sition to speak of from the City Cour
Gil. Our City Council is nearer bod
of business men than we have had TO
several years and think they hav
the best interests of the City at hear,
sive gentlemen and I think they wi
unquestionably and almost unan
i mously vote to allow this system ente
Minneapolis. "
z ssI wish to thank the citizens c
Wilimar for the courtesy and kindnes
shown to me while here and I think
can speak for the other gentlemen {
the party. You can thank Northwest
Ri. ern Telephone Exchange for havin
placed their lines entirely at our dis
pOsal and want to especially than
VI the officer of the Minnesota Centra
Telephone Co. for the excellent faciE
@ ties they have placed at our dispose
for viewing the city and their systez
q OF telephone"
Senator Thorpe provided carriage
%s3 and the visitors were taken for a driv