The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-26

On June %, 1898, this resolution was
approved by the mayor, and then came
the mysterious disappearance of the
Minnesota Central Telephone company.
Il went entirely out of the history of
telephone service in ST. Paul. as COM
pletely as though it had never existed
even on paper, which is, in fact, the
sum total of it's public career For this
reason St Paul has not now the ad-
veOtages accruing from long distance
telephone service, save only by relay
ing at Minneapolis for connection with
other cities. 1t is this unfortunate
condition that enabled a gentleman to
remark last week:
When 1 want to do any long dis
2 lance telephoning 1 go up to the city"
\ number of rumors concerning the
lying down" of this company are
afloat. Some say it was purchased by
the Northwestern company; others in
sinuate that it was put forward for
the purpose of heading off the NIissis-
sippi Valley company. 1t is difficult
to get at the real purpose of the it's
organization. The fact remains that
st. Paul is absolutely cut off from long
distance telephone service except by
way of Minneapolis.
In the ordinance granting a franchise
to the Minnesota Central people it was
stipulated that it should pay to the
city, as compensation for rights and
privileges. . per cent of it's gross earn
lngS. 1t should not make a charge eX-
ceedIng 10 cents for the use of its lines
for five minutes in talking between the
cities of st. Paul and Minneapolis, and
should make connection with any and
ali local telephone exchanges which
might thereafter be operated in the city
of st. Paul upon equal terms, provided
said Minnesota Central Telephone COM
pany shall not at such time be operat-
ing telephone exchange in the city of
st. Paul, and, providing, also, that
nothing should be construed to REQUIRE
the MINNESOTA Central Telephone com
pany to make such connection with the
Northwestern Telephone Exchange
Company
In the Mississippi Valley companys
ordinance the rates are prescribed as
follows.
: For one business telephone, to be
located within two miles of the United
States general pOstoffice, as now To-
Gated in said city, the sum of s49 per
annum, and for one residence tele-
phone. located within said limits. the
sum of $50 per annum and for each half
mile, OF traction thereof, beyond said
two-mile limit, in an air line. the ad-
ditional sum of % cents per month for
each telephone; for all telephones fur
nished to the city of St Paul and by
it used for fire alarm, police or other
city purposes, not to exceed the fol-
lowing rate. to w.t. To furnish at least
three telephones, with switchboard
service, for $3.50 per month each: sixty
telephones for police calls, with care
and maintenance, for $3.50 per wear
each. and for a rental never exceed
ing one-half of the present rate paid
by the city of st. Paul for such serv-
ice. The right is expressly reserved
by the city of st. Paul to increase the
number of telephones by it to be used
in accordance with the schedule price
mentioned in this section
What is st. Paul paying today for an
inferior service, and one against which
is heard much complaint? Following
is the new schedule Of rates of the
Northwestern Telephone Exchange
company. which went into effect Jan.
1, 1899. In this connection it should
be noted that a reduction in rates for
long distance instruments OF 80 per
cent for business and nearly as much
for residences has been made over the
previous schedule. This is what St
Paul now is obliged to pay and will,