Willmar tribune., 1899-10-18

UNE asked to Apologize for
(From the Argus:)
MINNESOTA CENTRAL.
TELEPHONE COMPANY MAKES IT CLEAR
The Willmar Stockholders Have a
Meeting and listen to Reports and
Neutrality-suspicious. and IMAM
inously Approve the
| Directors.
Acting upon the invitation of Presi-
dent Tallman Of the Minnesota Gen.
trail Telephone Co. the Willmar stock
holders and those living in this vi
cinity met at the presidents office
Tuesday evening. The object of the
meeting was to investigate the recent
alleged sale of that part of the Mime
sofa Central system extending from
Willmar to Minneapolis, to the North
western Telephone Co. Considerable
talk and insinuations and charges
and counter charges having been made
by the stockholders and patrons of
the Minnesota company in reference
to the sale, it was deemed advisable
that the stockholders be made ac-
quainted with the exact condition of
| aft airs.
Previous to the meeting Mr.. Tall
man had appointed Messrs. w. J.
Pinney, Phil. J. Haley and G.. H.
Bitterness as an auditing committee
to 60 over all the accounts and vouch-
ers of the company and to make their
report to this meeting.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. Tallman and the object stated.
Mr.. Tallman then made an exhaustive
verbal report of the financial condi-
tion of the line and of the sale made
of the Willmar-Minneapolis branch
and of the exact relations existing be-
tween the Northwestern company and
the Minnesota company.
Mr.. Tallman stated that after some
of the Minnesota Central lines had
been constructed and we're in opera
tion, the Northwestern company Sc
cured right of way, invaded the terri
tory and was about to commence ope-
rations to parallel the most import
ant lines of the Minnesota Central.
Mr.. G. H. Sherwood, who was pres
ent, stated of his own knowledge that
the Northwestern had secured right of
way along portions of the Minnesota
Central and were intending to secure
other right of way and parallel other
lines of the Minnesota Central. While
this matter was in progress, Mr.. Tall
man stated that a proposition was re-
ceived from the Northwestern COM
pany to either buy or sell parallel
lines from Willmar TO Minneapolis,
the consideration being the payment
of S26, 900, 90 cash and the concession
of certain privileges hereinafter men,
toned.
A meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Minnesota Central company
was held, the matter fully gone over
and the proposition of the Northwest
ern accepted. The proposition in SUBJ
stance was that the Northwestern COM
pany should pay the Minnesota Cen
trail $26.00000 for the line running
from Willmar to Minneapolis; that
the Minnesota Central was to use the
Bell instrument throughout its system
at a monthly rental of so cents per in
strument; that the Minnesota Central
was not to invade territory then oc-
cupied Or to be occupied by the North
western company; that the Northwest
ern company was not to invade terri
tory then occupied or to be occupied
by the Minnesota Central company,
the limits of territory being defined
more definitely in the contract; that the
holders Of passes over the Minnesota
Central would be allowed to use the
line from Willmar to Minneapolis for
| period Of two years and to pay
therefor messenger fee of Is cents
for connection made with the local St..
Paul or Minneapolis systems; that the
Minnesota Central was TO be connected
with the Northwestern lines wherever
they might come together and the SER
vice extended throughout the North
western system.
Mr.. Tallman then read the treas
urer's report of the receipts and dis
bursements of the company showing
the receipt Of the S26, 100000 and it's
Expenditure. 1t had been rumored
that Mr.. Tallman had been paying
himself d large salary for his services
as president and treasurer. The re-
port of the auditing committee shows
that Mr.. Tallman has not received a
! cent from the company as salary since
last November, but that on the other
hand he has loaned the company
$1,000. 90 and through his efforts and
upon his guarantee his friends have
loaned the company Ss,000.00, these
amounts being necessary for the i'm
provement of the system, doubling of
the lines to accommodate the service
being necessary in many places. The
auditing committee, through its chair
imam, Mr.. Pinney, reported also that
they had examined in detail the ac-
/ F. ~ SO fa.,.l