The labor world., 1899-11-04
an expressed desire to build to- tht
head of the lakes.


| head Of the lakes.
1--WE received them with open arms, -
continued the mayor, 'and assured
them that anything within reason they
might ask for they could get. 1t soon
| cropped out, however, that they wanted
a local franchise. The franchise of the
local company was ABOUT to expire.
The common council and myself had
been elected on an issue that no more
franchises should be granted unless
they were open to competitive bids. The
long distance company declined to give
| us any satisfaction when we asked
| them what their schedule of rates
would be for the use of their phones
| We thought this was point on which
we should be Informed as it was a
| question that certainly seemed to be
of a public nature and one on which
the public should be informed. If the
prices were satisfactory then all right.
have been severely criticised. 1t has
been said that if it were not for me
we would now have the long distance
service. Certainly the counci! mad as
much to do with the failure as myself
bids but the local company did not
submit any bid. AS for myself 7
should have favored giving the local
company the preference even on a
higher bid for I would not consider it
right to interfere with their invested
capital; neither was I anxious to have
another company come here to add
their poles to the crowded condition of
the streets. It is a purely business
matter and the man that said a Repub-
lican will have to be elected in order to
insure a long distance telephone SER
vice for the city, insulted the Republi-
can party The new local company has
begun to establish it's system and it's
schedule of rates is about half Of that
of the present local company. I re-
ceived today a telegram from the
Mississippi Valley Telephone company
of Minneapolis, which says that it will
give Duluth the long-distance service
in the near future"
Mayor Truelsen suggested that the
people wait awhile and then, perhaps,
after the Independent line reaches here
the Bell people will be ready to come
in on reasonable terms. He was not in
favor of making it necessary for peo-
pie to have two telephones, one for
local use and one for the lorg distance
service.
F. A. Patrick of the Stone Ordean-
Wells company said that the business
interests of Duluth demand the long
distance service. He said he thought
the mayor was right. Mr.. Patrick said
he was willing to wait and take
chances.
p. Lomasney of the Duluth Telephone
company was present. He was asked
a number Of questions at different
times regarding the long distance tele-
phone company and the cause of the
failure of this city to be denied the
service. Mr.. Lon1asney's statement
covering the various questions, was in
substance as follows:
Il see no justice in the idea of bring
ing the present local telephone COM
pany into this controversy. The ser
vice of our company has been criticised
by the mayor. I will say. and without
fear Of successful contradiction that
the service of our company up to the
time of the fire was as good as can
be had in the world. We have been
obliged to set along since the fire with
temporary facilities, but new ones of
the very best are coming, and they will
be here in due time.
'-As for the long distance telephone
matter l viii say that the present local
company has nothing whatever to do
With It. The long distance company, as
its name implies, is service distinct
from any other. Go not represent the
long distance company in any way. |
The mayor has asked me if We would !
connect Duluth subscribers with the
long distance company, as YOU know, |
is not yet in Duluth. II were to wan ;
to talk with places outside of the head
of the lakes cities I would have 70 so
to Superior to do it. That ought to be !
sufficient explanation Of our ability to !
connect Duluth with the long distance
service at Superior.
considerable has been said about
independent telephone systems. I will
say, not with any desire to prejudice