Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
TELEPHONE MEETING.
The Officers and Directors of the Marathon
County Telephone Co. Issue Call.

On the Sd day of June last, there was
a meeting held in Wausau which was
attended by about all of the representa-
tives of the independent telephone
companys in the Wisconsin valley
The meeting was called to discuss the
matter of the consolidation of the toll
lines, more especially. Judge Gaynoi
was the leading spirit in the movement
and in his remarks before the hleeting
on that day, he said that by union oi
the lines under one management, bet
ter service could be obtained; that the
work required of the present lines was
too great and further expenditure
seemed unavoidable to make these lines
perform the work demanded of them.
After thorough discussion, it was
moved and carried, "that it is the sense
of this meeting that all toll lines in the
Wisconsin valley should be consolidat-
ed"
The following committee was then
appointed to bring about such a con-
solidation: j. A. Gaynor, +. p. Stone,
Julius Thielman, w. II. Bradley and
Arthur Taylor.
The above committee has issued the
following circular letter to the stock
holders of each of the different toll line
companies;
DEAR SIR: There are four independ-
ent toll line companies between Grand
Rapids and Tomahawk. Each gives
good service between the towns it was
intended to connect, but the service is
not generally satisfactory on any of the
lines for long distances.
at the meeting of these independent
companies held at Wausau on the Sd of
June, it was proposed to consolidate
them and to extend copper line from
Grand Rapids to Rhinelander, using the
poles of the present companies for that
purpose as far as they would extend.
This copper line to be used for long dis
tance service, and the iron wire for the
purpose for which it is now used.
This arrangement would add to the
earning capacity of the whole.
1t would bind together the people of
the Wisconsin Valley who have now
and always will have many interests in
common 1t would bind together in
close friendship and mutual assistance
all the independent exchanges whose
aim it is to give the best possible service
at the least possible cost.
And by placing all the toll lines un-
der one management, the expenses will
be lesSened and the service improved.
This consolidation can be accomplished
without loss to anyone and with profit
to all By taking into account the cost
of each toll line system less its deterior-
alton on account of time in use, and
also its earning capacity, and upon
these a fair valuation of each can be
ascertained.
The proposed Wisconsin River Tele-
phone Company would then purchase
the lines of each of the four tol! line
companies, and pay the stockholders
the fair cash value of their stock accord
ing to such basis of valuation, and at
the same time give the right to each
stakeholder to take his pay in cash or
in the stock of the consolidated com
pany if he preferred to do so. 1t will
be the aim of your committee to so
limit the stock of the consolidated com
pany that it will pay fair dividend on
its par value, and be at least worth its
par value in cash.
To accomplish this result, the COM
panies that favor it should by vote of
majority of the their stockholders,
authorize their Board of Directors to
make such a sale upon just and equit-
able basis, leaving to the stockholders
the right or option to accept for their
stock either cash at the agreed price or
stock in the consolidated company, as
each might prefer 1t will be the pur-