The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-12-19
HELLO! ZIETLOW
The President Of the Telephone
Company Presents His Side
Of the Case.

Editor. HERALD-ADvANCE Milbank,
South Dakota.
DEAR SIR:-In the article of your
issue of December 18TH, headed "Tele-
phone Trouble, you make certain
statements which are somewhat mis-
leading. You are in error when you
say, "But sprinkling of the former
telephone patrons are enjoying the
service since central" has been trans
ferred to the new telephone building;"
the fact is, only ten of the parties who
own their own phones have dropped
out, and fully that number of new
patrons have been added since.
The Dakota Central Telephone
Lines never urged anyone to put in a
phone of their own: neither did they
agree to charge them only 25c for
switching. This was done by Mr..
Thomas, personally, and on his own
account, thinking it would lessen his
work in calling parties using the
long distance lines. Mr. Thomas soon
found that 1t meant something more,
namely the switching of one patron to
another, and the result was that he
was losing money every day. He
then raised the rate to SOC per month,
but the work multiplied very rapidly,
and soon assumed such proportions
that he was worse off than ever: he
then tried to interest local capital in
the deal, without success; finally as
last resort, he sold his interests in the
exchange, as it then was, to the Dak-
ota Central Telephone Lines; and on
being told that this company could
not afford to continue to do business
on losing basis, he plead for a
maintenance of the same rate for at
least year or more. Itwas granted,
and although the company was los
ing money by the deal, the arrange
ment was carried on, not only for
twelve months, but for eighteen.
All new business offered, or solicited,
was handled at the uniform rate of
$500 per month for business houses,
and $1.O0 per month for residence
phones: and under this arrangement,
the exchange has grown to its present
proportions. tits not an unjust deal,
nor a new one: neither should it be a
surprise to the citizens of Milbank,
for they have been told many times,
both privately and publicly that the
rates of the Dakota Central Telephone
Lines, for exchanges of from 80 to 250
subscribers. were $500 per month for
business phones, and Sl.OO for resi-
dence 'phones, and Milbank will not
be asked to pay more than anyone
else. The people of Milbank have al
ways had fair treatment at our hands:
we have. at all times, done more, and
provided better outlets, than we have
agreed to do; in fact, Milbank has bet
ter telephone facilities today, than any
other town of its size in the state. All
this has been brought about by a
large expenditure of money, and it
will be a long time before Milbank
exchange will be self sustaining, say
ing nothing about paying dividends;
it is not reasonable to expect, and we
do not feel justified in making a rate at
Milbank that has ruined others: a
rate that is less than other towns are
paying, where the expenditures are not
as large, nor the facilities as good as
those enjoyed by the citizens of Mil
bank.
1t is, no doubt, the privilege of
those who feel aggrieved, to organize a
local company but no fair minded
business man will expect to enjoy all
the privileges, and conveniences that
we have provided, at great cost,
without allowing us just compensa-
tion. Respectfully yours,
J. l.. w. ZIETLOW
Pres. Dakota Central Telephone Lines