Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-09

amount to a rental of about $4,000. 90,
in addition to the local rental which
the user would have to pay to our
company.
Nearly all of the demand for long
distance service at this place is repre-
sented by one hotel and seven manu-
featuring establishments which are
now using the Bell phone for long
distance service, but are patrons of the
local telephone company for all local
telephone services. Outside Of the
establishments above referred to. the
demand for long distance service is
very light, and is not worth the $1,000
above referred to: and for local ser
vices, our present tranSmitterS and
receivers are entirely satisfactory.
Under the contract, the Wisconsin
Telephone Company would be reSpOn-
Siblc for the maintenance of the
tranSmitterS and receivers, while our
local manager would be responsible
for the maintenance of the rest Of the
apparatus. 1t seems to US this would
divide up responsibility, and that our
local manager might be able to deceive
us by alleging that the defects COM
planned of were all chargeable to the
defects in the tranSmitterS and
receivers Of the Wisconsin Company.
We think this divided responsibility
would not conduce TO better service.
Again, at the end of the ten years
when the contract was terminated, we
would be at liberty, of course, to
return to our present system, but it
would cost US good deal to make that
return. All the neighboring tele-
phone companies with which we
might then be connected would be
forced to change with US or dScOn-
meet from US, because, under the lease,
we would not be allowed to connect
with any company except such as was
using the Bell transmitter and
receiver. Could we then make such
change if we wanted to? Would we
be able to secure that united action
which would be necessary to make
such a change profitable?
But, under the proposed contract,
we are to receive ID per cent. on the
tolls. We do not feel that there is
opinion tuat the cost of taking care of
the tolls will amount to about Is per
cent. of the toll income. So we see no
piOuU III UiIdU VI VI uIlc u.
We have a cOunter-prOpOSitiOn to
make TO the Wisconsin Telephone
Company
Let the Wisconsin Telephone Com
panY terminate its long distance line
in our office, We will give them con-
nectiOnS with all of our patrons and
guarantee the collection of all tolls on
the percentage they offer, and if we
no ,yIo
long distance service, and prefer the
Bell transmitter and receiver either
for long distance or local service, we
Will put them in without charge to
the Wisconsin Company, provided
such patron will pay in addition to his
present rental, such additional rental
as the Wisconsin Company may de-
mand for Snch tranSmitter and re-
ceiver, and we will collect such ad-
ditiOnal rental on the percentage
above named.
We are ready to work in harmony
with the Wisconsin Company in pro-
noting the long distance service, but
we cannot see good reason for divid-
ing up with it local service. If we
we have Indicated, it may be better to
wait. The. old parent Bell Company
may soon grow less eXacting. If it'll
continues much longer the course it
has pursued, it will be but a short time
until some strong company, under a
master hand, will step in and combine
the independent toll lines of the State
into one single system, and give us
more connections within the State
than the Wisconsin company can offer,
and on better terms. We can afford to
wait little longer to see what the
future has in store for us.
A. L. FONTAINE,
PreS't. of Wood Co. Tel. Company.