Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-01-14
PRESIDENT FONTAlNE'S OPlN-
ION.

Albert L. Fontaine, President of the
Wood County Telephone Company.
does not favor accepting the PROPOSE
ton made by the Wisconsin Telephone
Company to the independent telephone
companies in the Wisconsin River Val
ley. The proposition, in brief, is to run
its long distance lines into the ex-
changes of Grand Rapids, Wausau,
Merrill, Tomahawk, Rhinelander, and
other points along the river. The COM
pany to discontinue offices, if any, ia
the towns mentioned and give the ex-
changes percentage on the long dis
tance business done. The Wisconsin
company, though, makes it obligatory
on the exchanges, to use the Bell trans
mitters on all instruments, so that there
will be uniformity, but they propose
to give such receivers and transmitters
free IN exchange for the ones now on
the telephones They will also furnish
new ones at a rental of 81 25 per year
for each instrument. The company
also agrees to keep the Bell transmit
ters and receivers in repair free of
charge. The contract to be in force for
ten years.
Mr. kontaine thinks that if the Wis
consin company accomplishes its object,
its business would double and its ex-
penses would be reduced 80 per cent;
that nothing would be gained by using
the Bell transmitters and receivers,
when there are others just as good in
the market which could be purchased
outright with every new instrument
put in, and the different companies
thereby remaining independent; that
at the present rate of increase, (about
l40 per year, the sum which would have
to be paid the Wisconsin company on
rental for transmitters and receivers
would soon be quite large, and that the
percentage of those who used the long
distance telephone was very small
only about ten out of 400 subscribers;
that the dividing of the responsibility
in keeping instruments in good condi-
ton would not conduce to better SEP
vice. Finally Mr.. Fontaine says
again, at the end of the ten years
when the contract was terminated, we
would be- I liberty, of course, to return
to our present system, but it would cost
MS good deal to make that return
All the neighboring telephone compan-
les with which we might then be con-
nected would be forced to change with
us or iisconnect from us, because,
under the lease, we would not be al.
lowed to connect with any company ex-
cept such as was using the Bell trans
mitter and receiver. Could we then
make such change if we wanted tog
Would we be able to secure that united
action which would be necessary to
make such change profitableg
But under the proposed contract, we
are to receive 10 PEI cent. on the tolls.
We do not feel that there is any profit |
in this. We are of the opinion that the
cost of taking care of the tolls will
amount s0.1bout 10 per cent. of the toll
income. SO We see no profit ia that
branch of the contract
Mr. Fontaine, as President of The
Wood County Telephone Co., then
makes the Wisconsin Telephone com.
pany the following counter-propositoni
'Let the Wisconsin Telephone Com
pany terminate its long distance line In |
our office. We will give them connec-
tions with all of our patrons and guar
antee the collection of all tolls on the |
percentage they offer, and if we have |
any patrons who are in need of 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 Wiscon- |
sin Company, provided such patron |
will pay in addition to his present rental |
such additional rental as the Wisconsin |
Company may demand for such trans
mitter and receiver, and we will collect
such additional rental on the percent
age above named
We are ready to work in harmony
with the Wisconsin Company in promot=
ing the long distance service, but we
cannot see good reason for dividing
up with it local service. If we cannot
now work together on the lines we have
indicated, it may be better to wait.
The old parent Bell Company may soon
grow less exacting. If 1t continues
mucn longer Inc COURSE IL mas pursueu,
it will be but short time until some
strong company, under master hand,
will step in and combine the independ
ent 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"