Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-06-26
New PlQSe OI Telephone
SihQf0|l.
Patrons are Urged 10 look
After YhUiP Interests
Closely.
A FEW FACTS
FOR CONSIDERATION
The Advantages Offered by the
Union Telephone Co.

Last week Wednesday company
known as the Gratiot County Telephone
q Messenger company was organized
AT Alma. Since that time the new COM
pany has had an agent Of the Michigan
Bell Telephone company in Alma, ltha'
ca and St Louis urging the citizens 10
subscribe for the service OF this new
company. Some of our citizens have
agreed 20 take this service, while others
have taken the matter under considera
ton or have fatty refused. or course II
ia the natural desire of every telephone
user 20 secure the best possible service
for the least possible money, Ihose
who have not been urged to take the
service of the new company desire hrst
TO be convinced of its merits as pusi'
ness proposition. Leading merchants ana
business men Of Alma, before subscrlo :
IN the new company would like to
know what advantages this company
can offer that they are not now ENJOY
ing. If this company proposes TO give
service over the Bell company's lines,
how will they reach Perrinton. Pom
neii. Mid ileton and Bannister, in each
of which the Union company has an ex'
change:
How will they reach Brice, Ashley,
North Star, Sumner and Elm Hall al
each Of which the Union company has
a toll station? These towns represent
the entire southern and central western
part Of the county, in none or whlch
towns the Bell has phone. how
will the new company with its single
station at Breckenridge make up to It's
subscribers for the Union company
exchange of so phones: The Union
company now has stations or exchanges
in 10 points in Gratiot county, and l2I
phones outside of Ithaca, st. Louis and
Alma. The Bell company has but six
phones in all these towns. The Union
company now has 425 phones in Ithaca,
Alma and st. Louis, while the Bel
only connects with about 20 phones IL
the county. What chance is ther'
that the new company. socalled, or thu
Bell, can ever give the service the Umor
company is now giving. The Union
company is now covering thoroughly IL
counties Of Michigan, reaching ~
points, and 3460 subscribers, beside
over 500 other points covered by othe
Independent connecting companies anC
giving service to 10000 subscribers
What advantage can the Bell offer &c
Offset this? The principal argument o
the new company as represented by TIT
Hall agent is free service between the
three towns,
The Bell company is now in the hand
of the receiver. For in the contract
drawn by that company the receive
expressly says he cannot bind the com
pany except in limited way II so nov
can the Gratiot company so guarantee
it's subscribers privileges OF Bell lines
which the Bell company cannot itsei
guarantee. Then what is the guarante
of the Gratiot company worth: VIVA
assurance have the subscribers OF tn
new company that it will be able to cal
nv out its contracts Of free service 10
any length of time, even year,
What obligation is the Bell compan.
under, anyway to live up to all con
tracts signed by parties who do not ow
one cents worth of stock? Anywa
would il not be mistake for the towr
OF Gratiot to have two or three systems
Would not a single system with to
rates to Alma, st. Louis and Ithaca
far more valuable than free servit
with two systems and less subscriber
to each?
Would it not be we'll before changir
to investigate thoroughly the probab
size of these three exchanges, and ri,
careful consideration to all these que
tons?