The Greeley tribune., 1904-04-28
Raised the Rates.

| NdlScu Iue NdCGS.
The Morgan County Independent
Telephone company, with exchanges
at Brush and Fort Morgan has found
1t necessary to raise its rates, accord
Ing to Its circular letter printed in a
recent issue of the Brush Tribune.
The Morgan County Telephone COM
pany has had the same experience
tnat a number of other western COM
panies have had that put IN telephone
systems where one already existed.
They find they cannot furnish salts
factory service at the price they fig
ured they could. They had not taken
into consideration wear and tear, and
incidental and unforeseen expenses,
due to storms, and after little prac-
tical experience they find in this
western country that they must raise
their rates or go under. This is not
only true Of telephone companies but
OF many other enterprises. The Gree
| ley Gas company got its franchise and
customers with the expectation of
supplying gas at $l.65 per thousand
feet, but had to raise its price nearly
fifty per cent inside of year. 6the
Tribune has no desire to cry down
any local enterprise nor must this
article be construed as doing so,
Greeley has two telephone systems,
and probably always will have. Both
give good service, and their hackers
are our friends, but our advice to
surrounding towns that contemplate
a second telephone system because
of fancied extortionate rates. is,
don't. If the new com pany is well
managed neither company will die,
neither will make any money and
the public will not be benefited in
the least, as every business house
has to subscribe to both systems, and
act as sort Of private exchange for
its friends who want to call somebody
!, on the other line.
The circular referred to follows:
| ITO the Patrons of the Morgan
County Independent Telephone
| Company:
"The present management OF this
company have found it necessary, in
order to continue the Operation OF
the company. to increase the rental
rates to the following schedule:
"For residence phones in Fort
Morgan and Brush, sl.25 per month.
'For ranch phones, Sl.5O per
month.
sFor business phones, 81. 30 per
month.
"Tnese rates will 20 into effect
April |, 1904. Business phones Will
he maintained on individual circuits;
residence and ranch phones will be
multiplied on single circuit when
ever necessary and when the same
will not interfere with good service.
All rentals are payable quarterly In
advance on the first day OF January,
Aprjl. July and October, and must
he pald at the central office at Fort
Morgan or Brush on OF before the loth
day of those months, or service Will
no discontinued. These measures are
deemed necessary owing to the hnan
cial condition OF the company. the
present rates being but about sutilc-
lent to pay the operating expenses.
1.-The company Is local concern
and bears the name of Morgan county,
and for patriotic reasons if for no
other, it is the desire of the com
papy, and should be the desire o' tiie
peopIe OF the county to save the IN
teprity OF the company. IL Is the
intention Of the present management
to extend the service and make IL
more effective and convenient than
il has been in the past, ana 10 estao-
lish the company on safe hnancial
footing. We appreciate the patron
age YOU have given us in the past
and assure you that it shall be our
endeayor to merit your tavors 10 ''e
| future. Yours respectfully,
l.. G. STEPHENSON,
General Manage"