Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-01
THE TELEPHONE MONOPOLY
QUESTION.

QUESTION.
At the hearing before the city coun-
Gil upon the question OF admitting the
Tri-state long-distance telephone line
to Willmar, Mr.. D. N. Tal]man sneer.
. ingly referred to the Editor of the
TRIBUNE as man unfit to mould pub
lie opinion, because, he said our state
ments in regard to the telephone stu
alton we're entirely false. He gave US
further on that occasion very patron
izingly some advice about informing
ourselves properly before attempting
to discuss the telephone question. He
detied US to prove our published as.
sertions. We accept the gauntlet.
Not so much because we feel personal
ly injured. as because the issue is one
OF public interest and the true inter-
ests OF the general public that use the
telephone for business or pleasure are
at stake.
Mr.. Tallman first attacked our state.
ment that the admission of the new
line would mean improved telephone
service. 1t is self-evident that such
will DO the case. With good active
competition every effort will be made
to secure the business by the Compel
ing long distance lines and the result
will be Improvement in promptness
and efficiency. Anyone who had oc.
casion to use the Bell lines frt m the
twin cities to Duluth before and after
the competing Tri-state lines we're
built knows that the improvement fol-
lowing was very marked.
Tallman commended that the new
company would not reduce rates. In
signed letter now in our possession
dated May 10Th, President E. H. Moul.
ton OF the new company declares, 'we
shall furnish toll service at reduced
rates. y In q letter received last week
signed by the same party, the follow
ing statement is made. eff we get in
to Willmar, we shall save your bust.
ness men considerable in tolls. Our
competition has effected the following
savings: When We reached Duluth
and Superior, we reduced the rate
from IS to 40 cents. The rate to Aus
tin and Mankato was cut Is cents. /
am strong believer that low rates
make more morey than high ones. II
you are in the talking business and
that is what the telephone is, educate
your patrons to talk-not to keep
their mouths SHUT
Mr.. Tallman says there are no local
exchanges west of Litchfied that desire
connections with the new company,
because his company owns or controls
them all. AS long as Tallman con-
trolled the only lines to the cities, it
is natural that local independent com.
panies have made the best terms pos
sible, but with the new service now as.
sured in many of these towns, there is
little doubt that such independent COM
panies will change their connections,
particularly when by so doing they
escape the opportunities and final ex-
actions OF the Bell monopoly. The
question then arises, shall W illmar be
shut off from all the exchanges, be
they more or less in number, who are
now connected or will shortly connect
with the Tri-State lines? The Tri.
State people assert that they have
5000 phones in the twin cities the pa
irons of which are not reached by the
other lines. Tallman states that the
number is only 1900. We have no
means of ascertaining which statement
is nearest the truth. But whatever
the number, why exclude them from
connections with Willmar? The same
is true OF Duluth and Superior.
Mr.. Tallman deied US to prove that
there were any independent lines dis
satisfied with the treatment received
from the Minnesota Central or that
desired connections with the Tri. State
company at Willmar. We had hard
ly expected to be able to furnish doc
umentary proof that such was the case,
but here is letter received last Mon
day:
Holum, MINI, May 26, 1904.
Editor TRIBUNE, Willmar, MINI.
DEAR S1R:-The telephone talk in
this weeks ! R1BUNE has thorough,
stirred up the telephone interests here
Tie final action of your village coun.
Gil will mean q great deal to our peo
pie as we intend to reach your town
We are building a first-class metallic
line from Sunburg to Brooten where
we expect to connect with the Belgrade
Telephone Company, who, we under
stand, intend to build to New L, ndon
and there connect with other indie.
pendent lines to Willmar in the hopes
Ut there getting in connection with the
Minneapolis line at a reasonable cost.
Any one familiar with the service AND
charges of the Minnesota Central
knows that they are very unreason-
able and the service very poor.
Mr.. Tallman's arguments are, mild.
~ speaking, silly ard seems to be all
for Tallman's projection and big pro.
fits and ''the people be damned.
We don't believe your business men
nor your council men will allow them
selves to be dominated by that kind
of influence. Respectfully,
OLE o. KITTELsoN,
Pres. Brooten & Sunberg Tel. &C.