Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-01-12
THE RURAL
PHONE SYSTEM

@. V. Amerman, Esq, of this city,
who has been interesting himself in
having the system of rural telephones
in this and adjoining coun-
ties has met with much encourage
ment, and has bright assurance that
his efforts will prove successful.
The correspondence which he has
had with 7. S. Pettijohn, of Flora,
Ill, the western promoter of the sys-
tenn, has led the latter to write the
following self explanatory letter con-
cerning the project and his intention:
Il had expected to be in Danville
about the first of the year 1905, to look
after the establishment of big system
Of rural telephone lines in Montour
and adjoining counties, for from the
Information you have given me of that
region, | think such system is great
ly needed and that the people will CO.
operate with US in establishing il. On
account OF severe weather and for
necessary time TO complete the pre-
liminary plans,I will not now be there
for a short time. When the plans are
completed we should secure few
good honest, farmers or other persons
whom the people can trust, to intro
duce the plans to the people of the
different sections where lines will be
erected and give them chance to sub
scribe for their stock. Of course we
do not want to contract for any ma
terial unless it is going to be go, and
the only way to find out about this is
TO get those active solicitors right out
among the people and let them sub
scribe for the stock if they want the
system.
There are always some wide awake
people always on the alert for the bet
terment of their conditions III life, and
they will see and take advantage of
the opportunity at a glance; on the
other hand there are some no doubt,
who Qike the people Of Arkansas who
still cover corn with hoe) may de-
eide to wait few generations yet to
be sure that the new system is the
best. If there should be too many of
the latter sort we certainly would not
want to take up their time and ours
: G,,l To ho no
/ the system of the most advantage to
the people and to warrant us in going
ahead upon small profits we must Sc
cure many subscribers.
In certain part of Illinois a pro
moter succeeded in establishing a sys.
tenn of about 600 subscribers in three
years and thought he had done wond
eIfully we'll; perhaps he had with
the plan he was working under. Hi
price was about 500 per share whilt
the phones were only installed at in
tervaIs, so If member was called ul
by a night messenger the only thinG
he could do was to don his clothes anC
scoot out, maybe through storm or mut
to the place whera tho phoue was
located. But even this was an advant
age over the old way and the patrons
seemed to appreciate it AMI plankee
down their 500 as freely as the peo
pie pay the price we make on stock il
our systems where we give every mem
ber a phone of his own, and install /
for him in his home or place OF busi
ness.
The above mentioned promoter prob
ably did the best ne could; we say no
bosstingly, but thankfully, that We be
lieve we have succeeded in originating
better plan for working telephou!
which is one of tha most peculiar en-
terprises in the world today.
If we are able to give the people bet
ter value for less money than Othe
companies, we are glad to do so ant
think it will be appreciated. One oil
our main secrets is large sales ant
small profits. II we can put in 300
phones in three years at 50 per phont
profit, we are making as much as tht
man who put in 900 phones only dur
ing the same time at $40 par phone
profit, and we prefer to make it by con
ferring the greater benefit If we Dc
not sell half as much stock in three
months as the above mentioned pro
moter did in three years, we will not
consider that we are doing much bust
! paro