Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-07-13
TELEPHONE MEN
MEET HERE TODAY
INITIAL STEP TOWARD AN IN
DEPENDENT LINE.
Several Local Business Men Will
Hold Meeting This Afternoon at
New COmmerCidl-Independent
Line Officials Will Be In Atten-
ddnCe-Estimdte Cost $4,000.

in Watertown of new Independent
telephone system. Some even laugh
edat the idea as being preposterous,
as the names of the moving spirits in
the matter had not been ushered before
the gaze of the public.
The movemnet spoken of, however,
is taking a more definite form. In
fact to that extent that a meeting has
been called for this afternoon at the
New Commercial hotel at 3 80 O'Clock,
which will be attended by several of
those in Watertown who are interest
ed in the project. In addition to the
local parties who are promoting the
scheme, several officers of independent
lines already established in this section
of the state will be in attendance at
the gathering. The visitors will IN
clude Mr.. Harper of Madison, presi-
dent of the Dane County Telephone
company; Mr.. Schoenneckir, president
of the Lake Mills, Waterloo and Col
umbus line; Mr.. Webb of Fort Atkin-
son, of the Jefferson County Indepen-
dent Telephone company; Richard
Valentine of Janesville, secretary of
the Dane County Telephone company.
1t is understood that Frank Pedro,
who, until recently, was the o:al
manager for the Wisconsin Telel hone
company, is taking an active part in
the promotion of the proposed new
telephone company. Mr.. Pedro was
for several years local manager for
the present existing company but re-
signed few weeks ago. 1t is highly
probable that in case Of the launching
of the new company, Mr.. Pedro will
be placed in one of the high positions.
Several of the monied men of the
city have become interested in the
project and have signified their inten-
tion of taking stock in the new con-
cern. They will be in attendance at
the meeting this afternoon, at which
time affairs will no doubt shape them
selves so that it will be practically
SSIllSu "IldG IllC luCulS pldIlo Will DC-
A we'll known citizen of the city has
been interested in the scheme for
some months and for several weeks
has been acquainting himself with all
necessary details in the establishment
of such an enterprise, which has ne
cessitated several trips to Chicago and
other points. He is gentleman who
has the means at his command to push
the project through alone, if nee
essary. He is very enthusiastic over
the project, but has stated that he
does not care to have his name made
public just at present.
One of the moving spirits in the
project, in speaking to Leader rep
resentative last evening said: eff
our plan is carried to a successful
termination, as l feel sure it will be.
the new independent company will con-
meet with the other Independent COM
panies. The Rock County Telephone
company alone has about l. 500 sub
scribers. According to the report of
the secretary of that company, they
are furnishing telephones for just one
half the price as that charged by the
Wisconsin company. The Independent
company is paying dividend of 10 per
cent to the stockholders on the in
vestment, besides making improve
ments to the service Thus it is shown
what an enormous profit is made with
the price charged by the old company. -
Asked for an expression as to the
attitude the city council would take in
the premises of granting franchise
the gentleman stated: 81 do not be-
lieve that with the present city council,
the members will be so blinded to
their personal we'll being and welfare
of their constituency that they will
vote to turn down proposition that
is of such Importance and means so
much to the general public. | feel
quite confident that if affair, so shape
themselves that a franchise is asked
that the fourteen members of the coun
Gil will at this time give the people
of Watertown what is their due-an
opportunity to break away from a
grasping corporation.
Continuing along the line of new
company, the gentleman added: 81
am in receipt of information to the
effect that the telephone rates at
| Beaver Dam and Waupun are much
less than in Watertown and that it is
the same company operating in all
cities. If this is correct, | would
call the attention of the Advancement
association to the matter, that in
quiry can be made as to the correct
ness of this report. My interest in
the new movement is not with malice
at heart. All desireis fair play and
justice to the citizens of Watertown,
and if necessary to get justice through
the launching of new independent
copmany (which seems an absolute ne
cessity)-then l am in for the enter
prise