Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1906-10-11
TWO TELEPHONE SYsTEns.
The Matter Of an Additional Fran
Chlse for New Telephone Co.
Has to be Considered,

slderatlon of the City Cornell
Both Sides Of the Question.
A very important matter came
up before The city council Monday
evening, the matter Of granting a
franchise for a second telephone COM
pany to do business in the city. At
torney Hughes presented an applica-
tion to the city council at It's last
meeting for a second telephone fran
chise, as reported in the papers of
the city. jamestown residents are
naturally interested in this matter
and desire to know all the facts, as
they realize the1e are two sides to
the question, On the one side is the
argument of com petition in reducing
rates and making for better service.
On the other side is the added ex-
'panse to our business men who would
be required to put in two telephones
in their places Of business where one
is now raqlired, and the. placing of
double the present number OF poles
and wires In our streets and alleys to
the annoyance Of the public. Where
only one com pany IS. Operating In a
town all persons who can affor this
convenience are. on this line, and
reached through this exchange.
Where there are two exchanges it le-
suits In part Of these subscribers be-
ing on one line, and part on the 9TH
el !; with the result that In the resi-
dence districts; patrons of either line
could get only about half actua
value Of their connection. '9
TIE. people Of jamestown are not
Inter ested In the special welfare OF
either OF these telephone companies.
The one thing that interests them Is
their own best interests. II two tele-
phones are real and permanent ad-
vantage then they want them, and
II on the other hand two telephones
are an added expense, an additional
burden, and q disadvantage, then
they do not want them.
1t has been the experience OF other
towns in Minnesota that where fran
ch,se was granted for long distance
purpose. only, 1t resulted later In the
forming of a "Home Company" for
local purposes, the securing OF Sec
ond franchise, and later the merging
of this "Home Company" with the
new company, thus indirectly accom-
plish Ing what could not have been
done by direct means. Is not this IN
the nature of a stock jobbinR pro-
position, based largely on the direct
value of franchises that cost the COM
NAMES nothing? Does not the grant,
ing of such a franchise enable the
promoters to sell their stock on It's
strength, and finally result 10 forcing
the stronger company to absorb the
weaker? Does the the service OF two
companies result in any behiit to
the public, In towns OF this
size? Free franchises granted these
b,R corporal ions are certainly valu-
BILE assets to them for their purposes.
In order to get an expression OF
business men on this subject the
matter has been taken up with the
business people Of the CITY and the
largest users 0 the telephone, and It
is stated these people are practically
unanimous In their objection to
granting this additional franchise,
at this time. 81: g.. 49,. /. ts-,.
Il Is understood the the following
protest against the same has been
made for the attention of the city
council.
jamestown, N. Dak.,
# October 3, 1906.
TO 4. d. Grant. Con Buckley,
John Tunstall, COMMITTEES, and to
jamestown. city council, Jamestown,
n. D. 6;
s Gentlemen ): We wish to enter oul
protest ngaiDst the granting OF an
other telephone franchise to . new
com pany, for the following reasons
5= First-Ti,ere is no demand on the
1 part Of the business men or residents dents
4 Of jamestown for such additions
& company. :.
second-The granting Of anothe'
telephone franchise at t IS time even
q il stricted:to "L0ng Distance p.'r.
sis poee only, viii be the entering wedge
& that win ultimately lead to an applt:
cation Tor i aflanohise for local pur...
q poses, and will Inevitably lead to I y, &c
local axcnanRe S. IN