Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-04-08

CLUB VOTES TO
ACCEPT REPORT
Commercial Club Committee Rec
commends That the City Do
Not M0lest Northwestern
The Commercial Club at it's meet
ing last night adopted the report of
the telephone committee. Lack of
time and space this week prevents
us from making any extended COM
ment on the same, but we will state
that it reads like a brief for the
N. W. Telephone Co. and the adop-
tion Of all its recommendations by
the council would be an absolute
surrender Of every right that the
city has to control this public SER
vice corporation. The report reads
as follows:
To the Willmar Commercial Club:
Your committee, appointed for the
purpose of conferring with the
Northwestern Telephone Exchange
Company relative to the telephone sit
uation in the city of Willmar, begs to
herewith submit the following report
l. Your committee finds, after
consultation with the Vice President
and Manager of the N. w. Tel. Ex.
Co., that said company claims to have
a good and valid franchise under which
it is at present operating the local
telephone exchange.
q: Your committee is confident
that the N. W. Tel. Elk. Co., would
give the City of Willmar reasonable
guaranty for long period as to SER
vice and rates, even though, for bust
ness reasons, it will not apply for a
new franchise for the short time of
ten years as limited by the City Char
ter.
3. That the N. W. Tel. Elk. Co.
does not pretend to have any exclu-
sive franchise in the city of Willmar,
but that the city is free to grant 9TH
er franchises whenever and to whom
ever it chooses.
4. That the N. w. Tel. Ex. Co.
recognizes the right of the council of
said city to supervise the placing of
all poles, supports and wires, and to
designate the manner in which and
the place where such poles, etc. shall
be placed.
5. That the N. w. Tel. Ex. Co.
is willing to give the citizens of Will
mar the best service at reasonable
ratea, and only asks fair return. on
it's investment in said city, being sat-
isfied with a dividend of six or seven
per cent thereon.
6. That the N. W. Tel. Elk. Co. is
ready and willing to sell and dispose
of it's plant in the city of Willmar at
actual cost to any lvcal person or as
sociation, the purchaser to appoint
any reputable expert to ascertain such
cost; the only conditions imposed be-
ing that the N. w. Tel. Elk. Co. be
given proper and reasonable connec-
tions for it's long distance lines and
that the present service and rates be
maintained.
Z. That the company claims that
the local exchange is being operated
at loss under the present rates, and
that in order to receive fair return
on the investment it must necessarily
increase the rates in Willmar. You,
committee was assurd, however, that
such rates would not exceed $3.50 fol
business, $l.50 for special and ST..
for two-party residence phones. You,
committee was further assured that
no further change in rates would be
made until the number of phones ir
Willmar shall exceed 800.
The following statement of Actua
Earnings and Expenses of the Wilma,
Exchange for the eight months from
May l to Dec. 81, 1907, was furnished
your committee by the company ane
the same can be verified from the
company's books:
1nvestment..... .$321O2 O(
Number OF Stations. .........."...... $4,000
Investment per Station........ 63.O1
| REVENUE:
Exchange ge..........$5394.23
Toll 20 per cent. 221.72
! $5615.9t
| EXPENSES:
| Operating Actual .$2554.76
Current Repairs ......... 67O.53
| Taxes, per cent of
Revenue 16S.48
| Postage, printing s.
! StatiOnery,..... 10000