Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-01-26
MADE A MISTAKE.

The Stevens Point Journal points to |
the Grand Rapids independent tele-
phone system as proof that the Journ-
al took the right stand several years
ago in opposing al independent move
ment in that city. We are not posted
in the affairs of the Grand Rapids Tele-
phone Co., but we do known that of the
committee sent to Wausau from Stew.
ems Point several years ago to make an
investigation, majority, at least. did
not care for any information, except
that which could be used against the
independents. Wausau has conducted
an independent company for some
fourteen years. 1t ousted the Wisconsin
Telephone Co.; has given better and
more satisfactory service from the very
start than the old company did, and
the price is today lower than the Wis
consin's was fourteen years ago. Three
years ago last September an automatic
system was installed In doing this the
old system was entirely thrown out and
a full metallic circuit constructed, all
in cables arranged so that each block in
the city has from fifteen to twenty-five
extra wires running into it, so that
phones may be installed on short
notice and without the trouble of run
ming wires from the central Office for
every new phone. Of course, it
took good deal of money but it is
gradually paying for itself, and besides
pays dividend each year to its stock
holders The system is the best known
to the world today and the old system,
such as is used by the Wisconsin COM
pany, is not to be compared with the
automatic for q moment. Fourteen years
ago the Wausau company was capital
lied for $4,000, and plant built to ac-
commodate 200 subscribers. When it
was decided to put in the automatic,
the company had 600 subscribers; had
built its plant, costing some S25, 900; had
paid in rebates and cash some 16per cent.
annually-until the last year or so, when
the open wire construction and the
plant became so large, that all the
earnings were eaten upin expense--and
had several thousand dollars In the
treasury. The automatic system has
cost some $1,000. The capital stock of
the company was. increased to SIC, 900
and the earnings are paying off the in
debtedness which three years ago, was
ahouf goo an0 Tho R o,,o,, ,,,e. 80, ,,,,c,,,
the entire city, is built to Rothschild,
five miles below Wausau and to Kelly
1t runs TO Merrill and has line up into
the town of Hewitt, a distance of twenty
miles; it runs out into the town of Ber-
lin; is connected with the Marathon
County Telephone company's lines and
the Wisconsin Telephone Co.'s long
distance lines and on every instrument
is long distance transmitter and re-
ceiver. The Wausau company will
spend $40, 900 the coming season in con
struction work, putting in cables, etc,
liz order that its excellent service may
be maintained. Our company can pay
its Indebtedness without any trouble in
few years time; pay its dvi.
dends; keep up its excellent service
and be ready to take advantage of any
good thing that may come along. Our
company is not money making concern
and its aim is to give the best service
at the very lowest possible rate to its
subscribers. We ask the Stevens Point
Journal to peruse carefully the com
pany's annual report which will be
made at its annual meeting, on Tuesday
evening, February End. Stevens Point
has made great mistake in not build
ing and operating its own telephone
system.