Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-02-12
PACIFIC TEL. & TEL. co.
ANSWERS HOME COMPANY
(Medford Tribune, Feb. ~

tne artlcle IN tne MedfOrd Mall OF
February 4, inspired by promoter e.
A. Marsh OF the Home Telephone
Co." or the "Citizens Telephone
Co.," don't know which, as he uses
both names. ! beg TO call the atten-
tion OF the public to some of the er.
roneous statements therein. These
statements must have been made
rather through ignorance OF the
true conditions than for the direct
purpose OF misleading the public.
In the first place, the so-called
Home company cannot be called a
system, as the 5000 little companies
are scattered all over the country
and In most cases were promoted
by agents OF the Independent tele-
phone apparatus manufacturers, and
when they had sold them equipment
and these constructive companies
had built the plant, they were left
to work out their own salvation as
the promoter had got his profit and
gone and had no more interest in
the company he had taken from
local people. who believed him when
he promised them 80 and 40 per
cent on the investment. This
money was drawn from the local
banks, and the majority OF 1t was
sent out OF the city to pay for equip
ment and the promotion commits
sion, and the city naturally lost the
benefit OF his money, and It did not
go back to the cities people In divi-
dends or "payrolls.
Regarding Mr.. Marsh's claim to
long distance connection to Rose
burg. now,as a matter OF fact, their
line ends at Corvallis and Albany,
and runs north to Portland. They
do not connect with Roseburg at all.
How about this, Mr.. Marsh?
Regarding their long distance line
on the south, they have none north
OF Santa Maria. Cal. 252 miles or so
from San Francisco. What about
this, Mr.. Marshl
The Hood River Situation.
Regarding the Hood River sltua-
tion, | would say that I handled that
proposition from the start, and
naturally know the true facts OF the
case. which are as follows: A Mr..
Brownell. who claimed TO be a re-
preventative OF the Home company,
apparel In Hood River the latter
part OF 1907 and showed n few OF
the investors that II they would put
up $4,000 and organize n Home
Telephone company at Hood River
they could form close corpora
tion. and II would net them 40 per
cent per year, and the Northwest
ern Long Distance Telephone Com
pany at Portland would build
Home telephone line to Hood River
and connect with them. They took
this bait and the company was form
cd and Mr.. Brownell was made su-
perintendent OF the construction and
received a salary OF 800 per month
and a bonus OF l5 per cent on every
dollar they spent In the building OF
the plant. The first issue OF stock
to amount OF $4,000 was used up
and the plant was uncompleted; |
then more stock was Issued. and |
Manager Brownell peddled this to
the widows and orphans and people |
went 30 far as to mortgage their
property TO buy this 40 per cent
stock and TO this date dividends
never have been paid, and the North
western T, d. company never built
The line to them, az they had prom
Ised to, and furthermore, when the
Hood River home Telephone COM
pany opened their exchange In May
)t 1908 Manager Brownell was put
)ut Of the company by the direction
)f the company He left town with
several thousand dollars that he had
Ilundered from this company In
commissions. Al this time the
men OF Hood River
anne TO the Pacific Telephone and
Telegraph company and said they
lad to have long distance service,
Ind IN their people had got their
money into this Home company,
hey were DESTROYS Of buying our
liant, as II two companies were to
'porato II woodwork hardship and
oss OF money to the Hood River
'eople. Our company agreed to
ell our plant to them, as they did
ot want 90 work u hardship or
money loss on the Hood River peo- II
lie, and the Home company OF Hood 4
Ilyer are contracted TO connect with |
he Pacific States Telephone n Tele- d
raph company for q term OF years, I
resident ". r. Smith OF the Hood In
liver Home company In conserva.
on with me few days ago said:
mir. Drownell never told us any. N
hing but lies, and when we took Ia