The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-15

that the Scotch are exceedingly fru-
gal.
The Importance of the toll lines
was emphasized. "The toll lines are
the arterial blood of the telephone
company" he said, "and here is
where the Bell system had the adj
vantage over us in Redwing. This
is one of the weaknesses of the in
dependent telephone systems"
Mr.. Neill advised against the
sending of men to the legislature
who did not believe in favorable
laws to the Independent systems.
What the smaller companies wanted
was physical connection with the
larger exchanges for toll lines. The
advantages Of doing this are self
explanatory. The local exchanges,
he said, owned by local people, want
the toll line connections but the
large companies are decidedly averse
to any such conditions.
New Line to Be Built.
Some interesting information was
given out which might be called a
"tip," for he said that the Tri-state
telephone company had contem.
plated building a new line from AL
bert Lea to Mankato; in fact, such
plans had been intended to be car
ried out last year, but weather con-
ditions prevented this.
Regarding the toll connections, he
said that the more connections a
company builds into the country,
the more they will have to build or
extend, for it was like the cracker,
jack advertising, "The more you
eat, the more you want"
What Has Resulted.
Mr.. Neill laid special stress on the
results of the many Independent sys-
tens. He stated that these c6mpa-
MES were the ones that made it pos
sible for the poor people-for the
washerwoman-to rent telephone,
and no greater compliment could be
paid to telephone company than
this. 1t has broken up the monop'
oily of the Bell company in many in
stances, o company which charged
prices that awere exorbitant. -, =
A plan that had been carried out
with unusual success toward ca
tering to the comfort of the farmer
had been put into operation at Red
wing There the chief operator, be-
fore she goes home in the evening
writes out a brief bulletin from the
daily papers, of the most important
news happening in the world, IN the
state. and in the community, and
this bulletin is placed where the
night operator gets it. When she
comes on duty, she gives the gen
eral ring, which brings all the farm
ers to the phone, just as the genera
fire alarm, and then while all are
listening, she reads off the bulletin
That the farmers appreciate this
service is shown by the results II
the increase of phones used in the
country.
, Mr.. Neill complimented the loca
company for the splendid tinancla
showing it had made. The earning
of dividends was possibly one o.
the things that invited prospective
| investors to buy stock in the com
panv. He advised all the stockhold
ers to keep the present directors as
long. as possible, for they have now
become familiar with the business
! and have shown unqualified ability
| to handle their business in proper
way. ii At the close of Mr.. Neilfs
! talk, he was loudly applauded, the
proof as to how his remarks were
/ received.
" Engaging an Expert.
! President Patterson reported thai
! an expert accountant had been en-
gagged to go over the books, ant
that the latter had found them II
! excellent condition. He said that al
I accountant would be hired ever!
| two years to make a report OF tnl:
kind. The books ,,of the compan!
were. open to the scrutiny OF any
| one who understands bookkeeping.
| Dr. James was given the fiool
! while the tellers were counting the
! votes, and he made few remark:
regarding the condition at st. Clair
which had been previously spoken
| of by Robert A. Haedt. DR.. Jane:
said that the local company hat
| been, in way, hoodwinked by tn'
st. Clair company, and that aftel
a. certain deal had been made, the
local company found a large number
of telephones on their hands.
Those who had any remarks u
make during the counting Of the
votes, were then given an opportu
nifty to make any suggestions the!
had in mind Manager Ferguson
stated that he had almost become
an enemy Of good roads because
since the crawling of roads, this
spring, the boys had1been very fono
of picking up stones from the grave
and hurting them at the insulators
on the telephone posts, which was
done at great expense to the com
pany. He advised the parents pres
ent to caution their boys against
this practice. Some ''attempt should
be made to stop the nuisance.
! Frank Jefferson then arose and