La Junta tribune., 1913-12-06

Denver. Colo. November 80, 1918
The Mountain States Telephone
and Telegraph Company. In the con-
sideration OF its future development.
recognizes that its highest interests
as a public utility lie In establishing
the closest and most friendly rela-
tionship with the public generally.
and with its patrons In particular;
therefore, II Is the purpose OF The
Mountain States Telephone and Tel
egraph Company through this an
nouncement. TO inaugurate what may
be termed ar advertising education
al series OF articles. both In the news
papers and in the form OF letters to
its customers. II Is our hope that
this campaign may mark new era
in the relation OF public utility cor
porations to the public they serve.
We want this education to work both
ways-that the public may learn the
truth about us, and that We may
learn how tn. public regard us. and
IoM w AAaN Aosi ~
serve the publio-in other words.
what Is just and right TO US and TO
the people. and To convince the pub
lie that We will voluntarily remedy
any wrongs Ne are doing. If pointed
out To us
We shall show YOU our financial
affairs. frankly and freely. 1t so
happens that our financing has been
OF such a nature thai T. T. easy for
us to clearly show to you this side
OF our affairs. What We mean by
this L.. that We have abso.. ely no
water in our stock. We ha.. no
bonds. nor any preferred stock. ahc
no mortgage o: any Kind upon vol i
To pay fixed charges. We have more
invested In our plant at it, pr'Hont
replacement value than ou- issue II
common stock. and We hay. no oiner
stock issued thsn the common stock.
There are no wheels within wheels.
nor companies within companies. to
absorb profits. We finance ourselves
from year TO year by selling our CON-
mon stock TO the people. at not less
than par, in the states In which we
operate.
when We tell you the story OF our
financing, We will prove 10 you that
there never have been any fortunes.
large or small. made out OF the ma
nipulation OF our stock--in other
words. no high financing has ever
been done In connection with The
Mountain States Telephone and Tel
egraph Company. or It's predeces-
sors. The stock never has had any
speculative value: II has been. and
II now. simply a safe investment
There H. great misuDderstand-
Ing upon the part Of the public as To
this side OF our business Persons
with uiterior motives. striving for
office. and newspapers wishing to
give startling news frequently pub
iish stories o! how rich certain Off
ciais OF our company are. Right
now. this II being done In connection
with the new revenue tax. We sup
pose th~s. stories grow out Of the
belief OF certain OF the public that
the executive officials OF our com
pany own the entire plant II IL Alb
surd. for these executive officials OF
our company ar. merely trustees OF
the property FOR the stockholders.
and none Of them are rich men. nor
have they u very heavy holding OF
the stock. II Il true that certain re-
put-d rich men have large holdings
Of the stock OF our company--somc
OF them being on our Board OF Direc-
tors-but not one OF them has made
any money Whatsoever out Of dealing
In our stock. They have all paid
dollar for dollar. in cash. st par In