The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-04-05


tanned from the proper public author
tiles, including favorable opinion
from the Attorney General of the
United States, and both parties hereto
agree to join in all proceedings to OBJ
tain such consents, but the parties
hereto jointly reserve the right of
cancellation hereof, and the with
drawal of the petition hereto prefixed,
unless substantial number of the
subscribers in the exchanges effected
by this merger of properties approve
OF the merger and agree to such read
justments of rates as may later be
authorized by the Michigan Railroad
Commission"
In other words, the companies do
not want to make this merger, unless
a substantial number of the people
served in these communities desire
the same to be done. The telephone
companies, like all other lines of busi-
ness, have in the past two years been
obliged to meet very heavy increases
in operating costs. This applies to all
labor and material in every branch
of the service. The income of rental
rates have not been changed, however.
Hence, If high prices continue, it is
perfectly evident that some adjust
ments will have to be made in the fu-
ture. A telephone company, however,
in Michigan, cannot change any of it's
rates without authority from the
Michigan Railroad Commission. In
other words, the making of a rate is
determined by that body. Hence, all
these matters will have to be present
ed to them for decision.
Many Benefits
The result of the merger will be a
great benefit to the telephone US
ing public, as it will do away with all
Times Eight
duplication and the nuisance of two
telephone systems, and the subscrib-
er will be able to receive over the one
telephone all the connections that he
formerly got over two. On both In
dependent and Bell Systems in Michi-
gan, with their connecting companies,
there are about 100000 telephone SUBJ
scribers. Every subscriber of the
Union Company can secure service
with all of these stations. In the
same manner, subscriber will be able
to reach everybody in the United
States and Canada, who has a tele-
phone, over his one telephone. Inas-
much as all rates are now. regulated
by Commission, both for Michigan and
Interstate, it insures just and reason
able rentals for all classes Of service.
Telephone companies are experience
ing the same as railroad companies,
namely, that by joining the two COM
panies together and operating them
as one economies in operation can be
effected. The tendency at the time is
towards the merging of all public
utilities, so as to operate them at the
least possible expense. This is the
case with the telephone mergers going
on over the country, as well as rail-
road mergers.
The growth of the Union Telephone
Company has been phenomenal, and
because of the fact that its headquar-
ters are here and that it is considered
an Owosso institution, it's history will
be interesting to Owosso people.
Founded in Alma in March 1899, with
only 200 telephones, with capital of
$4,000 it now has capital of ST.
100000 and when the merger is COM
pleted, will operate about $4,000 sta
tions and $500 miles of toll circuits.
In Owosso alone, and on its farm lines
out of this city it has 3,798 miles of
wire in cables, on poles and UNDER
ground. If all the cable it has strung
or underground was placed end to end,
it would reach 19 miles. And in each,
Of these cables there are from 100 to
300 wires. The number Of calls made
over its system in Owosso is 100000
per year. 1t has 2.54 miles of wire
strung or in cables for every tele-
phone in the city, while there is one
pole for each subscriber.
Since it's organization the company
,as absorbed four smaller companies.
They were the Montcalm County Tele-
phone Association; the National Tel
,phone Company of, st. Johns; the
)wosso Telephone Company and the
Fenton Telephone Company. w. ].
Nelchers, General Manager, and L. L.
Conn, Secretary have been with the
company for number of years. Mr..
assumed the management
our years after the company was
ormed and has seen it grow under
lis management to it's present size.
ir. Conn, after serving as local man.
ger for the company in Durand, be-
anne secretary of the company in
GOT.
The company moved its general of
'es here from Alma, six years ago,
md during the winter of 1928,
rected the handsome and we'll equip
'ed building it now occupies.
In addition to Messrs. Melchers and
;onn, two other Owosso men are in
crested in the company, E. o. Dewey
eing second vice president and C. p.
Bentley being a director. Mr.. Conn
5 also director.
Later-Filing of papers as above stat
d to have been made with the Michi,
an Railroad Commission this morning.
"a scope by temporary Injunction