Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-26
'IRI-STATE AND IND
NORTHWESTERN
NOT TO MERGE
Despite Uni6cation Of Sys-
TENS, Companies Re
main Independent.

the discussion going on in connection
with the proposed physical connection
OF the local exchanges of the Tri-Sta4e
and Northwestern Telephone COM
panies, a umor has become .popular
to the effect that the two companies
This urno has no, foundation. It
was explained today. Certain agree
ments have. been. reached between the
two firms in stipulated territories, but
the companies will remain intact and
independent. Wherever mitigation of
local systems can be accomplished eff,
forts are being made for that purpose,
hut al no time has any. attempt been
made to consolidatesth the companies.
Situation is Explained.
A clear view Of the situation, now
existing is given in the current issue
of 'Telephoney." by Stanley r. Ed.
wards of Chicago. managing editor of
that publication who made n trip to
st. Paul and Minneapolis with, the, OBJ
tect of studying conditionsin, the field.
Under the. caption of minnesota
PLANS Non=Duplication," Mr.. Edwards
sets forth his Impressions gathered
rious: officials of the companies as well
as Of the Minnesota warehouse and
railroad board. and explains that the
desire for unification has become in
~creasingly popular throughout Minne-
sofa as we'll as in Grand Forks and
other places. =
Mr. Edwards explains that In re.
spouse to the. c~rystallized opinion in
favor; of elimination of duplication in
telephone service President; c.. w.
Robinson of the Tri-State company,
and Guy H.. Pratt, general CONNER
cial superintendent of the Northwest
ern company. held conferences with
the Minnesota warehouse. and rail-
road commissioners with a view to-
Details. Mr. Edwards says, have not
been worked out. being left for. future
1iconferences,. but "the negotiations
have progressed sufficiently to make,
it assured that there will be a: division;
Of Minnesota territory served by the
Tri-State and the Bell companies. sub
ject to the approval of the commits
Washington"
Division Of Field. r
Negotiations so far have resulted in
an agreement to the effect that tho
Minnesota territory be divided between
the two companies in sue a manner
that the Northwestern. company with
draws from st. Paul and the Tri-State
, from Minneapolis. Outside these cities.
county lines were taken as the d v, :
sion boundaries. and it is understood
that the aTri-State company confines
itself to. the; southern part Of Mime
sofa withdraw wing entirely from the
northern. n that. On the other hard,
the Northwestern people furnish teIe-
phone service to the northern part of
the state and %withdraws from the
southern. .
This. however, will be done in such
a as to make it possible for
i CIR hH~rihor re nf both "a M NSo~ e. 10
rive the full benefit of both systems
all over the complete territory, SO that
a Northwestern subscriber in the
northern part of Minnesota can call
up any Tri-State subscriber in the
southern part of the state.
In this connection it has been init
mated that Grand Forks probably,
circumstances. would be incorporated
in the Northwestern field.
Statement by Robinson.
Mr.. Edwards, in his instructive ar
ticle. quotes President Robinson. Of
the Tri-State company, as follows:
For some time l have been aware
that public opinion in the Tri- State
territory is in favor of but one tele-
phone service. Recently, this senti-
ment became more pronounced. and
was finally expressed to me at a meet
ing of commercial civic organizations
Eof- st: Paul and Minneapolis. At that
meeting. Mr.. Pratt, of the Northwest
efn company was also present, 1t
seemed useless to us to endeavor 10
oppose such a movement and. thus
obtain the i'll will of the business men
of the Twin Cities.
Eventually the single service was
bound to come. and We knew the de-
mand was becoming stronger each
week and that it would be only a mat
ter of time before it would be forced
upon us. By meeting the situation and
taking an active part in the working
out of plans. it was our opinion that
the Tri-State company would develop
into a much stronger independent or
g~anization than lat the present time.
n would, be guaranteed protection
fagainst elimination from the indie
lpendent field at any time in the future.
The Tri-State company has no
Thought of retiring from 1.-THE field or
abandoning its position as a thorough
ly Independent organization. 1t has
attempted in every way to safeguard
the interests of It's connecting and
neighboring Independent companies
and has no obligations or entangle-
ments that will prevent it from so do
ing in the future.
librarian Has