FINE PLANT BEING PUT IN

FINE PLANT BEING PUT IN

By Washtenaw Home Telephone Company

WILL COVER THE COUNTY

With Network of Wires - Expect to Have Every Village on System - Farmer Phones a Special Feature

The Washtenaw Home Telephone Co. and the work it is doing in the city has been the subject of numerous inquiries during the past month and much speculation as to who compose the company and what they mean to do here in view of the only expressed antagonism to another telephone system here and the consequent expense and annoyance of having two telephones. Charles F. Speed, who has been appointed manager for Ann Arbor, has since his arrival in the city been doing considerable hustling for the company and in a conversation with the Argus gave some facts about his company that may prove of interest.

He stated that his company is just what its name implies, the Washtenaw Home company, and would do business in no other place and have no combination with any other side company excepting in so far as it might be necessary as to an interchange of business accommodations. That his company was owned and financed by gentlemen who were not interested in any other telephone enterprise, but had come here seeking an investment, and intend to continue in the business here.

The company, he says, intends to cover the county with the very best telephone equipment money will buy, putting exchanges into the various villages and cities and placing the service within reach of every farm house within the county. They will also build full copper trunk lines to connect the county with prominent outside points such as Detroit, Jackson, Lansing and Toledo, and will give a service second to none. The headquarters will, of course, be in this city and will be located at the corner of Fourth avenue and Liberty street. On this corner a handsome two-story brick building will be erected, plans for which have already been drawn, in which will be housed the offices and local exchange of the company.

The company are certainly spending a good deal of money in this city and the work done is first class in every respect. As yet no effort has been made to secure subscribers and no schedule of rates has been given, although the rates mentioned in the ordinance are $24 for business houses and $18 for residences. The only franchise granted in the county so far is in this city, but one has been asked for at Ypsilanti and the matter will be decided Monday night. In that city the rates mentioned in the ordinance are $20 for business houses and $12 for residences.