Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1904 — A LOCAL TELEPHONE MERGER. [ARTICLE]

A LOCAL TELEPHONE MERGER.

Jasper County and Bruner-Merry Companies Consolidate. The Jasper County Telephone Co., and the Bruner-Merry Co., have made a deal whereby the latter company will practically go out of existence in Jasper county. The latter exchange will be done away with entirely and all switching will be done from the former office. By the terms of the merger the Jasper County people agree to keep out of Mt. Ayr and the Bruner people retain their country ’phones in this county, but the Bruner ’phones will be pulled out of business Houses in Rensselaer having the two systems, thus cutting out the expense of one ’phone to such business men as have both systems. The move is said to be from a purely esonomical standpoint, and it is announced that there will be no raise in rates, except possibly toll rates to certain points. The Bruner-Merry country patrons will get free service over the Reusselaer switch-board of the Jasper County lines, -giving them much better service than they have ever had before, while the subscribers of the latter system will have the advantage of the Bruner-Merry lines. It is said the deal will result to the advantage of both companies as well as their patrons.