Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
Wood County Telephone Company.


The Board Of Directors would re
spectful1y report that the plant is now
complete in all respects.
There is in the exchange 119 tele
phones; on the marsh line (brivate) s
on the Pittsvi1le line (private) !; OF
the Arpin line (private) /; on the com
pany's lines 100.
The total cost of this plant was
S., ,83O28. the Nekoosa line from Ne1s
Johnson's residence cost S81S.64; 1eav
ing the cost of the plant in the two
cities S., ,O11.63, being about $50 te1e
phone.
But this cost includes large amount
of material on hand designed for fiji
ture use such as poles, cross arms, in,
su1ators, tools, wire and extra drops in
switchboard, valued at S6O4.42; 1eav-
ing the net cost of plant in cities
$4, 1912, or about $42 telephone.
81 shares of stock have been subscribed
for at the par value Of $4,000 share. 81, O0C
There still remains unpaid on account
of stock. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 217GC
Cash received on account of stock. 50, ,33332 SO
Cash received in addition to stock from
the John Edwards Mfg. Co. and the
Nek0osa Paper COmpany.......... 15OOC
Total cash received to apply on con-
StructIOn. observation-disclosures ....NZ, S235
This left due on account of construction 3,342 o.
This Indebtedness incurred on account
of construction has since been re-
duCed by earnings for rental to. ....... 5000 81
which is the present total liability of
the company.
The number of business telephones pay
ing full monthly rental Of $500 is 81 1920
Number paying 81 80 is 81 earning ..... 4G5C
Total monthly earnings. s.........S 2OS.5(
Monthly expenses: General manager,
SO; operator, S25; night operator, $40;
extras per month ABOUT $40 Total. 1100(
Total net income per month. h.......S $3.50
There are some additional telephones
to be put in soon. So that it may be
safely said that the net income will
hereafter be over 500 per month.
This yields on the amount invested an
annual income of about 20 per cent.
per annum. AS large as this income
is, it will require 2H years to clear the
present Indebtedness from net rent
alone. It has been the constant pur-
pose of the promoters of this home
telephone company to have each tele-
phone user take one snare of stock so
as to make it entirely mutual and give
to the people a good telephone service
at actual cost. If the patrons of this
company had co-Operated with its pro
1noters and taken the stock as intended
every dollar of Indebtedness would be
paid, and the monthly rental could
safely be reduced to S1.25 for ali te1e-
phones.
So far those who have put their
money into stock and assumed the re-
sponsibility and given the company
their time and attention, have been
treated to no advantage or reduction
of rates different from that given to
others. This is not fair, and the
Board of Directors at their last meet
ing resolved 10 declare monthly div
idend of one per cent. per month.
This will amount to fifty cents per
month on each share of stock. And
at the same time they have decided to
raise the rate of ali business te1e-
phones to $3.50 per month from and
after Nov. 1st next.
The effect of this is in its practical
| YyyN,1-i,1Cr 70 1aoI-o TO
Heretofore for all stockholders, and to
make a raise of fifty cents per .nonth
for those business men who have not
taken stock.
There are forty-nine shares of stock
yet unsold, and if there be any who
regard this change in rates as unfair
he can come in and take his one share
of stock at any time and put himself
on the same footing as the most ia.
vored class.
There are parties now ready to take
at par all of the unso1d stock. The
promoters have so far refused to favor
such a sale, as it would rob the enter
prise of its mutual design and convert
it into a private corporation that might
be run with more regard for the i'll
come of the stockholders than the in
terests of its patrons.
The books will remain open to teie
phone users for subscriptions to stool
until Dec. 1st next zone share of stocl
to each telephone user.) If the stocl
is not then all taken, the board of di
reCtors may conclude to dispose o.
what is left in some oiher way. By
taking this course the debts can bt
cleared up at once, the rates reduced
and the whole plant be put on d basi.
more satisfactory to the directors. Blu
until the stock is all sold and the debt.
paid, there will be no reduction ofrates
Oct. 23rd, 1896
J. \. GAYNOR, Pres,
By order of Board of Directors.
If YOU want to buy a barrel Of fine
apples call upon Johnson, Hill & Co.