The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-05

Mr. Ross. IN mis- letter. also says that
the contemplated plant Of tn Washing
ton Telephone Company viii have an i'm
mediate capacity for 5,O00 telephones.
nearly twice the number Of the present
Chesapeake and Potomac plant As viii
appear from the above table. this state
ment Is also erroneous The Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company nor has
IN operation in the District Of Columbia
more than &qeG exchange telephones. in
addition to which II has N use upon its
private lines more than 500 te3ephones-a
total Of over 400 OF the exchanges in
anticipation Of the opening Of which the
mileage charges We're removed il the eI-
ch4nge districts above mentioned. the ex-
change on Capitol Hill. known as the
East exchange. has been opened. a.
total cost &c the company Of about $4,000
and is now IN operation. The building and
equipment for The exchange TO be located
in Georgetown. 70 be known as the West
exchange and which cost about $4,000.
has been completed and purchased ard
the switchboard and power plant are now
in process Of Installation. Il Is expected
that this exchange VIII b opened shortly
and Z site has been selected for the ex-
change soon 10 be built in the northwest
err section Of the city. near Fifteenth and
I Streets The total capacity Of The COM
pany's exchanges in Washington when
the Georgetown Office is opened. Viii be al
lees- 5000 ii excess Of the uUuber stated
in the letter Of Mr. Ross.
With regard to the sJatel4cEr in 5Ir-
Ross letter yhaJ the Washington TeIe-
phone Company offers rates Of SIS for
business and So Tor residence telephones.
with one party on line full metallic
circuit ard unlimited calls, I have 10
say that 40 hing so far has been shown
by The promoters Of the Washington Tel
ephone Company, either before the con-
mitiees Of Congress or elsewhere. that il
viii be possible 20 furnish service Of the
character described aI such rates The
bill for the Incorporation Of The Wash
ingron Telephone Company, row pending
in the Senate, provides for the issue OF
$4,000 in stock and $4,000 in
bonds. The in rest upon the bonds. at
the lowest calculation. would be > per
cent per anuum, OF $4,000. = Moderate
dividend upon the stock would be per
cent per annum. or $50 coo Three thou
sand telephones tJhe number for which
Mr. Ross says the Washington Company
has received contracts would yield an
income Of 1872, 500 per aunun. calculated
in the proportion Of two-thirds business
telephones a SIS and One-Jhird residence
telephones al S36 per anHum- this being
the proportion stated by Mr. Webb the
general manager Of the Washington Com
pauy. in his address before the Senate
Committee On the District Of Columbia at
the last session OF Congress. Dcducting
the interest on bonds and dividends.
SO ggG would remain 10 maintain and oD-
crate the Washington Company-s plant
i Large Pay Roll.
To illustrate tha inadequacy Of such an
amount 70 run plant Of &.Ceo telephones. .
might mention that the Chesapeake and
Polouac Telephone Company is compelled
TO pay in salaries and wages alone 10 lis
Washington employees IN each year more .
than $4,000 and that these salaries aad
wages are the lowest at which competent
employees can b. obtained. II the Wash /
iugtou Company employs i force equal in .
efficiency 20 that OF the Chesapeake and
Potomac Company. the payment Of its sal (
aries alone would create deficiency Of .
over So Coo per annum. and I have not
taken into account the additional fixed ex-
pe1se5 for rent light. heat. taxes. sinking
fund. legal etc. ana the expenses Of pur-
chasing The immense amount of material
required 10 maintain and operate The plant
team hire. pole and ROOF rentals, printing
and stationery. advertising. etc.
And 1 may further call attention to the /
fact hat in stating that the Washington
Telephone Company proposes 10 furnish F..
full metallic circuits Hr Ross does not
say whar kind Of metallic circuits he pro-
poses Ia furnish-thaJ IS. whether Of iron I
wire, which would cost IN the ueighbOr- I
hood Of s. per mile or copper wire Of the I
kind used ~ the Chesapeake and Potomac /.
Telephone Company. which costs over $50 (
per mile. or whether ne proposes TO use !
what Is known IS q common return wire, !
which means nat single wire is used as /
q return conductor for TWO or more sub /
scrihers' lines. And he does not appear |
For Il Cold in The Head