Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
SPECIAL NOTICES.
Grounded Metallic Percent Of
circuit circuit of grounded
Date. stations. stations. to metallic.
December l. 1885,. LAG 1,146 30 per cent
December 1, 1899. ], III 1879 Il per cent
December /, 1900. 6S2 3073 16 per cent


BeesmSsF 5ss q per ssn.
Mr.. Ross in his letter also says that the con-
templated plant Of the Washington Telephone Com
pany will have immediate capacity for 5000
telephones nearly twice the number of the present
Chesapeake and Potomac plant" As will appear
from the above table, this statement Is also erro-
neous. The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company now has in operation in the District Of
Columbia than 5000 exchange telephones. in
addition to which 1t has in upon its private
| lines than $50 Telephones total Of over
$500. OF the exchanges in anticipation Of the
opening of which the mileage charges wero
moved in the exchange districts above mentioned
the exchange Capitol Hill, known the East
exchange, has been opened, at total cost to tie
company Of about sos, 10000, and is in opera
tion. The building and equipment for the exchange
to be located in Georgetown, to be known as the
West exchange, and which cost about $50, co.
has been completed and purchased, and the switch
| board and power plant now In process of in
stallation. 1t is expected that this exchange will
be opened shortly; and site has been selected for
the exchange to be built in the northwestern
section Of the city, 18th md streets. Tie
total capacity OF the companys exchanges in
Washington. when the Georgetown Office Is opened,
will be at least 5000 in of the number
stated In the letter of Mr.. Ross.
With regard to the statement in Mr.. Ross letter
| that 1.-THE Washington Telephone Company offers
| rates of $500 for business and 5000 for resi-
dence telephones with party line, full
| metallic circuit and unlimited calls l have to
| say that nothing so far has been shown by the
| promoters of the Washington Telephone Company,
| either before the committees Of Congress else
where, that 1t will be possible to furnish service
OF the character described ut such rates. The bill
for the Incorporation of the Washington Telephone
| Company, pending in the Senate, provides for
the issue of $3.50 600 90 in stock and $3.50 90 in
bonds The interest upon the bonds, at the lowest
| calculation. would be 5 per cent per annnln or
| s37, 10000. A moderate dividend upon the stock
would be per cent per annum, or $ao.m0OO.
| Three thousand telephones 1.-THE number for which
Mr.. Ross says the Washington Company has re-
ccived contracts) would yield income of $132,-
10000 per annum, calculated in the proportion Of
two-thirds business telephones at $500 and one
| third residence telephones at $1,000 per annum,
| this being the proportion stated by Mr.. Webb, the
| general manager Of the Washington Company, in
| his address before the Senate committee the
| District Of Columbia at the last session of Con-
gress. Deductng the interest on ponds and div
idends. se5.ooooO would remain to maintain ind
operate the Washington Companys plant.
To illustrate the inadeGuacy OF such amount
to plant of 1850 telephones l might mention
| that the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany is compelled to pay in salaries and wages
alone its Washington employees in Zach year
more than sso0oo.OO, and that these salaries and
| he n wi m rtrnt loves
can be obtained. If the Washington Company
| plOys force equal in efficiency to that Of the
Chesapeake and Potomac Company, the payment of
| Its salaries alone would defc.en'y of
over $4,000 per annum and l have taken into
account the additional fixed expenses Tor rent,
light heat. taxes, sinking furd legal. etc. AMI tie
| expenses of purchasing the immense amount of
material required maintain AMI operate The
plant, team hire, pole and roof rentals printing
and stationery, advertising, etc.
And may further call attention to the fact that
! in stating that the Washington Telephone Company
proposes to furnish full metallic circuits Mr.
Ross does not say what kind of metallic circuits
he proposes to furnsh-that is, whether of iron
wire, which would cost in the neighbornood Of
$500 per mile. copper wire of the kind used ly
the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company.
|
proposes to use what is known common return
| wire, which that single wire is used as
return conductor for two subscribers lines
And he does not appear to take into consideration
the fact that If unlimited service is furnished at
! all of the 5000 telephones, least fourth
more operators, at salaries varying from $4,000 to
$500. 90 per year, would be required operate the
switchboards than required operate those
Of the Chesapeake and Potomac Company under
existing condtions-this for the that while
one operator take Of 200 subscribers lines
upon the measured service basis one operator cdn-
take of than 30 or 100 lines la, ing
| unlimited
assert. without fear Of successful cont adic, ion
that the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany is not employing many operators too
many Inemen many inspectors, too many
clerks many employees any other class: and
also assert without fear of successful cumtradic-
tun, that it does not pay excessive wages, nor has
il any officers than necessary does II bay
exravagant salaries. 1t is preposterous suppose
that the company would pay wages and sal
aries than the service rendered is fairly worth,
and believe know enough of the pe,pl. VI the
| District of Columbia to justify in saying that
they would not want telephone service cheap
ened by paying inadequate comp ion To The
conipany's employees. MIR. Ross would 10: ask it
or inisju1se He has had before him TOR
! many months the number ~ einniovrs and
officers Of the chesapeake and Potomac Company,
and the wages and salaries paid to eantl Should
be much interested. and the public would hc rnich
| enlightened, if he would indicate whic, " what
number of these employees should he disp used
| with, and which of them, what class VI hem,
are excessively paid. l shall await any inforul,
ton Size give in this regard with il: rest and
possibly with profit to the company. When lie has
had experience, observation of the cost Of
supplying telephone service Of the character he
ions in his letter, he will find that H., mas been
a victim of misplaced confidence. and will lie
sadder and wiser man.
Taking leave OF Mr.. Ross and his circular letter.
1 take occasion to say the public that, 70. the
purpose of impro, ing the service, and bringing
into the very best and most approved ap-
planes, and to enable the company reduce
mileage and other rates, the branch exchange on
Capitol Hill was erected and puuipn.d Thronp, no