Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-16
TELEPHONE MEETING.
Local Company Holds Annual Election Mon.
day Evening.
GOOD SHOWING IN PRESIDENTS REPORT.

A large and interesting meeting OF
the stockholders of the Wood County
| Telephone Co., met in annual session
| Monday night at the city hall. A. L.
EOntaine. president Of the company
read his annual report which follows
in full:
10 the Stockholders Of the Wood County
Telephone Company:
GENTLEMEN the organiza-
ti0n of this Company in July 1896 our
increase continues at the rate of 335
| per cent. per year. 1t surpaSSeS the
fOndest expectations of any of us.
When we started in 1896 we all felt
that if we could reach the 200 mark in
| i've years our growth would be
| marvellous and highly satisfactory
We have been organized and in
| existence a little over five years and
our exchange now numbers 333 phones
and is growing at a rate of fifty phones
a year.
Shortly after our last annual meet
| ing your Board of Directors were
confronted with the capacity of our
| switch board and main leads eX-
hauSted. Our first step was to provide
ourselves with modern up-to-date
metallic switch board fully equipped
in four sections of 100 lines each, fifty
of which are bridging drops for party
and toll line service. This can be
increased by adding sections of loo
lines each up to 1900 phones. A new
switch board demanded new cables,
new poles, and other equipment,
until now we have practically a
new metallic exchange as far as
we have gone. Our manager informs
US that we have put in 128 large cedar
poles ranging from 20 to 55 feet high.
Three 100-pair cableS-One Of S19 feet
| running from the Central office to Geo.
II. Smiths residence; one Of S15 feet
running from the Central office to
Joseph LaMadelin'S near the bridge:
| one of 1640 feet running from Central
| office to Mrs. e. 3. R0Sser'S residence,
making a total of 3274 feet. Two
cables of 50-pair each-One of 1869 feet
running from Geo. H. Smiths residence
| TO Mrs. John Arpin'S residence: one of
| $40 feet from Mrs. ROSsier'S residence
| to Geo. f. HOSkinSOn'S corner, making
total of 1709 feet of 50-pair cables.
These Improvements neceSsitated a
re-arranging and rebuilding of all
the old lines. One hundred and twenty
of our phones are wholly metallic, one
hundred and fOrty-nine are metallic
as far as the cables extend, twenty
three are still Mcclure from Central
office, and seven are grounded from
end Of cables. Gradually all these
remaining lines will be made metallic
until every phone in the exchange will
| be connected with the Central office
by complete metallic circuit. Wner
this is accomplished Grand Rapids will
have metallic exchange second tt
none in the country.
residence phones, 126 business phones
This year we have the pleasure OF
reporting 129 business phones. a gair
of 3; 1913 residence phones, a gain OF
AS; and 10 on the marsh line, g gain O1
).
The total value of our exchange ir
1900 was $40, 132. 6S including all lines
change valued at S19, ,367.50 showing q
gain or increase of SO, ,234S2.
We have sold during the year 3S
shares of stock at $50 per share
amounting to $500 and redeemed
during the same period five shares al
a cost of $3.50 leaving a net gain from
sale of stock of $3.50.
We receive from Telephone rentals
monthly S397.75 amounting to 4,773 OF
for the year, and pay out for Office
operating expense $187.OO monthly
amounting to 81, ,2l4 annually. Showing
a difference or gain of $192.75 pei
month and 81, $50 per year.
Our receipts and disbursements fol
the year follow:
RECEIPTS 1901