The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-22
Numbeyor
Mfttadft.


Vice-President Bethel OF the company
communicated this decision to the Mer-
chants Association yesterday In his let
ter he said:
All direct line business subscribers viii
be billed at the new rates from May l. re-
gardless Of the rates named In their con-
tracts. The schedule OF toll rates between
the several telephone districts in New York
city also revised. will take effect at the first OF
the month following the next issue OF the
telephone directory.
Other schedules are under consideration.
and IN revising them / shall. OF course, give
due weight 20 the suggestions which your
committee has made. When the work is a
little further advanced | shall be glad to
meet the committee Tor a further discussion.
The annual report Of the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company, which
controls the New York Telegraph Company
was issued yesterday IL shows that the
gross revenue Of the company last wear was
SIS, $40 $50, an increase Of about 81, 1000 600
over the previous year. The years develop
ment Of business. according to President
Frederick p. Fish, exceeds that in any pre-
ceding year. The number Of exchange
stations operated at the close Of the year
was ,799, 1888, an increase Of PA, 460. The
wire mileage added was 7l2.l47
President Fish says in his report that in
no other business that serves the public
are the difficulties Of dealing with rates
greater than in the telephone business.
As a fundamental principle the large user
should pay 10 some extent in proportion to
! his use, while the small user should get
service adopted to his needs at a lower
| price. he continues:
The number Of subscribers to the Bell
system is now practically 100 per cent.
! greater than was the case three years ago.
| In almost every part Of the country each
| subscriber Il able TO talk to twice az many
| stations, and through those stations to
very much larger number Of people Thus
] the value Of the service to the user Is con-
stunty increasing, and its cost TO the sub
scTlbers, IN relation TO its value. is constantly
/ reduced,
| Moreover. the telephone users on the
/ average pay substantially less amount
/ for the service they receive, irres peCtive
/ Of it, increased value, than was the case
I three years ago. Not only are the standard
/ rates reduced from time to time wherever
/ the conditions justify such a reduction, hut
. constantly Increasing proportion OF the
/ telephones installed is furnished at the lower
scale adapted 10 the needs Of those whose
B requirements are Adequately met by the
/ classes Of service offered at such lower
/ rates.
/ The money required for the extension
! Of lines and for investment in its operation
! companies last year was obtained by the
! sale Of SO, 100000 Of per cent. coup n
/ notes The money needed for like pur-
/ posa- for the year is provided by the sale
/ OF S25, 600, 600, 4 per cent, collateral trust
| bonds just completed Nearly $4,000 COO
| Of these were Ia ken abroad. This i said
| to be the first time that any considerable
! amount Of telephone bonds have been
bought abroad. The subscription books
! closed yesterday with the bonds all sub
! sCribed for