The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-09-06
CIRCULAR LETTER SENT TO
CITIZENS TELEPHONE PATRONS
For the Information Of all Subscribers in the City and
County, Verbatim Copy of this Circular Letter
Which is Mailed Today is Given .Below--Inde-
pendent Exchanges at Marion, Waldo, Green
4.e as Camp and Moral.
20Iqietg. BeGnl0l-
Marion. ohIo.l sebt. 4 leo7.

To the Patrons of the Marion Coun-
ty (CitizensD Telephone Company:
Reports OF Deal between the
Bell Telephone Company and the
Marion County Telephone Company
have appeared in the newspapers on
Various occasions during the last few
months. Confirming some of these
reports. we wish now to officially
Announce that we have purchased the
local interests of the Bell Telephone
Company at Marion, Waldo, Moral
and Green Camp. The Bell Company
still retaining their long distance
toll lines at and to all points through
out the entire county. At the same
time we have sold to the LaRue
Telephone Company our plants and
interests at Agosta and LaRue, by
whom they will be operated. Also
we have sold TO the Caledonia Tele-
phone Company our plant and inter-
ests at Caledonia, and by whom 1t
will be operated
The Marion County Telephone Com
pany will only operate Plants or Ex-
changes at Marion, Green Camp, Wal
do and Moral, and in these there
will be about thirty-four hundred
(3,400) telephones; and at the same
time we will be connected by toll
lines with every other plant or Ex-
change in the county, with a total OF
over fifty-five hundred (5.5OO) tele-
phones.
In 1902 this Company. was organ
lied by the citizens of Marion for
the purpose of furnishing good tele-
phone service at reasonable rates. The
company is still composed OF citi-
zens Of Marion and Marion county,
and still desires to give the best pos
sible service at the Lowest possible
rates.
However, since the organization OF
the company there have been Many
changes in conditions under whAh
the company operates. The cost N
material has increased greatly Tin
some cases over 100 per cent? with
in the last few years, as has also the
cost of labor. This company is af-
fected by this appreciation just the
same as a mercantile or manufacture
ing business.
When we constructed We did not
figure on more than 1900 to 1,5O0
subscribers at the Marion Exchange
city and country-but we have over
$500, (and as soon as all Bell tele-
phones at Marion are connected with
our Exchange, which will be soon,
we will have 1900 more). And It
is a fact, well known to every person
familiar with the construction and
operation of a telephone exchange
and contrary to the condition that
obtains in other lines OF business
that the cost of construction, main
tenance and operation of telephone
exchange increases very rapidly. per
telephone, with the Increased size
OF the telephone exchange.
Good business principles demand
that the rentals furnish sufficient in.
come to do three things:
First:-To meet all operating ex-
pense and to keep the plant in good
repair so that good service may re-
suit.
Second:-To provide for contin-
gent fund which is necessary in tele-
phone work because OF the peculiar
dangers to which the business is
liable. Storms may suddenly lay
waste long sections OF pole lines;
lightning and stray currents from the
outside may at any time cause de-
structive fire In the Switchboard
which is a very vital and expensive
part of the plant.
Third:-To pay fair dividends on
the money invested in the plant (say
six per cent? and proper amount
to be charged off for the depreciation
Of Plant. And in this connection Il
Is proper to state that the average
life of the various items entering into
the construction Of telephone plant,
as demonstrated by experience, are
about as follows:
Poles IL to 16 years.
Cross arms 8 to 10 years.
Double galvanized iron wire 8 to
IL years.
Lead cables 8 to 70 years.
Switchboards and Central office
are not only subject TO
rapid depreciation, but owing to i'm
provements which are constantly be-
ing made, are liable TO, and do. be-
come obsolete in few years.
Our income has been sufficient TO
nay cost of operation and nav six