The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-03-13
PHONE PEOPLE
GET TOGETHER
Vote Down Proposition to Raise
Rental Rates for Stock
holders.
Meeting Harmonious and Old Of
fiCerS Re- Elected Line
is Busy.

The annual meeting of the Red
wood county Rural Telephone Co.,
at the court house last Wednesday,
was quite largely attended, tho moi
so largely attended as at some
previous meetings
The company has grown to be an
enterprise of considerable magni-
tude. The last inventory shows that
it owns 40 miles of wire, 80 miles
of poles, $40 rural telephones be-
sides about 400 more in connection
with the seven exchanges at Bel
view, Echo, Morgan, Vesta, Wa
basso, Walnut Grove and Delhi sta
ton. Its resources are listed at
S49, 1853. 46. Last year the total earn
ings were $40, 973, and net earnings
81, 396.78. The operating and main
tenance account were rendered larg-
er than usual on account of the
electric and other storms, which
made a good deal of reconstruction
necessary. involving expensive trips
to distant points on the lines.
President Gold read the detailed
statement, and commented on the
items, at the close inviting ques-
tons. and getting quite a number
of them. Everything seemed to be
satisfactorily explained and the
meeting accepted the report and or
dered it printed and sent to all
stockholders.
A majority of the board of d.
rectors submitted their recommend
alton that phone rates be raised to
$l.25 for rural stockholders and
S1.75 for business phones. President
Gold was prepared for strong dis
sent on this question of policy, and
was not disappointed. In fact, he
was supported by hopeless minor
ity, Chas. Winn and David Nc
Naughton backing up President Gold
on the ground that the stock ought
to be made to pay direct dividends
so that it would be negotiable when
ever stockholders wanted to sell.
Mr.. Gold told how the directors
had investigated the experience of
other companies and had arrived at
the conclusion that as matter
OF business prudence the company
might better raise the rates as
recommended in order to be safe
and do business at a profit.
In the discussion which followed
1T was brought out that stockholders
now have the use of their phones
at So per year less than non-stock-
holders, which constitutes a fair
dividend to those holding a small
amount of stock. The proposal
would place them on a level and
most of the stockholders seemed
skeptlcal about taking any chances
of getting direct dividend out of
the profits in case the rental rate
was raised. After a full and free
discussion, the motion to raise was
put and met with painful silence
while the noes were unmistakablv
emphatic.
The election of directors followed
with very little excitement or solicit
tation, Geo. L. Evans and A. NJ.
Stewart being reelected, and Erie
Wilson of Gales winning out as
new director.
The board reelected President
Gold, Vice President Evans. Secre-
tary Miller and Manager Hummer /
koch. 1t is given out that Mr.. HUM
erkoch has plans for a change of
occupation next summer, and will
hand in his resignation as manager
of the company about July LIST.
Get your neckyokes, singletrees
and clevices before spring work
comes on. Have a big line at Jaehn-