Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-21


p,oyceS has to be maintained. this num-
tor OF employees being pretty evenly
divided between men and women.
These figures are taken from the an
nual report of President Sherwin. and
are full of interest to the student of
economies. Children of today accept the
telephone as a matter-of-fact conven-
fence. yet their fathers and mothers re-
member when it was considered a mar
vellous invention. And SO it was, but
none the less marvellous has been its
progress The crude instruments have
given way to modern ones that represent
the last word in mechanical perfection.
The long waits for connections that
Characterized the early days of the art
have disappeared before service that is
almost instantaneous Induction and
other troubles have been diagnosed and
remedied until transmission is now al
most perfect.
These improvements represent not only
patient experiment but large investment
AS Gen. Slrerwin says in a paragraph in
his report Little or nothing remains OF
the plant over which. twenty years ago,
the business was conducted. Central Of
flee apparatus in the exchanges has been
superseded, time after time by that of
newer design ant. greater efficiency and
capacity. The grounded line system of
connection has wholly given place to
metallic circuits, and aerial construction
in large part to that of underground CON
duit and cables
That it has been worth while to make
this expenditure in order to keep pace
with the vanguard OF progress, is shown
by tho statement that the gross revenue
Of this company for the year 1907 was
slo,67o 6c5.1d Expenses amounted to S.
| 5l@. i2c64 There was an increase in the
| net revenue of S342. so -
Only $3.50 stations were added to the
New England company and its associat-
| es during the year, a compa ra lively small
number. Owing to high borrowing rates.
| however, ii was deemed wiser not to
push for business requiring heavy out
| lays for construction.
General Sherwin points out very clearly
the thrcefold responsibility OF the direc-
tors-"to provide for Subscribers and th,
| public a service OF the highest attainable
excellence and value, at equitable rates
to care for the well-being and reasonable
compensation Of the thousands of en-
| and
| fidelity the interests OF the company and
the community; and to secure to stock
holders, who have paid many millions o.
dollars into the treasury for the build
| ing up and extension of the system OF
such enormous utility and value to the
people Of these States, fair return up
on their investment"
Here, in single sentence, is set forth
the true balance Of "A public service cor.
pora tion--its relation to tho public, tc
its employees, and to its Stockholders
In this connection. it is stated that NJ pc,
cent. of the total number Of stakeholder.
are residents Of tho States Of Maine
| New Hampshire. Vermont and Massa
ohusctts
Another phase Of this question /.
touched as follows:
Tn no other business is there a close,
relation and more d stinct identity of in
terest than that which exists betweer
the company which furnishes this ser
vice. and the subscribers who employ IL
Of the community as a whole. 1t is TO
the interest OF both that the high stand
ards OF service be maintained, that tn
rates for service and revenues OF tn.
company be adequate to provide for tn
operation. repair and renewal of ~
plant to the end that the service may b.
so maintained; and to provide furthc
that such return he made to the invest
.ors who have put their capital into an,
assumed the hazards of the business
that further capital may be forthcomin!
as required for the continued extension
and Improvement Of the system"
! The statement that this company nov
operates I5col5 miles Of toll wire open
up another line Of thought on which T.
base some comparisons with condition
that existed as recently as - years age
Today one talks from a pay station :.
any part OF the territory of the Nov
| England company without giving tn,
matter a second thought. and bushes
men use the long distance lines to Nev
York, Chicago, ST. Louis and othe
places. Less than a quarter OF cen
fury ago, however, converse ton bet
wecn places 80 miles apart was deeme
| rema rka BILE. In fact. the telephone ha
affected the entire organization OF bus
ness. The little companies existing her
and there, many OF them without con
nection with each other. gave way t
one large company. and the latter, b
intercommuncation has brought togethe
not only villages and cities but State
and great sections of the country.
| If HE KNOWS THAT HES WISE.