Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1909-12-03

Kerlin he informs us that his rates
are no higher now than they were at
the time the exchange had 200 phones
with no rural connections and very
meagre long distance connections
Since which time they have given free
connection with the rural telephone
lines entering this city have made ex-
tensive long distance connections, and
greatly icreased the efficiency Of the
plant, so that now there are few Stele-
phone lines in the country that will
compare with the one in operation at
this place. This has all been done at
an Increased expense and the operat-
ing expenes of the service and the
cost of keeping the line UP to stand
ard has been greatly increased, SO
that the company feel that they are
not asking more than is due when.
they make the increase which will 60
into effect the first of the year. as 4
The increase here is not out Of line
with the other exchanges, as the MI.
not Light and Telephone company
have also sent out notice of an in
crease the first of January which
quotes their telephone rates at ..75c
per phone more than the price will be
in this city. ,5..s.5.
The rates at Minot after January lst
will be as follows: Single party bus,
mess lines, $3.50; two party business
lines $500; four party business line,
$3.50; single party residence lines
$3.50; two party residence lines 5000
four party residence lines $3.50. So
it will be seen that this increase is
likely to be general over the country.
A recent number of the Electrical
World contains an exhaustive article
covering the telephone matter that
bears on the subject of increased cost
per subscriber which is very pertinent
to this question. 1t says in part: ss9The
moment the telephone is connected,
not with one or two other telephones, 4
the real telephone apparatus used in
communication is mainly concealed
from the ordinary subscriber. It is
located underground, on pole lines, in
the Intricate devices of the switch
board, and in the trunk lines connect
ing the various switchboards.- The
cost of installing a telephone for a |
subscriber, therefore, constantly IN
rceases as it becomes necessary to be
able to connect that subscriber with an
increased numer of other suscribers.
At its simplest the switchboard is the
terminal of three subscribers lines,
with an operator 10 connect any two
lines together. With two subscribersi
there is one connection possible,
with three, three connections, etc. .
Obviously this increase in cost, both
of operation and installation, makes
the financial problem of telephony emil
tirely different from that which OBJ,
tains in any other kind of businesses
1t is said in truth chat a street railwayt
can carry 100000 passengers more4
cheaply per passenger than it can 1O,-l
600; that gas or electric company
can sell more cheapFy as their output !
increases
what a telephone company is real |
ly doing is transmitting messages
their subscribers. When the
telephones are put in at fiat rate
and the subscribers permitted to have
unlimited service there is an analogy,
not exact, but still instructive, be- |
tween the telephone company and the
condition of the gas company would
be in if it reckoned it's business by
the number of consumers it obtained
and then allowed them to draw thro'
the pipes, gas without any, limit
The company at this place have
been continually giving more service
to their patrons without any increase
in the cost until they feel that they
have got to that point that they must
make the Increase that goes into ef-
feet the first of the year.
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