The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-29

TO keep pace with .,sss
the great growth
OF the independent lines. II has nve
million telephones In service ana op-
crates ten million lines or wire.
There are fifteen thousand independ-
ent companies and they have nearly
four million telephones. The IN
declare that they are III
better shape today than ever before,
but as they occupy mainly the rural
fields, there is little room for further
conflict.
The stronghold OF the independent
lines is in the middle west, where
the rural telephone has become such
an important factor in the life or the
prosperous farmer. In many cases
the man living Ave or ten miles from
the city, or in the center OF his own
vast fields OF wheat and corn. has
found IL TO his advantage TO construct
his own line TO the nearest telephone
exchange. He has been able 10 do
this at comparatively small expense
for labor, utilizing his farm hands
during dull seasons. This independ-
ent construction policy has naturally
given an impetus 10 the independent
telephone companies and In many
cases the farmers are large stock
holders in the small but prosperous
exchanges.
Investment in the independent con-
Germs has ben fostered by the
knowledge that every additional tele-
phone installed in the immediate
vicinity enhances the value and the
usefulness OF the entire system. The
establishment OF telephone eX-
change in neighboring city in
creases the value OF all exchanges IN
that territory. Ii is an entirely dii-
ferent proposition from that or other
industrial enterprises, where proXimi'
" usually means competition OF one
form Of another. The fight between
the so-called monopolistic telephone
company and the independent con-
Germs has been going on with vary
ing bitterness ever since the latter
entered actively into the field. There
have been many legal battles, many
accusations of bribery OF legislatures,
charges of spy systems and OF nefar-
ious and underhand warfare, and the
contest is still in progress, but the
| independents continue TO grow III
strength. The rate Of increase for
| the trust" for five years has been
| 1877 per cent while that for the in
dependents was 1873 per cent.
In the matter OF determining fixed
costs, the establishment OF an indie.
pendent company Is a comparatively
simple proposition. 1t Is easy to
reckon the cost OF constructing a
mile line for single telephone al
1 81 toll
we'll constructed telephone line is
| 10 years. BY using one line for sew
eral phones "a party line) the cost
is materially reduced. The only
other item is the cost OF maintaining
and operating switchboard This
varies anywhere from seventy-fye
cents to three dollars year, being
| determined by labor conditions, rem
tails, and the number OF telephones
served. II is generally conceded that
| a telephone line, two miles long, serv
| ing a single subscriber, cannot net
a profit to the company at twenty
four dollars year rental, but II sia
parties are on the same line the cost
can be reduced to twelve dollars d
/ year II Is in the extraordinary ex
penses, such as the devastations BY
storms and the lawsuits brought by
persons who have been injured by
falling poles or sagging wires. that
the element OF chance plays such .
large part in the profits of the indie
| pendents. AS an attorney for a tele
phone company has aptly expressed
| il, there seems to be universal af
finity between an intoxicated traveller
and a telegraph pole, and as con
sequence damage suits are especially
numerous in wet" states.
An independent telephone enter
prise, which has been in successful
operation In Budapest for severa
years. has SO many points OF novelt!
that 1t will probably find It's way t
America In the near future. The BudG
pest concern Is operated as a new.
telephone and is entirely distinct from
the regular telephone service owned
by the government and operated undel
the supervision OF the minister OF tn,
interior. The news telephone begins IT.
service at IS in the morning, wher
there Is a loud buzz for 10 seconds
announcing the correct time. At 93i
The days program of important event!
IL announced. including ceremonies
concerts, lectures, plays, races, etc
Between 10 and II stock quotations
and general news items are given a
noon the buzZer once more announces
the correct time. At 12:45 parliamen
tary news and general items of inter
est are recited. and at 2 O'Clock Their,
Is more parliamentary news. as we!
as the stock quotations from Vienna
Berlin and the local exchange. AT
o'clock the closing stock prices al,
given, az we'll as the weather fore
cast Court proceedings and miscel
laneous news follow at 4. In tn
evening the subscriber may choose be
tween sitting In his drawing room
and listening TO the opera at tn
Royal opera house. or hearing SOM
play This diversion is followed b.
music furnished by one of the tzigan
orchestras. II he wished he may ais
listen TO one or the military bands
which play in the gardens and cafe
OF the city from 80 To 80. Fo
this service the Budapest citizen pay
1851 year. in addition TO the cos
OF installation and OF removal wkicl
is about s. 50. Each telephone is pre-
vided with two receivers so that
mans wife may enjoy the same priv
leges at the same time as the head O
the house.
Quite different Is this service iron
that which obtains In Japan. wher
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