Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-15

Telephone company con-
tans much interesting information.
Among other things shows that the capital stock OF this
organization be increased from $3OOOO to $oOOoOoO
that than 100000 telephone stations nave been
100000 miles, that the trattc
amounts to nearly day. that the net
nue. of the company for 1909 $30O0OOOO. o.
The Bell system shows gross earnings during 1909 of
nearly $15O00O00 which increase of SOo over the
The net earnings of the Bell system were $4 100000
Nearly paid out in dividends $lOOooOo IN IN
terest and $14000000 added to surplus.
Nearly 5OOOOO out of the earnings were charged to
depreciation and maintenance
ordinary mind to these hgures
difficult comprehend the widely extended service
for which these sums OF money were PAID Inc te
phone than all other inventions eliminates ume ana space
1t far in advance of the telegraph for the that the com
muncaOn instantaneous and by word OF mouth instead OF oy
the ordinary process of relays and deliveries
This colossal corporation within the last few months alb
sOrbed the Western Union Telegraph company the greatest
graph organization IN the world 1t therefore combines WIN S
100000 miles of telephone wires the telegraph wires of the
Western Union heretofore regarded OF the largest corpora
lions in the country.
business of corporations will be
not sue ntegenty The magnitude of the telephone
business appears even greater than the hgures would
when reflect that the upendous figures presented by this
made of the charges for short conversations and that
the maximum charge for conversation rule is small
Viewed from this standpoint catch glimpse OF how
universally this method of communication coming be used
telephone hardly said have far beyond
its infant What the future has in store for this wonderful
invention cannot 1t be that within few
years. the use OF telephones Will come INTO general use for com
with people the There little doubt that
this will happen and that its throughout the country will be
doubled yea quaduped times almost certainty.
In connection with the telegraph system it will probably equal
does not exceed all other public utilities its usefulness
does in influence.
think magnitude of corporation and
of the combination of of the largest corporations the world
but wonder what will be the effect of lodging much
power in the hands of a few individuals.
AS long its is confined to legitimate channels it u.s.
of course great blessing humanity but should be used for
improper purposes there scarcely city business
in the country that it could destroy.
Its will be possibly greater than that of the railroads.
the banks
Certainly for good evil that such organizations
these exert greater influence upon the welfare people
than the Standard Oil which has been much the
limelight for several years
The itself is exempt from Influence
to mention absolute control
they restrained and controlled by
patriotic motives.
Such corporations these essentially product the
Goth century.
They exercise potential influence upon
of the world than and pestlence.
We wonder is wise to permit the concentration
power in the hands of a single organization?