The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-01-31
RURAL PHONE
BOND ISSUE
Safe and Profitable Investment VIII
Put Enterprise in the Way of
Earning Larger Income.

AS pT0Slu0DL OIL The hGuWOOa
County Rural Telephone Company, [
wish to take the stockholders and
subscribers into my confidence, and
as there is no better way of getting
hearing | accept the courtesy Of
The Gazette to talk through its
columns.
Our telephone company was or
gained and is being operated on the
mutual basis. | wish that its mem
bership had more of the mutual
spirit. By mutually l mean not
only equality of benefits, but equal
ity of interests and sense of obliga-
ton. To enjoy the benefits and not
be willing to assume any part of the
obligation of mutual organization
is not the qualification Of the desir-
able member, but is closely related
to the characteristics of the trust
magnate.
The capitalization and equipment
of our telephone company with its
six exchanges. two stations and 318
miles of pole lines require means and
effort beyond the ability of the indi-
vidual to supply, hence we should
have associated effort and capital
with the stockholders more nearly
at par as investors. | wish that the
rank and file would contribute more
largely to the financial needs of the
company. From organization to
date few public spirited men have
invested the bulk of the capital and
loaned largely their credit, not from
choice, but to keep solvent corpo-
ration of large public service and
mutual benefit. At every annual
meeting the management has vainly
plead with the stockholders to help
lift the burden. The spirit of mu-
tual helpfulness is wanting. What
we always needed and want now is a
little help and good will all along
the line.
From point of service the compa-
ny enjoys reasonably we'll satisfied
constituency. The present financial
situation is gratifying. The net
earnings for the last ten months
were 1867 SO against S5O7. 18 for the
previous year. This gain is largely
due to increase of tolls derived from
contract which fully justifes the
prediction of its promoters as a rev.
enue producer. In addition our in
ventory, (equipment) has gained
S923.6O. The prospect for the COM
ing season is gratifying. There is
demand for the extension
of the telephone service. The farm
ers generally are beginning to ap-
preciate the benefits and conyen-
fence of telephone communication.
We are DESTROYS of supplying this
demand and will build new lines
when when adequate stock for the
extension is subscribed.
The new management will under
take no retrenchment in operating
expense by reduction of salaries. In
the interest of good service the
present schedule will be maintained.
We are ambitious that the 1911 re-
port will look better in the amount
OF rents local and rural DUE and
the amount paid for interest, and
we ask for the cooperation of the
stockholders in this direction. The
last report shows rents due the COM
ny OF S3.02O.35. nearly $1,000 in ex-
cess OF last year and the annual
meeting for the purpose of keeping
this item at the minimum by a
unanimous vote instructed the man.
ager to diseonnect all phones whose
subscriber is in arrear for the peri
cd of six months. This rule should
not occasion friction. It shall be
enforced as a business proposition.
The annual meeting also author
lied the board to refund the $14, 900,
the 8 per cent first mortgage bonds
at a rate Of not to exceed z per cent
interest, payable annually in denom-
nations OF $1OO each. As president,
| earnestly request the stockholders