The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-08-28

emucs ior lntercOmmunicatiOn, not
only between individuals. but between
centers OF population: that no Isolated
sec,ion can be considered independ-
enuy or any other section or OF the
whole; that rates must be SO adjusted
as TO make IL possible to obtain the
MAXIMUM development by making II
possible Tor every one to be connected
who VIII add TO the value Of the sys-
tenn, thus giving the z, safest value to
me greatest number: that the inter-
dependence OF the telephone service
ana the value OF complete and uni
.eIsaI ACCOMMODATION Justify and
require some services partly at the
expense OF the whole for the benefit
! q the whole.
we believe that this highest COM
mercial value can only be attained by
one system under one common control
ana That IL cannot be given BY indie
| pendent systems unless they are oper
ated under agreements which result in
one common control and one common
interest. in effect making them a
single system.
We believe that rates should be so
adjusted as 10 afford the company
sunclent revenue to pay such wages
anu compensation as will secure the
most efflcient service: 10 maintain tho
very highest and most advanced stand
aros or plant and apparatus. to carry
on sucn scientific and experimental re-
search and inventions as TO apparatus
anu methods as TO insure the highest
standaids, and TO carry TO reserve and
appreciation such amounts as will en-.
aDie the company at any time TO re-
pace old plant and old methods with
new plant and new methods AZ fast as
,hey may be developed and found 10
be 10 the advantage OF the service
We believe that in addition such fs;r
charges should be paid upon the In
vcetment in plant as will enable the
company al any time 10 obtain money
necessary TO provide the plant re-
qnlred 70 meet the continuing demands
OF the public: and in order that waste
and duplication of effort NAV he
avoided and uniformity OF purpose
ana common control be enforced. that
mere should be a centralized general
administration in close communication
VII" ~sn ana having general authority
over the whole matters common 10
all or matters OF general policy.
We oeileve that any surplus beyond
tnat necessary 10 eQualize dividends
on fair basis should be used BY the
company for the benefit OF the public
ana should be inalienable for any
Otner purpose. and should be either In
vested in revenue-earning plant untII
necessary 70 substitute plant which
may become inadequate or obsolete.
or should be used to make the service
cheaper or better.
We pohcNc tnet under proper GOV
eminent control and regulation The
pronts from promotion or operation nj.
lowed to be distributed should not he
so large as tn warrant or tempt CON-
plete duplication Of plant and organi-
cation, with its duplication of fits can
ltal charges and its organization. on
Grating, maintenance and depreciation
expenses; and we do not believe that
utilities giving at fair rates an efricI-
ent and sufficiently comprehensive
universal service should be subject ,o
limited competition. not giving sucr
service. Competition which ignores
the obligation 10 furnish a complete
and comprehensive service is not com.
petition. Is not for the benefit OF the
public In that IL does not reach the
whole public interested.
IL. therefore. complete duplication.
with Its dual exchange connection and
dual bills for service. is a prerequisite
70 complete competition. government
control and regulation cannot 20 hand
In hand with competition.
We believe that the record OF the
He'll system will be accepted by the
public as fully in accord with thes.
declarations. Consistent adherence To
this policy has given the public OF tho
United States the best. most compre-
hensive and cheapest telephone ser.-
ice In the world and made the Bel
standards the standards Of all nations
To remove any possible excuse for
misapprehension on account Of the
many misleading statements wbics
Rave been circulated as 10 the alleged
unnecessary and decentralization
and excessive charges OF the Bell svs-
tenn. the following statistics are given
Except where stated. the figures are
for the Bell system that IL. tho Amer.
lean telephone and telegraph. and ifs
associated companies.
The entire Bell system on June 30
1913. had outstanding I'm the hands Of
the public obligations q. .. not.S.
open account. bonds and shares 10
The par value 81 S17G. 1ou. OGO
The book value 81 the total tangible
assets. which Is considerably less than
their replacement value. amounted 20
$3.50 100000 Many appraisals o'
property included IN these assets have
been made. and most Of them under
the direction OF public au'horities g.
no case has the value a. Il stands OH
he books failed 10 be- sustained. and
IN most csses ~ hiss been very largely
FhNFFAFu
The total dividends and Interest
paid during the year 1912 amounted
20 only 81 per cent on tho average o.
ne Outstanding obligations. and 20 les
than 3 per cent on the average value
~ its assets
The actual cash which has been
paid into the Treasury 81 the Amer
ran Telephone and Telegraph com.
pany on account ~ Tho capital obiign
lions now outstanding amounts 70
t2I0DO 600 more thar fhr par 90
such OUTSTANDING obligations
The Associated Companies coIlers.
- from the public and paid back 90
axes over StDDop0nO during tho
yfsr 1912
The steadily Increasing neces-itiea
~ the public not only for additional
but for new telephone service ctr
only b. met by new construction. In.
volvinR capital outlay 10 meet fhcsn
demands during the six and ono hair
years from 1907 20 June. 1919. inr.u.
five. the inrreare in Telephone plan.
vas a. follows Tool line wire fr
creased from $50 600 miles fo
2.2f2 600 miles. eNchange wire BOZ
cfeased from 8 900 900 miles 20
1900 900 The number ~ erchanFr
stations Increased from 2.12DOG0 90
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