The Mankato free press., 1913-03-14
Citizen Telephone
Company Has a
Prosperous Year
From Tuesdays Daily.


president of the Tri-State Telephone
company, the gathering at the Elks'
cafe last evening signified emphatic.
ally that the stockholders in the Citi-
Zens Telephone company have a
lively interest in what is being done
by that progressive corporation.
There We're about 140 people present
at the annual meeting and a large
number of these were lady and ju-
Venile stockholders. Reports from the
secretary and treasurer showed a
marked progress in the company's
business, and much interest in these
reports was displayed Out of the
5,73S shares in the company there
were represented at the meeting last
night 4,097 shares. After tasty
dinner prepared by Mr.. and Mrs.
Ben Williams, the meeting was call
ed To order by President II. A. Pat
terson and the stockholders proceed
ed to get down to business.
w. ID. Willard, secretary and treas
urer of the company, after reading
the minutes of the last session which
was held year ago in the parlors
of st. Johns Catholic church, pre-
sented the financial statement, for
the year ended January l, 1913.
Mr.. Willard called attention to
several items in the statement as
related to the growth of the COM
pany. He said that there was a net
increase in the company's business
in the past year of $1,000. He also
stated that it had been decided by
the directors to create deprecia-
tion reserve fund, and to build this
out of transfers from the general
fund, at the rate of $1,000 per month
or $4,000 for the year. This fund
was set apart to meet any losses
from accidents or unavoidable losses.
There was used from this fund in
1912, $2,572,S6, thus leaving $9,42714.
This report was accepted and placed
on file.
Report of Manager Ferguson.
The report of the manager, p. NJ.
Ferguson, was read by the gentle
man. II proved interesting and gave
in a detailed way the growth OF the
company and the prospects for the
future. The financial portion of the
report will be found on the first page
The managers comments follow:
The number of telephones in
Mankato alone number 1000. or fig.
ured on the population, gives one
telephone to every four people. This
is very good development, and
understand ranks with the highest
for telephone development. The farm.
erS are also beginning to realize the
value of telephone. Figuring our
own farmers, whom we serve direct,
and number approximately 500, Blue
Earth county has a farm telephone
development of one telephone to every
eight farmers, and together with the
number of farm telephones which
We connect with at our sub-exchanges,
gives Blue Earth county farmers
very nearly as good development as
Mankato locally, the number being
one telephone to every five persons
During the year considerable re-
construction, as well as new con-
struction, has taken place in the
plant. North Mankato is entirely re-
built, substituting cable for the open
wire leads which were in operation
there. In order to accomplish this
il was also necessary to install un-
derground conduit and cable from
Hickory street to the North side. In
all, about $500 feet of conduit was
installed, and approximately 10000
feet of cable. The old cable which
was removed from North Mankato
has been used again in, the alley
between Second and Third streets,
from IJinknry WI
became necessary to change the open
wire lead.
New Switchboard.
During the year new switch
board of much larger capacity was
purchased for Mapleton, to take care
of the increasing business there. The
old switchboard was dismantled, and
the line equipment used at our Good
Thunder and Madison Lake eX-
changes. Our object in making this
change was 10 standardiZe the equip
ment at our sub-exchanges, for con-
venience as well as the efficiency in
service At Good Thunder it was
necessary to make a few changes dur
ing the year, doing away with the
agent, which had formerly handled
our business, hiring two operators,
and moving the switchboard to an
other location. The change was
necessary on account of the increase
in business, and the demand for
twenty-four hour service The change
was one in the right direction, and
the business at that point is showing
a considerable increase.
About twelve miles of farmer
lines were built last year, but the
outlook for the present year sign
fies that il will be considerably
greater. | have great many ap-
plications on hand from farmers
wanting our service. And just as
soon as the frost is out of the
ground, we will start installing their
telephones. The most of our present
farmer lines are loaded to their ca
pacity, and it is the intention of the
company 70 string several new cir
cults this year to relieve the con-
gested districts. We have been en-
gagged lately in checking the traffic
over the farmer lines, so that in the
adjusting which will take place, we
will have the information to guide us.
Growth of Plant.
"The plant has reached quite a
size. We now have approximately
275 miles of pole lines, $50 circuit
miles of wire, and fifteen miles OF
cable venture to state that the