The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-02-13
CONTROL OF CORPORATIONS
Mountain States Company Advocates
Commissions
5000 EMPLOYEES

announcement by President Field of
the Mountain States Telephone and
Telegraph company, that he is in
hearty accord with the plan for the
control of the company he represents
| by state utilities commissions elected
by the people. The company, which
operates in the seven mountain states,
is one of the biggest public serving
corporations in the country and this
announcement, coming as it does, in
the midst of public distrust of all cor
porations, shows broad, far-sighted
policy that is doing much toward
bringing about spirit of confidence
in the company and its operations.
The annual report to the three
thousand stockholders gives the COM
pany's balance sheet and shows the
growth of the telephone business in
the territory. 1t contains much of
pubic interest end shows the healthy
condition of the company and it's af-
fairs.
The report in part says: "On De-
cember 81, 1913, we had in our terri
tory $40 exchanges, furnishing SER
vice to 200,O16 exchange stations;
there are 22,556 stations connected
with our system and on the lines OF
connecting companies, making a total
of 222,572 subscribers stations in
service on December 81, 1918, an in
crease of 10, 514 during the year. The
total miles of exchang and toll lines,
as of December 81, 1918, were $685.
666.09, an increase of 32,047.16 miles
for the year. Total miles of ex-
change and toll wire under ground
on December 81. 1913, were 1885,
77S.23. Total miles of toll line on
the same date were 76,984.56. Our
company furnished as we'll to minor
companies toll service over 8,019
miles of connecting toll line. There
are in the territory of the Mountain
States system 551 joint telephone and
telegraph offices, affording facilities
to the public much better than those
formerly enjoyed. Two thousand
three hundred sixty-five male and
2,7O4 female employees made pos
sible the handling of 1,0S5,443 ex-
change messages per day, and 1S,307
outgoing toll messages per day, and
were paid for their services the sum
of $3,921,782 during the year.
1.-TWO states in our territory during
the year 1918 have created public
utility commissions, viz: Idaho and
Montana. Previous to this time, Ari-
iona and New Mexico had already
established such commissions, and, by
virtue of our previous experience, We
have every reason to believe that a
better and broader understanding be-
tween the public and our company is
taking place in consequence. We find
that regulation by public service COM
missions may be considered an assur-
ance against unwarranted prejudice
"Our system of accounting inaugu-
rated January l, 1913, upon the order
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, affords a ready scrutiny and an
easy analysis of our operations, and
has additional value in that it is duly
legalized by the highest authority,
thereby relieving our company from
adverse criticism when subject to in
vestigation.
ITO close this report without refer
ence to the loyalty and hearty CO.
operation of our 5000 employees
would be unfair, both to them and to
the stockholders, whose interest they
have so thoroughly at heart. The
benefit plan referred to in the report
of last year has proven eminently
satisfactory, and has l am positive,
cemented the harmonious relation
ship between the operating force and
the investor.
ct would also be improper to close
this report without some reference to
the great value of our relationship
with the parent company, the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph COM
pany. The past year, in particular,
has emphasized the value of our asso-
citation with that company and our CO.
ordinate corporations which go to
make up the Bell System. The ad-
vantages which we receive in the mat
ter of engineering and accounting ad-
vice, and the exchange of informa-
ton covering operating experiences,
are invaluable alike to subscribers.
and stockholders.
For some months. the Mountain
States company has been telling the
story of its operations, in advertise
ments and in letters to its subscribers
and the confirmation of these state
ments by this report is doing much to
create confidence.
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