The Ordway new era., 1914-02-20
Advocates Control
Of Corporations
Mountain States Company in
Favor Of Commissions
5000 Employees

1
that he is in hearty accord with the
plan for the control OF the company
he represensL by state utilities com
missiuns elected by the people. The
company which operates in seven
mountain states, Is one OF the biggest
public serving corporations 10 the
country, and this announcement, com,
ing as IL does, In the midst Of public
distrust of all corporations. shows a
broad, far sighted policy that is doing
much tuward bringing about a spirit
Of confidence In the company and its
operations.
The annual report to the 5000
stockholders gives the c"mpaDy's bal
ance sheet and shows the growth of
the telephone business in its territory.
1t contains much OF public Interest
and shows the healthy condition of
the com pany and It's affairs.
The report In part says: %"Ob De-
cember 81, 1913. we had in our terri
tory $40 exchanges, furnishing service
TO 2OO.Ol6 exchange stations: there
are 22.556 stations connected with our
system on the lines Of connecting com
psnies, making u total Of 222,572 sub
scribcrs' stations 10 service on De-
cember-3l, AN Increase Of 1854 dur
change and toll lines then were $685.
666 %. an Increase OF 81. 047. l8 miles
for the,year. Total miles VI exchange
and toll wire underground on Decem-
ber 81, 1918 were IS6, 6,778.23. Total
miles Of Toll line on the same date
were 78,ss4.56. Our company furn-
ished as well To miuor cOmpaDies toll
service over 8,Ol9 miles Of connecting
toll line. There are Ia the territory
OF the Mountain States system 55l
joint telephone and telegraph Offices.
atiordibg facilities to the public much
better than tbose formerly enjoyed.
There are, 2, 1866 male and 2,7O4 female
employees who have made possible the
handling OF l,Os8, ,443 exchange MESA
ges per day, and ls,3o7 outgoing toll
messages per day, aud were paid for
their services the sum Of $3,92l, 1882
during. the year.
1.-TWO states 10 our territory during
the year 1913 have created public
utilities commissions. viz: Idaho and
Montana. Previous to that time Ari-
zona aud New Mexico established
such commissions, and, by virtue of
our previous experience. we have
IN hall . hHt H.ats a
aud broader understanding between
the public aud our company Is taking
place in consequence. We tlnd that
regulation of public service commits
sions may be considered and assurance
OF better feeling and Insurance
against upwarranted prejudice.
.'OIr system OF Accounting inaugu.
rated January l. 1918. upon the order
Of the Interstate Commerce commits.
Esion. affords ready scrutiny and an
easy analysis of our operations, and
has additionRl value In that 1t is duly
legalized by the highest authority,
thereby relieving our company from
adverse criticism when subject to in-
vestlgdtfon.
ITO close this report without refer
ence to the loyalty, and hearty cooper
alton of our 6.O69 employees would be
unfair, both to them and to, the stock.
holders. whose Interests they have SO
Thoroughly at heart. The benefit
plan referred to In the report of last
year has proven eminently satisfac
tory and has, am positive, cemented
the harmonious relationship between
the operating force and the Investor
"It would also be e'improper to close
this report without some reference tc
the great value Of our Relationship T
with the parent company. The Amer.
ican Telephone and Telegraph com
pany.S The past year, 10 particular
has emphasized the value OF our asso
ciatlon with that company and oul
coordinate corporations which 20 Il
!, make up the Bell system. The ad
vantages which we1receive 10 the mat
ter of engineering and accounting ad
vice and the exchange of information
covering operating experiences, ar,
Invaluable alike to subscribers, EN-.
/, ployes and stockholders.
For some months the Mountain
States company has been telling th,
! story of operations, in advertise
rnents and in letters to its subscsiber
and the confirmation Of these state
kments by this report is doing m ucl
Ito create confidence. :
| George Henderson who has been q
his ranch near >F'order for the pas
: month; came In Monday on bushes
: for q few days. He states that th
form looks good to him and that b
III may decide To make farming hia ~