The Harrison times., 1915-04-24

pl oAAoihCl OlNiCG anu bONhos
The copper wire circuit alone from
Little Rock to Texarkana costs over
$4,000.
Every time the telephone company
builds a new toll line that means that
a dozen or so towns are brought in
closer and quicker communication
with the business centers of the Mis-
sissippi valley, and that means a de-
cided advantage for these towns, an
impetus toward growCh and develop.
ment. That toll line alone may cost
$4,000, without considering the thou
sands for equipment and switch
boards at the various exchanges or
the rentals for buildings or the pay
rolls of scores of employees along the
line. Any little old toll line Of 70 or
100 miles through small towns and
sparsely settled country means just
the investment noted above, and the
returns may not start for five years,
but the company knows that this line
runs through timber lands that will
be cleared some day; it knows that
the soil is rich here in the bottoms
! and that fruitful orchards will some
day flourish on the hilsides and that
mineFs will dig rich ore from the
mountains and that these towns will
become small cities,
The telephone is a builder and
therefore must keep on building, No
stop, no rest, no time to wait to col
lect on the investment 1t must in-
vest more to keep up with develop
ment that it was far ahead Of in the
beginning.
When the Bell company builds an
| exchange nowadays it provides not
only for present business demands,
but also for an increase in the future.
1t erects not only a building sufficient
to care for its business, but also pro
vides rooms for the recreation of its
| perators-restrooms they are called
and every exchange in the state Of
any size has these rooms for its girl
employees They're not necessary for
business, but the Bell figures they are
worth while If they add to the con
yenience and oontentment Of the
army Of girls who have introduced to
fame the voice with the smile"
The company's exchanges over the
state are models OF architectural
beauty and the employees are encour.
aged to make them attractive. The
yards are flower gardens and the
windows and inches are decorated
and made homelike,
Bell officials and employees are
urged at all times to work with local
and civic bodies for the good of the
community in all things, The other
day the Ad Mems Club Of Little Rock
called on Curtis Stout, district man
ager Of the Bell company, to make a
talk before that body on the COM
panys advertising methods, Mr..
Stout and his company entered the
plan heart and soul, The advertising
for the event was unique and attraS.
tive and stirred up lot Of interest,
The attendance was fine, Mr. Stouts
address was declared a treat and res
olutions were passed afterward by the
club most favorable to the Bell com.
pany and IT'S cooperation, Mr. stout
In the course OF his address, with the
aid Of lantern and electrician, Illus
trated the work, development and
methods Of the telephone company
from many and interesting View
points. The pictures showed more
plainly than words could tell the eX'
pense Of construction and replace.
ment that tho company Is put to all
| the time,
Another view OF the Bell company
not generally known or talked much
about Is It's pension and benefit plan
for retired, injured or sick employees.
The employees do not contribute one
cont to the support Of this plan, but
conduct the affairs Of this pension
plan and administer its benefits as u
part Of their company duties II has
proved success from the beginning
and is now u fixed company policy
While the Bell company lines cover
| Arkansas with a network, yet II has
no monopoly on the states telephone
business, There are ig5 other com
panies In the state, Beside the Bell
Investment Of nearly six millions In
the state, ils announcement OF the ~
urc Investment OF four millions In
five years, It's annual pay roll Of
/ 100000 and ils development of the
state by bringing communities logclh.
or and oSpcdiDlng business, II pays
into the state treasury over $4,000 In
taxes every year In fact the He'll
company Of Arkansas N doing many
big things for ila employees that are
not generally known to the publIci IT
ia spending more money and building
more for the future ihan people think,
and II " playing not inconsiderOblo
part In the industrial, business aud
social life OF the state and In the de-
yelopmen Of these things to a higher
point year by year, and more tfah
| ~ L. 4.