The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
S41,117,4S7 PROFITS
FOR AMERICAN TEL
Great Wire System, Says Pres.
idcnt Vail, Ready to Aid
in Defence.
SECRET TESTS FOR ARMY

The report Of the American Telephone
ard Telegraph Company for the year
ended December 81. 1915. shows total
earnings OF siS,s0e.354. As against S4s..
1858 in 1914. and 3l5.sos.sSi in
iet3. Net earnings for the year
TO S4i.li7,4s7. - compared
with ao.s55.e77 in the year before.
The net earnings, after interest. wers
eaua, TO 800 per cent, earned on the
s3So.t77.1oo capital stock. A. compared
with Gas per cent. earned on s34l,ssI.-
900 IN 1914. The balance for the year
was s34.sis.S37, as against Sss,334.sl4.
The report of the Bell system, owned
nv the American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, shows gross earnings
for the year amounting 10 $3.50 sos, 64s.
as against sees. 952.123 In 1914 and
s~2i5.a1o.S22 in 1913. The operation Of
the system for the year cost 3sl.550.665.
- compared with Ssl,396.2l9 In 1914.
and net earnings totalled S66.1sl.757
- compared 18th S59.247.27s In 1914.
The Neil system earned a surplus OF
Sij.iS?.0i9.
Theodore y. Vail. president of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company. In his remarks TO ~stockhold-
.is says that the company and as-
sociatcd cons,anies were never In more
satisfactory financial and physical con
dillon. He draws attention to the fact
that the records established In long
a. lance wireless telephony we're made
~ the company.
"a; the cnd of the year the number
a. stations WAS 9.151.2:1. an increase Of
:o2.2.S.' says President Vail. Total
mileage of wire In use for exchange and
toll service was 1S.50a.5i5 miles. of
which 1.o2?.a5i we're added during 1918.
or this total wire mileage SO per cent.
IL vppcr The underground conduits
represent a cost OF ss4.5oO.000 n the
cables in conduits sII1.? 200. 900. a total
In underground plant OF SOS. 700. 900.
"The number Of stockholders, 65.51e.
not including the $1,000 employee share
holders who are paying FOR stock out OF
their wages. shows an increase Of s.o97.
The majority of the company's share
holders are women.
THE formal opening OF the transcon-
tucn.al telephone line from Boston and
New York on the atlantic seaboard to
San Francisco on the Pacific on Janu-
AIRY %. 1915. has been followed by the
extension OF extreme distance trans
mission into all the States OF the Union.
ION account OF the European war
there has been much difficulty in OBJ
tanning many OF the supplies needed in
telephone manufacture. and the engineer
ing department has been active in pro-
Nidine substitutes.
During the year the engineering de-
partunent has done important and con.
hdcntiai work with representatives Of
boil, the army and navy as to new
methods of wire and wireless communi-
cation. and II has been made clear that
the comprehensive wire network OF the
FELL plant. 10y a simple plan Of coopera-
''"n. will supply TO the scheme OF ma.
t"nal defence a working system OF com.
nidnicati"n uncaualled by that OF any
other nation.
-" long a. the policies which now
CONTROL the companies are followed. SO
lonS ~ there are fair rates and good
service adds Mr.. Vail. there Is little
danger of public ownership.
Tile public are recognizing the fact
that In thu rates charged for telephone
service in the United states there IL no
>Na"tion. and are beginning to believe
chat these charges are the cheapest IN
Rho world. and the service the best and
thc total cost TO the public is less than
" would he under Government owner
min"