Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-07
ANNUAL MEETING OF
 s. N. E. TEL. STockHoLDERS
Old Board of Directors Reelected for
 Another Year.

Old Board of Directors Reelected for Another Year.
 The annual meeting of the stock holders of the Southern New England
 Telephone Company was held at the
 Telephone building in New Haven Tuesday afternoon. The only business of the meeting was that of acting up- on the annual report of the company and the election of directors for the coming year. The present directors, Messers, Lyman B. Jewell, James English. A. Heaton Robertson, John W. filling. Theo. N Vail, James T. Moran, Victor Morris Tyler William F. Henney, Charles E. Lyman, August us H. Bulard, Charles G. Dubois and Harry c. Knight were reelected
 The annual report says in part:
 From beginning to end the year proved to be the most active in the history of the business. The tremend- ous expansion, which prevailed with out cessation in practically all lines of industry and commerce twas reflected in the telephone business by an un- precedented public demand for service and facilities. with the natural result was coupled with extraordinary ex- penditures in plant and operation.
 Big Increase in Stations.
 The total number of stations of all kinds in service at the close of the year was s137, 1869 or one telephone for every nine of population. The in- crease for the year was 12,809, a record figure. exceeding the highest previous yearly increase of 10,647 sta tions, obtained in 1906 by 2,162. Of the total, 1855, 504 stations are operated directly by the Company, while the balance is made up of miscellaneous stations including those of small con- meeting companies within the state. The number of exchange circuits re- quired to connect the stations with the various central offices increased from 57,667 to 67,209 or 16.6 per cent. as compared with the inrease of 1o.3 per ent. in tations operated directly by the Company.
 Local traffic, or calls between sub scribers within the same exchange, 672, ,922, a gain of 67.503, daily local connections or 11.2 per cent It will be noted that this increase in local tra fife Just as the increase in ex- greater than the increase in stations; and that consequently the problem of the company was not merely that of providing facilities for the large num- Der of new subscribers but that of caring for a greatly increased usage of service by all subscribers. Toll traffic showed the e>en greater rela- tive increase of 19.7 pe> cent
 To Continue Improvements.
 The large program of 1916 will nec- essari1y be continued during the pres ent year. In Bridgeport, an additional central office unit, to be called the Noble unit, will be placed in opera ton in the spring, and a new toll board is already in process of installa- tion- One and possibly two stories will be added to the Hartford building to accommodate an additional unit of the Hartford Exchange as well as to meet other requirements brought about by the growth of the business in that city. That portion Of the new ten-story building in New Haven which is designed for operating pur- poses vii be occupied during the lat ter part of the summer and will con- tain the Colony unit of the New HaV- en Exchange, while occupancy of the offices etc, for which the building provides will be possible before the end of the year. Work upon the Ham den unit of the New Haven Ex- change will be started in the spring tober. In Sound Beach, work is al- ready in progress to provide for a new common battery exchange which will be opened in the early bring In Newtown, common battery installa- ton in new quarters purchased by the com pany in 1915, is nearly com pleted and will be placed in service in March. In Moosup, Simsbury and office quarters, together with changes from magneto to common battery ser vice. are definitely scheduled for vari- ous dates during the year. and it is probable that central office buildings on land purchased by the company in Meriden and Saybrook will be started toward the end of the year with view to new central office installations during 1918.
 Income Increased Substantially.
 As forecasted. in last years report, the enlarged program necessarily un- dertaken by the company for the year 1916 was not coupled with the in crease in profits generally accfulng to business enterprises of different character in which increased costs have been attended with increased selling prices To be sure, the large number of new subscribers and the additional use of our toll service were refiected iu~ a substantially increased income -TAfs added revenue. however. was obtained under no increased prices for our service but, on the contrary, in many cases. under reduc- ed prices, and was almost wholly on- get by the extraordinary costs which this business, like any other business, was obliged to shoulder under the un- u,lal condition of the times, we have I,een more intent upon taking every practical measure to keep our service at the highest possfbl standard or ef- dcfercv under the exceptional de- -.-5- 1o ..r,ou if Within the Hru-