Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-10-23
BUILDINGS

It is common knowledge that the cost Of erect
ing any kind Of building now aS.wcll as making
alterations and repairs. which constantly con
front the Telephone Company and which involve
material. labor freight, and hauling, is on an
enormously higher plane than ever before. In
sotar rs the cost of matrials may be reduced will
this total cost be reduced.
The only way we can furnish adcqIat gacili
ties fer your from year to year is bvcohStrHct'
ing the buildings in which to house the central
office apparatus n the larger <ls; well as
charging existing buildings TO serve the increased
needs and this work must be carried from
wear 10 year without delav This involves humid
reds of thousands Of dollars in expense to the
Company.
There are, of course, many other tins Of ex.
pcnsc all Of watch are now at the highest level
in prices, and none of which show any sign Of
reduction for fundamental reasons.
Uuti these necessary costs Of operation are
materially reduced we cannot reduce the COSTS
OF furnishing telephone service.
We have carefully studied and analvzed the
advertised reduction in price and find that they
are upon articles of which we make but little, il
any, use. Applied to the telephone business all
known reductions in prices would not reduce the
cost of furnishing telephone service onetwentieth
of per cent.
This is many times offset by the increase in
wages which in many places, we mast make during
the current year,
Our present operating revenues are practically
equalled by our operating expenses. If the pres.
emit let down in general business continues for any
appreciate time we will lase a material part OF
the gross revenue now received, which will make
still higher rate necessary if deficit is avoid.
ed.
We not asking higher rates for the SAME
SERVICE we furnished one, two five years
ago; but for a much GREATER SERVICE which
we now furnish consisting of facilities 20 add
many additional telephones to our system during
the past one two and five years.
This fact should be considered wien compar-
ing the increase in rates ask with the increase
in CHARGES of railroad, express and other public
utilities for the same quantity of service.
We hope rs every one does that in the reIa>
tivolv near future prices anu costs of operation
except Labor will be lower, bat we see no mmed-
late prospects Of this result far the Telephone
Company IS concerned.
The increased rates now asking are
based, in measure, upon this hope If the pre-
sent level Of costs of operation 20 higher through
caTsrs he"ond control, tle proposed rates will
not yield fair profit
It is important TO remember that no rate for
public utility is permanent If conditions and
prices SO change in the future as to make the
r&+"S we arc now asking yield to high a return aud
If the Telephone Company should not reduce the
rates Voluntarily the uhiie servicPe Commission
would.
, Conditions, as they are must be met not as
they may or should be-
The highest and best interest of the public is
conserved IN having the Telephone Comav in
position to supply facilities ADEQUATE ia tho do
mand for telephones service, and in This wav be
prepared 70 render at all times adequate service
adequate telephone service, which in turn means
adequate plant facilities
with inadequate returns upon the bare cost Of
the physical property already in servicc-the Com.
rany's credit has disappeared
With no credit tbo Comron,, a.u. a--- Al
millions or dollars required to provide the additions
and extensions OF its plant, which must be provided
II the public demand for telephone is supplied
Respectfully yours
J. EPPS BROWN, President.