Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1920-10-28

and City, has increased every year we have
been in business the increase this year being
unusually high. There is no probability of this
expense being reduced.
We do not pay any excess profit tax he
ca,l@t We have never earned enough to he sub
ivct 70 hat tax.
BUILDINGS
It is common knowledge that the cost of
erecting any kind of building now, as we'll as
making alterations and repairs which con-
sta tly confront the Telephone Company and
which involve material, labor, freight. and
hauling, is on an enormously higher plane
than ever before. Insofar as TIE cost of ma
terals may be reduced will this total cost be
l,tuced.
~. only way We can furniah adequate ia
cities for your use from year to year is by
constructing the buildings in which to house
the central office apparatus in the larger cen
tiers; as web as enlarging existing buildings
to serve the increased needs, and this work
mpst be ca ried on from year to year without
delay This involves hundreds of thousands
Of doi'ars in expense to the Company:
Ihete are, Of course many other items OF
q>pense all Of which are new at the highest
lavel in prices. and none o! which show any
sen of reduction for Fundamental reasons.
Until these necessary costs of operation
,re materially reduced cannot reduce the
COSTS Of furnishing telephone service.
We have carefully studied and analysed the
,1va,+;cod rod,ction in nrcaS and find that
they are upon articles Of which we make but
little, if any. use. Applied to the telephone
business all known reductions in prices would
not reduce the cost of furnishing telephone
seivce one-twentieth Of F sss per p. cent cent;
This is ,aany times offset by the increase in
wages which, in many places, we must 9,ake
during the current year,
Our present Operating revenues are practical
ly eq;lailed BY our operating expenses. If th4
present let down in general business con
tnues fer any app,cciahe time We will lose
a material part Of the gross revenue now re
eejved, which will make still higher Yata
necessary if deficit is avoided.
We are not asking higher rates for the
SAME SERVICE We furnished one, two or
i've years ago. but for a much GREATER
SERVICE which We now furnash, consisting
of facilities to add May additional telephones
to our system during the past one, two and
five years:
This fact should be considered when conlpar-
ing the increase in rates we ask with the in
crease in the charges Of railroad, express and
other public utilities for the same quantity Of
service
We hope, az every one does, that in the relae
lively near future prices and the costs OF
operation, except labor, will be lower but we
see no immediate prospects Of this result as
far as the Telephone Company is concerned.
I The increased rates we are now asking are
Ibased, in measure, upon this hope. If the
5present level of costs Of operation go higher,
through causes beyond our control the pro
posed rates will not yietdlt !? fairf pisaaalt{
Il Il Important TO remember that no rate for
public Utility is permanent. # conditions
and prices so change in the future as to MAKE
the rates we are now asking yield tee fi9h !
return, and il the TelssREhaHe Company sAopie
not reduce ths rates voluntarily the faDhc
SERVICE Commission would:
Conditions as they are must be met not as
theysmay or should BE-
The highest and best interest Of the pubic
is canseryed in having the Telephone Com
pany in position to supply facilities adequate
to the demand for telephones and service, and
in this way be prepared to render at all times
an adequate service. No community can ex-
pand and grow, without adequate telephone
service, which in turn means adequate plant
facilities.
With inadequate returns upon the bare cos CO:
of the physical property already IN service
the Csnnany's credit has disappeared
;. Will. nd credit the Company cannot sec cur
the millions of dollars required to pr4vidae II!
additions and extensisns q its plant, whiecl
must be provided # the PUBLIC demand 70
telephones is supplied.
Respectfully yours
], EPPS BROWN, President.