The Columbia evening Missourian., 1921-09-06
Increased Cost of Telephone Service

lie.
there the Columbia system and Columbia called upon " gave
double per telephone that Centraa gives That IS there
approximately twice calls telephone in Columbia
there is at CentraHa good deal II or IA
calls telephone than does put only or calls per telephone
telephone Springfield fairly comparable to the
service Copba Springfield larger than Columbia
Columbia telephone much larger in area than
Springfield system which few exchange lines beyond
the city and the calling Columbia than
Springfield that naturally it much to give service
Springfield The Springfield rates $3.50 for bus
and $500 for residences.
Mr. johnson says: organizing vigorously
oppose proposed of telephone in that City, Columbia
paving for business Kansas City paying $780, almost
three much Columbia asking $3.50 Kansas City asking
$780, almost three times much Kansas City of has
telephones than Columbia but the Kansas City system does
onehal much territory covered by the Columbia
City certainly has better equipment than has Columbia As
of fact there better equipment than the Columbia equip
And certainly Kansas City better service than
Columbia Ask who has used the service at both places
investigated years
that Columbia averaged calls telephone than made
Kansas City.
why expected give service for one
third the price paid Kansas City? And why should Columbia
ect paying $3.50 because Kansas City objects paying
nearly Columbia service covers more than
large territory covered by the City service?
Let be fair and look the facts honestly, the face remembering
that utilities give good unless they
o pay the of such service.
Good service must than service but
ALL isn't telephone service the cheapest thing enjoy? Then
we ought be willing living price for it, We think
shown that, that would be little than ask.
In the meantime the telephone books open examination
JUST ANOTHER WORD AND THEN WE ARE THROUGH
The following pertncn, we chcerfuly answer it
Manager Columbia Telephone System.
Columbia, Missouri
Dear SIR
While think all appreciate apparently statements in
connection with application for in rates think one
point has been overlooked that inves,men, on which epor
users are expected dividends and what are
with this information connection with that already given
thnk we should be able form fair idea reasonabencs of
Columbia, Missouri September B. 1921.
Telephone User"
~ telephone User right Those who telephone service
nave perfect right know the investment ,be arc w
% 10 pay on and the of profit they expected to r
but the present rates approved by Public Service Com
% i several years ago alter exhaustive very expensive hear
ing ana We have asked on the grounds % @
mas heen increase in of labor and m,,.r;,I -
~ ana an increase OF more than 45O per in taxes and
mat increased rates absolutely necessary to meet ,b -
costs we have been compelled pay Thus We have cndd ~
neg ected investment and earnings ~ P''''pS
however ior our satisfaction and in order IN I I
f inquiries ineigent had inventory and anr
in Chicago y WI w. r. Sioan' with offices
Mr. Soan was for Telephone Engineer for the Wisconsin,
fuDc Service Commission During he was TcIepbon F
M ne T. D. Government He large business and inst bof
coming 10 Columbia appraised telephone propei.s d ,L
och Telephone Co. in around St. Louis R, his b; m , ~
he has gained the respect confidence Of Inc PnbI ST.
msons 10 greater probably than any other engineer II
the country ~ engineer IN
Mr. Sloan and his assistants counted every l I =.
lus and measured wire and cable requiring severn,
" 'o' 50 mat he had a complete inventory of the plant "
His valuation of the city plant TO s3l 877 0o and d A
lu plant to sil36lOO total for both plants of s445aOO The
u lie deprecated of and to s2g24qNO for
anu oi'-'oV LOT Inc rural plant. a
'aue Oh >oaoS4oo Tor the city and rural plants combined
ne Mr. soas inventory completed have been made
amounting TO- s4o5 bringing the deprecated value Of the cb
plants up to s3787545 the present time and the
Sit9.73945. ' anu "' u"uep'ec'aied value
The advanced nearly can be determined Of tho future
VIII pay profit OF S62 deprecated vain, o The p,
determined by Mr. Sloan ~ " "'e pant
course goes without saying that such earnings are
hard satisfactory but the advance consIc.bI. IT,
pat being operated at loss which will conpuc II, ;nc
S "" aun necessary operators handle business prop 60 ~
naturally we were anxious relief quickly as pos u
nave asked or The very least thai could he c
-, pms mus TO avoid dissatisfaction Immediate r
h hoped that through improved which NAV come come
better earnings. ~ '~'"''hs III hue
In tins connection be interesting repe, , - 100,
% '-,oo1z Tor additions the plant including abr Nom
e ne" cable containing from 900 down IN small,
ne" poe hn ETC. Additions made dac this wear b, , enc
completion. ~ ''"Dodu no" nearing
Thus it is that additions during the mas, vc,r M Lie
nave cost and several thousand dollars spent for op
before the end of this year. 'P " ''"i''"s
The initial cost the additions switchboard was s zooo
s2 10000. " " e "ih
During the and half years additions tn the nr b
s90ll547. " pant "''e
This OF included in part cf The d.,r
value found by Mr.. Slogan Of $377 87545.
In The time the books of the system kent in acco,J @ H.
direction the Public Service to np d
we would be glad have interested parties Office and
for themselves. ~ '"''