Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-01-21
Recent Increase i'm Rates Neces-
sary To Keep Company
Solvent
OFFICERS ELECTED FOR
THE ENSUING YEAR
Fourteen Subscribers Have TelephOneS
Removed Following Raise i'm
Rates

The annual meeting of the stock
phone Company was held at the office
of the secretary asurer on Wednes-
day. Jan. 12
The annual election of directors re-
suited in the election of the following.
stockholders as directors: Dr. Il. +.
Kinyon. Alden J. Laidlaw. Wilfrcd
Schmidt, w. :. Sergeant. r. H. BURNS
After the adjournment Of the stock
holders meeting. the directors met and
organized by clecting officers rs fol-
lows:
president-Dr. b. +. Kinyon.
Vice President-W. s. Sergeant
Treasurer and Secretary-A Alden j.
Laidlaw.
Manager-Wilfred Schmidt
During the stockholders meeting
most Of the time was occupied by a free
discussion of the company'S business
and the conditions and needs Of the
company. The recent increase in rates
was thoroughly discussed. 1t is need
less to say that this increase was the
object Of considerable criticism. The
discussion. however. brought forth the
following general observations, name
ly: he increase in rates should have
been established from year to Il year
and Il half earlier. The company has
for several years. been rendering ser
vice to the subscribers for less than the
actual cost.
The old rate. 81 % per month"; if paid
in advance. did very we'll under pre-
war prices. AT the present time, al
though there is some decline in cost
of living. The telephone supplies. costs
of line work. etc. are some two or
three times what they were in 1919. In
the spring Of 1920 the board of direct
orS was confronted with many of the
lines in bad condition and service not
entirely satisfactory. 1t was cOnSid-
erred necessary TO proceed 10 improve
The service and repair the lines that
were in the greatest need of repair The
current income of the company was not
sufficient to accomplish these improve
monts. No sinking fund has been laid
by in past years with which to meet
the necessary repairs. 1t was. there
fore. necessary for the company 10 bOr-
row money with which to put the lines
in repair This was done.
During the discussion, information
was laid before the stockholders that
since the new rates had become opera
tive. fourteen subscribers had had
their phones removed. 1t is hoped by
the persons who have the welfare of the
company at heart, that subscribers
who have had their phones removed or
those who are contemplating having
them removed. will reconsider and de
eide to stay with the company. The
part of RuSk county that is served by
the rural telephone company, is rapid
ly developing and telephones are a
necessity They cannot furnish ser
vices for less than cost and remain sol
vent. Should il become inSOlvent and
the property that is now owned by the
farmers be taken over by an outside
corporation it is very likely that we
would pay three dollars per month in
stead of two. We would then have TO
pay rates sufficient to cover costs, de-
probation of lines. salaries Of officers,
profits. etc. We would have
no voice in the management The best
way that we can. reduce the cost OF
telephone service is to keep the phone
that we now have and induce Il neigh
lOr that is not Il SubScrib or, to become
Il telephone subscriber If the number
= hot in
largely increased. it is quite probable
that the rate could be lowered within
il year.