The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-16
QUARTER OF CENTURY
HISTORY IS RECALLED
Great Strides Were Made
By Local Enterprise
TAKES ON GROWTH
From Small Beginning Con-
Germ Branched Out Over
Wide Territory

Officers and stockholders of the
Mankato Citizens Telephone COM
pany last evening celebrated the
twenty fifth anniversary of the or
ganixation OF that company, by
holding a largely attended meeting
AT Masonic Temple, following a din
nsr served at $50 o'clock by the
Ladies of the Eastern Star. Presi-
dent III. A. Patterson, who presided
at the meeting, said that ii was by
accident that yesterday afternoon 1t
was discovered that 1t was on Feb
ruary 5, 1898, that the Citizens
Telephone company OF this city was
organized. Therefore, last night
was the silver" anniversary OF the
organization of the company, a
quarter of a century having elapsed
since that time. Since then great
strides had been made in the pro-
sress OF both the telephone indus
Try, and the affairs of the company.
During the serving OF the ban
eIet, al orchestra consisting OF Mrs.
NJ. j. Coughlan, Miss Helen Black
and Donald Fitzlon, furnished mu-
sic for the occasion. The tables
we're beautifully decorated with pot
ted plants and many colored flow
eTS.
Great Strides Are Made.
In order TO show what strides
Malkaio Citizens Telephone COM
pany has made in the last twenty
I'VE years, President Patterson call
ed attention to a notation made in
the minutes OF one of the early
meetings. in which DR.. ]. II. James,
then president OF the company, sug
gested that it might be well for the
company to purchase a horse and
wagon for use in the installation of
telephone work in the outskirts Of
the city. Today the horse has be-
come back number. The telephone
company today keeps four auto
trucks busy in its work in this city
and outlying sections. He said that
the company is to be congratulated
for its advancement Much of the
the untiring efforts of at least two
CT its first presidents. Judge Lorin
Cray and DR.. j. H James.
W. ID. Willard, treasurer of the
company gave the financial report,
which showed that the company is
en- sound financial basis.
Report of Treasurer
w. y. Willard, treasurer of the
company, made the following report
OF the finances of the COMPANY,
which shows that il is on a very
sound basis. The net gain in the in :
stailation of new telephones during
the year, according to the report
was one hundred and twenty nine.
The total number of phones operated
~ tle company in this city is 6,l44.
he total current assets OF the
oomDany for the past year amount
- Sl5,033 .02, the fixed assets includ
ing telephone plant, $410,9S7.06, but
from this total reserve depreciation
70 g. \
leaving a total fixed valuation of
$294 1886 to which is added $130.67
in insurance premiums paid in ad :
vance, which brings the grand total
assets UP to S320,07765.
Total current liabilities for the past
Year amount to $16,74S.1l. Capital
and surplus stock, s303, 329.54s
Total gross receipts from opera
tons for the year, $129,99211.
Total operating expenses $780,
6s1.45. Net income from operations,
of S74S.09 makes the total income
from operations, $25,048.75. From
the last total total OF $l,952.88 was
deducted in the form OF bad debts
etc, which leaves the net income rol
the year, $23, 095.S7. A deduction OF
S2,623.71 in income tax, dividend re
qlirements OF $19,647.70 and federal
tax refunds brings the surplus for
the year down TO S1,066.31.
Remarks BY p. M. Ferguson
p. M. Ferguson, manager Of the
stating that he was pleased to see
that all OF the company's employees
were present. In addition to the
present employees he saw the faces
of many former employees, who had
quit the switch board to get mar
led and are now rearing linemen.
II am reminded OF story told ola
Be- njamin Franklin. He had invited
some friend to dinner, promising them
years Did. When The guests arrived
they saw mounted on q table This
old cask of wine and at the appoint
ed time the hung was withdrawn
when to the surprise out popped a
dy. Franklin noticing tho fly said |;
L wish I wele a fly and could be en-
tombed in q cask for 100 years, lten
on an occasion similar to this. could
step forth into the World Of a hun
dred years hence Suppose Frank
lin could have realized his wish and
could now step forth into our mod
ern World. Would he recognize the
world he would enter? Would he feel
at home or would he be lost? Can
yOu Lie vi tOu<hI anu
compare it with the World OF 400
years ago? Would 1t not be a fact
that had Franklin's wish been
granted he would be entering new
World. Isn't 1t true that during the
last one hundred years old things
have passed away and behold all
things have become new?
The Franklin Era
I'm the old days which We will
term the Franklin era, they had the
stage coach and sail boat for pur-
pose OF travel. Te tallow candle and
kerosene lamp to some extent for
purpose Of light. The quill pen and
.anner for purpose Of communica-
2ion. Today we have the express
train, auto, airplane and steamboat
for purpose Of travel. The arc light
and mazda lamp Tor purpose OF light.
The telephone, telegraph, wire and
wireless. dictaphone and typewriter
for purpose Of communication.
This Is a wonderful age we ara