The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-02-10

show
SLIGHT DROP

operating revenues OF the Michigan
Bell Telephone Company for 1888 to-
tailed $40, I16. Goo, or 1.196 less than in
1887, while operating expenses, exclu-
s;ve Of taxes, were 81, 334 600, or sub
stantially the same as in 1887, accord
ing to the annual report of operations.
submitted to the annual meeting of
stockholders in Detroit Thursday
february 81 by George NJ. Welch,
president Operating taxes of $5.364 600
were $3.50 greater than for 1887, re-
Quiring 1880 of the operating reven-
ues and equaling $500 per telephone
in service, compared with 1886 in
1897 and $3.50 in 1929. ::
Net income amounted to S704 per
share, compared with $7.S2 in 1887
Dividends paid were $3.50 per share
(612%o) and a balance OF S677 600 was
transferred to surplus, of which $179,-
600 was reserved for possible refund
of intrastate toll revenues.
SffgIt gains in telephones were made
in the first five months and moderate
gains the last five months Of the year.
with heavy losses in June and July.
Total gain for the year was 21,254.
compared with 64,545 in 1897. The
company had a total Of ESQ., 25 .tele-
phones in service at the end Of the
year, or 1859 under the peak which
was reached In May, 1890. Daily local
Cabs averaged 3,240.OO0 Or about equal
TO the 1887 figure. Long distance mes
sages for the year were 28,16J.O 900 Or
], 109, 900 less than in 1887.
In all departments, the report says,
the high quality of the service was
maintained and In some respects. i'm.
proved. The company continued its
program Of telephone interviews with
customers to uncover possible sources
Of dissatisfaction with the service TO
the end that such conditions might be
corrected A very high proportion Of
the 10000 customers so interviewed
reported complete satisfaction. Direct
telephone contact with Australia over
a short wave radio telephone circuit
between San Francisco and sydney
was established, replacing the former
routing through. London and resulting
i'll q sharp reduction of the rate.
Gross additions TO plant during 1888
amounted to $12.310,O00, resulting in
net additions of So, 467 200, and bring
ing the total plant Investment at the
end OF the year TO $1SS. $4,000, or $21S
for each telephone in service
During 1888, the company prosecuted
an extensive program of plant and ser
vice improvement in small communi-
ties and rural districts, fin recognition
OF the Importance of high quality ser
vice in those communities, not only TO
local customers but To all telephone
users who are interested in the rural
market. That program is. TO be "A con-
tinuing one. As part Of the plan. new
dial offices We're installed at - points
during 1888. They are Athens. Birch
Run. Cedar Springs. Dexter, Fenton.
Fife Lake, Flushing, Fulton, Holt,
JOnesville, LivOnia, Martin, Mt. Nor
ris. Mulliken. Napoleon. Nashville,
Potterville, Rochester, yermontville.
Wayland, whitmOre Lake and Willis.
Also, new manual common battery Of
fees Were installed in rented quarters
at Center Line, Pennington. Negaunee
and West Branch and in owned build
ings mt Cr0swell. Midland and st. ,Ig-
nsce. A branch dial Office was install
ed at Drayton Plains In the Pontiac
exchange area. Where the new Offices
were installed, the farm line plant also
was improved and the rural customers
were given the improved type Of SER
vice supplied urban customers. A sec
ond long distance cable was completed
between Pontiac and Flint.
Following hearings, the Michigan
Public Utilities Commission On June
% ordered that long distance rates
for distances In excess OF ~ miles be
tween points within the state, be re-
duced to the level Of interstate rates
for like distances Relieving the order
Ell reduction to be uniustfned, the COM
pany asked and was granted q preiim-
mary injunction, July Z, 1855, In the
Ingham county circuit court. The com
psiny was directed TO create special
reserve from which returns could be
made to long distance usem IL the
company intimately should be unsuc-
|vessful in its appeal for 4 permanent
Injunction. still pending in court.