The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-05
Telephone Co. Net
Earnings In Al Drop
Mounting Expense Offset Increased Revenue, Annual
Report of President Reveals

during the year totaled s8,378,0OC
not including 81, 913 900 for plant ark
equipment retired and later reused
During the year the company,
property investment passed the hun
bred million dollar mark, total assets
increasing from 500 ,176,849 at the
end of 1910 to $105, 743, 101 at the
end Of 1941.
Besides the normal requirements
Of poles, wire and cable incident te
the increase in telephone, MI
Brooks mentioned the conversion
from manual to dial operation o.
central offices in Norwalk, New
Canaan and Colchester. A similaI
change was made In the Storrs Sec
ton Of the Willimanic exchange
and new dial exchange was es-
tablished In Georgetown to better
serve an area formerly part of tht
Ridgefleld and Redding exchanges
A new building was erected in Sey.
mour to house dial equipment which
will be put in operation early this
year.
Construction work on new build
ings was started in Danbury, Daniel
son, Saybrook, New Britain, in the
Westville section OF New Haven and
in North Stamford; work was begun
on additions to existing buildings
in New London, Norwalk, West
Hartford and West Haven; and land
for future use was purchased in
Canaan, Bridgeport, Meriden and
Norwalk. Substantial switchboard
and line additions were made In 81
dial and ~ manual exchanges.
Nearly one billion feet of wire in
cable were added to the company's
local and toll network - more than
in any previous year and enough,
incidentally, to circle the globe al
most eight times. OF the total wire
mileage, more than SO per cent is
now in cable, and more than 81
per cent is underground.
With the declaration of war, Mr.
Brooks pointed out, the vital role Of
the telephone in defense was in
tensified. The, combined effects of
special requirements for military
and civil defense communications,
together with the increasing scare
ity Of many essential materials,
have presented new problems. How
ever, Telephone forces are keenly
aware of their responsibility, and as
each new phase of the war effort
has brought new demands, our per-
sonnet has met the challenge not
merely as duty but as a patriotic
privilege" Mr.. Brooks stated.
Emphasizing the fundamental pol
Icy of preparedness and forward
planning of both the company and
the Bell System, Mr.. Brooks said
that the present program contem-
plates projects of only the most i'm
mediate necessity, doing what is
necessary with the least possible
consumption of materials, and US
Ing, repairing, refusing and stretch
ing every available facility to the
utmost. Wherever possible, substi-
tute materials have been developed
by the Bell Telephone Laboratories
and the Western Electric Company.
East dependable service must be
available to all armed forces in
Guiding interceptor commands and
anti-aircraft units, as well as 10 air
craft observers, civilian defense
warning and report centers and To-
cal public safety agencies" he said.
Many special installations and types
of telephone service have been pro-
vided at army and navy bases and
in Connecticut's busy armament
plants.
Mr.. Brooks pointed out that be-
cause Of the Importance of tele-
phone facilities and service to the
war effort and civilian defense, the
company is constantly studying the
problem of protection OF its per-
sonnet, its plant and service against
possible air raids or other emergen-
cies. Many protective measures have
already been taken, and others are
being developed as required.
Affirming faith in the future, Mr..
Brooks pledged all the company's
resources to the successful prose cu-
ton of the national effort. He said,
I'VE intend to meet all telephone re-
quirements Of our armed forces, OF
civilian defense, of the war indus
tries; and we confidently expect to
be able to continue satisfactory serv-
Ice to our other customers and to
provide reasonable facilities to new
subscribers"