the indicator shutters over his head. The manager receives only 247. 135. 9d. per annum by way of salary, but he is entitled to a preferential percentage of the profits, and is, besides, a shareholder. At Deventer and Enschede, neighbouring small towns in which similar-but single-wire-exchanges exist, the managers are a master plumber and an insurance agent respectively. New construction and repairs are contracted for with the Netherlands Bell Telephone Company at fixed rates. Inspection and testing is performed by the manager. As a result of the first year's working, to June 30, 1894, all expenses to date were paid, and the costs of obtaining the concession and forming the company written off. By December 31, 1894, the profits realised justified the declaration of a dividend of 42 per cent. A translation of the company's report and accounts for 1894 is given at the end of this section in order that some inkling of the secret (in Britain) art of running a model telephone exchange on an inclusive annual subscription of 27. 175. 10d. may be obtained. In considering the cost of construction, it would not be correct to imagine that the work was performed by underpaid or unskilled men. It was done by contract by the Netherlands Bell Telephone Company, who sent some of their best men, paid according to the scale on page 248. As they would be working in a strange town, each man would get sleeping allowance in addition to his pay; and to all must be added the Netherlands Bell Company's profit on the contract. The author does not profess to regard the manager's salary as sufficient, nor the provision for reserve and deterioration adequate, but an advance of the subscription to 47. 5s. per annum would afford ample margin for these items. With this reservation there is no reason why, under similar conditions, the Zutphen results should not be obtained in English towns of the same size; and the author does not doubt its practicability in many cases, especially if undertaken by the municipal authorities. OUTSIDE WORK (TRUNK) There is not much to remark about the Dutch trunk line work except that it is generally very well done. The first lines were erected along the roads, the railways being avoided, as it was feared that the strong currents in the telegraph wires would inter fere in a degree even with metallic circuits. That theory is, of course, now disproved, and was known to be groundless in Great Britain at least as early as 1881, six years before any trunks were erected in Holland. Advantage has been taken of the railways for the later extensions. The Netherlands Bell Company likes tall poles for its trunks, and on some routes there are long stretches of 50-feet poles, which lift the wires well above the trees. Fig. 90 shows a Dutch trunk route with 54-feet poles. The wire used is 3 mm. hard copper, and the insulators are large double-shed white porcelain. The wires are crossed, not twisted, but the Dutch Government is understood to contemplate' the twisting of the projected international trunk line to Belgium as far as the frontier. The Netherlands Bell Company, which is to construct the line, well aware of the uselessness and drawbacks of such a proceeding, has protested and may succeed in getting the intention altered. The speaking over the trunks is very good, but the distances are not, of course, great. PAYMENT OF WORKMEN Foremen receive from 3 to 4 florins (4s. 11d. to 6s. 7d.) per day; skilled wiremen, 4s. 2d.; and labourers, 3'96d. per hour. When working away from home the men's actual expenses are paid. Working hours are from 7 A.M. till 6 P.M., with one and a half hours off for meals. PAYMENT OF OPERATORS Girls, when taken on at the age of seventeen years, receive 6s. 7d. per week, and rise by degrees to 9s. 10d. as ordinary operators. The average pay of this class at Amsterdam is at present 8s. 3d. per week. The trunk operators and those who attend at the telegraph office for the telephoning of telegrams are required to understand English, German, and French in addition to their own language, and are paid from 16s. 6d. to 19s. 9d. per week, according to length of service. These amounts include a small premium payable on each telegram handled without error. Applicants for vacancies must produce high-school certificates of intelligence and industry. The number of local connections is unfortunately not given, but the chief exchanges are undoubtedly very busy. In Amsterdam as many as 254 connections have been given to one instrument in one day. On January 29, 1895, seven Amsterdam subscribers asked for over 200 connections each, an eighth for 184, and a ninth for 167; and this traffic is not exceptional. During 1893 100,311 telegrams were forwarded from, or received at, subscribers' offices by telephone. For the year 1894 the number of trunk connections was 85,142. The Netherlands Bell Telephone Company has a capital of 600,000 florins (49,3754), the whole of which, together with its reserve fund, has been expended in constructing its system. A special reserve fund is provided, out of which the cost of improvements and renewals is defrayed. Last year a dividend of 9 per cent. was paid. Seeing that the company's effective rate in its chief centre, Amsterdam, is only 77. 125. 9d., this result must be admitted as very satisfactory. SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ZUTPHEN It was with much pleasure that I acquainted the shareholders last year that the company's undertaking had been successfully launched. On the present occasion I also feel satisfaction in being able to report that the favourable expectations held out last year have been realised; that the number of subscribers has gradually increased, whilst the establishment and its working have been satisfactorily maintained. The number of faults has been small and less than last year, viz. : Disturbances of wires instruments Total. The company's system now comprises : Free connections given in terms of concession Free connections in part payment of way-leaves complete Paying subscribers Total. |