L.） … · • × … *s*...-...， ºs se-¿¿.* … ... ……………Ķ__· --------~--~~~~==-- ~---- – — ±=~=++ → -+-+---- «= <== s --~~~=== ==：：= <！-- == ** ** *= ** * * * * * * * * a：=~：=≡ • • • •=æ æææ æææ， --- «=æs=- : ••••• • • • •– →==<！» sexe ：-* * *=seº-ºrº ****s =~~* * · *********************** ae ******* ***6KTAtion Lisa Asy 3.--- ,, . .ie." ...:”zºº” P R o P E R T Y of **-->~es * S C T E N T I A V E R TAS A R T E S STONE & WEBSTER, ELECTRICAL ExPERTS AND ENGINEERs. 4 Post of FICE sq. BosTON. Boston, June 15, 1900. Messrs. N. W. Harris & Company, 204 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. (#ent 1 emer — We have made, at your request, an examination of the property of the Michigan Telephone Company, and beg to sub- mit herewith, our report:- In presenting this we have assumed that you are familiar with our report of June 1897 on the Michigan Telephone Company, and that of January 1900 on the Detroit and New State Tele- phone Companies :- EXTENT OF PROPERTY. The Michigan Telephone Company is the sole licensee of the American Bell Telephone Company in the State of Michigan. The purchase of the Detroit and New State Companies in January of this year removed from eastern Michigan the competition from independent companies, and gave to the Michigan company Transportation * Library \{E_ 2,2,4-b .M.G.3 $52, 8, 7~~2nzº- valuable property in a section where it can be largely utilized to advantage. The Central Telephone Company, recently purchased, has removed competition from Kalamazoo and the territory immediate- ly surrounding. º The area of the State of Michigan is 57,430 square miles. The population in 1890 was 2,241,454, and the population today, roughly estimated, is upwards of two million, eight hundred thousand. The number of exchange subscribers has increased from 13,977 in April 1897 to 37,767 in June 1900, - or an increase in a little over three years of 270%. . The net increase for May was about 3%' The above figures are simply the subscribers connected with the Michigan Telephone Company. The New State Telephone Company report April 1, 42.01 subscribers; the Detroit Tele— phone Company, 5005; the Central Telephone Company, 1426. These figures have been reduced, however, since that time. The following list gives the exchanges operated by the Company together with the number of subscribers connected to each on April 1, 1897 and on May 1, 1900. EXCHANGES AND SUBSCRIBERS. Adrian, Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Corunna, Detroit, Durant, Eaton Rapids, Flint, Grand Ledge, Grosse Isle, Hillsdale, Holly, Howell, Hudson, Jackson, Lansing, Lapeer, Mason, Milford, Munroe, Mt. Clemens, Northville, Owosso, Pontiac, Port Huron, Portland, Richmond, Romeo, St. Clair, Saline, Tecumseh, Wyandotte, Yale, Ypsilanti, Agency, Central Division. April 1, 1897 228 208 16 121 400 25 ll l'O 97 6'702 May l, I900s 506 538 17 19 8455 22 L57 5OO 8 7 219 9 42 L54 L533 809 33 72 4. 25 451 21 2O5 509 852 64 L3 13 L5 31 26 26 48 ll.2 308 15863 * * *** * v- ... ." 4 ** ". * *. MICHIGAN TELEPHONE COMPANY- Northern Division. Crystal Falls, Escanaba, Gladstone, Hought on, Calumet Lake Linden, Iron Mountain, Ironwood, Bessemer, Wakefield Marquette, Champion, Humboldt, Ishpeming, Michigamme, Negaunee, Republic, Menominee, Norway, Quinnesec, Rapid River, Sault Ste Marie, St. Ignace, Agency, April 1, 50 5L 1897 May 1, 1900 L39 276 163 414) 361) 79) 251 176) 54 ) 7) 773) 19) 14) 141) 15) 149) 104) 303 L05 LO 31 5II. 24 L13 65 404) L53 3O 2O7 12 1526 4232 MICHIGAN TELEPHONE COMPANY- Southern Division. April 1, 1897. May 1, 1900. Albion, 94 450 Augusta, O 7 Battle Creek, 284 989 Buchanan, O L22 Charlotte, 62 426 Coldwater, 59 299 Dowagiac, 60 10 Kalamazoo, 531 ll 88 Marcelius, O 2 Marshall, 36 396 Niles, 120 288 Otsego, 13 4 Plainwell, 9 21 St. Joseph, L99 499 Sturgis, * 17 6 . Three Oaks, O 40 Three Rivers, 62 22O Union City, O 46 Vicksburg, O 5 Agency, º 17 1546 4935 MICHIGAN TELEPHONE COMPANY., Alma, Alpena, Bay City, Caro, Cheboygan, Eclaire, Ithaca, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Oscoda, Saginaw, Agency, Eastern Division. April 1, 1897 258 592 97 May 1, 1900. 27 5LO 1283 55 118 63 ll 25 13 8 O5 1811 L969 89 43.35 MICHIGAN TELEPHONE COMPANY., Western Division. April 1, 1897 May 1, 1900. Belding, 22 26 Bellaire, 12 37 Big Rapids, 1 Ol 154. Boyne City, O 69 Boyne Falls, ; O 27 Cadillac, O 13 Central Lake, 9 106 Charlevoix, 52 227 East Jordan, O 82 Elk Rapids, 8 5O Grand Haven 55 153 Grand Rapids, 1122 3383 Greenville, 32 83 Harbor Springs, 23 5 O Hart, O 7 Hastings, 22 48 Holland, 81 196 Ionia, 81 364 Lowell, 19 161 Ludington, LO5 321 Mancelona, l4 8 Manistee, 2O1 472 Montague, 6 l Muskegon, * 90 378 Nashville, O l Newago, 4 l4 Petoskey, 159 370 Pewamo, O 3 Reed City, 6 4. St. Johns, ll l O Stanton, O L8 Traverse City, l4l 36 O Agency, 6 2376 72O2 TOLL STATIONS. In 1897 there were 350 towns connected as toll stations, while today there are 401 connected, and some of the towns which in 1897 were only toll stations, now operate well organiz— ed exchanges. *** *** ------, *- Blissfield Britton Cadmus Clayton Clint. On Fairfield Geneva Holloway Jasper MacOn Medina Morenci Ottawa Lake Palmyra Rea Ridgeway Riga w Rollin West. On Bellville Dexter Manchester Milan MO Oreville So . Lyon Greenfield Redford Royal Oak Sand Hill Trent on Belford Byron Davison Fenton Flushing Gaines Grand Blanc Linden Addison Allan TOLL STATIONS. Central Division. Bankers Cambria Camden Jonesville Litchfield Maniton Beach NO. Adams OS Seo Pitt, Sford Prattville Quincy Reading Waldron Anderson Brighton FOWLeville Gregory Pickney Webberville Brooklyn Concord Grass Lake Han Over Henrietta Hort. On Le Slie Munit h Napoleon Omondago Parma Rives Junction Stockbridge Bath DaViSville Eagle Holt, Millet, t, Okemo S POtterville West Windsor William St. On Attica Dryden E1ba Hadley Imlay City Metamora Oakwrood. Thomas Dundee. Erie Flat, Rock Ida Newport Rockºſo Od Adair Algonac Almont Anchorville Armada Chest, erfield Fair Haven Fraser Marine City Memphis New Baltimore New Haven Utica Washington New Hudson Plymouth ROmulus Bancroft, Bennington Burton Elsie Henderson Laingsburg Ovid Vernon Austin Big Beaver Birmingham Clarkston Clyde COmmer"Ce Drayton Plai Farmington Franklin Highland No. Farmington Novi Orion Ortonville Oxford RO Chester Southfield Walled Lake Waterford Wixom Applegate AVO Ca Carsonville Deckerville Downingtºn Lakeport Lexington Marysville Port Sanilac Battle Run Sandusky Smiths Créek Brockway Capac Croswell Emmett Melvin Peck Speaker Central Mine Copper Falls Eagle River Florence Herman Sville Au Train Dollar ville Bellvue Chester Olivet, Athens Batavia Bron SOrl HOdunk Sherwood Comstock Cooper Covert, Decatur Galesburg Glill Lake Hartford Lake COra Lawton LaWrence NORTHERN SOUTHERN 10 tºº DIVISION e Munising Newbury Onota Seney Soo Junction Trout Lake Blount DIVISION. Matawan Oshtemo Paw Paw Portage Richland. Rix School fraft, South Haven Burlington De Cereaux Homer Spring port Tekonsha Marengo Ceres CO Arden Berrien Centre Berrien Springs Carney Daggett Ingalls Nadeau Parmenter: S POWrers Stephenson Talbot . CaSSOpolis Dayton Eau Claire Galien Pokagon NeW Buffal O Burr Oak Centreville COLOn Constant, ine FLOWerfield HOWyardsville Mendon Moorepark NOttawa Penn Vandalia Wakelee White Pigeon Breckenridge Forest Hill St. Louis Shepard Bolt. On Hagensville Long Rapids North Branch PO Sen. Rogers City Adams Corners Bad Axe Brown City Burnside Cass City Clifford Huron City Mayville Creswell TOrch Lake Chippewa Lake Leroy Manton Paris Rodney Stanwood Tustin Walton Advance Atwood Bay Shore Clarion Cross Village Eastport Ellsworth Horton Bay Ironton Norwood South Arm Talcot, Ada EASTERN DIVISION, Ninden City Port Hope BeeSe Richville Harbor Beach Silverwood Tyre Ubly Valley Centre WaS Sar Watronsville Mullet Lake Riggsville Calkinsville Coleman Del W.On Leat. On Brent, Creek WESTIERN DIVISION. Hopkins Howard City Jamest OWn Lamont Lisbon Martin Moline Morley Piers On Plainfield ROCK ford Sand Lake Shelbyvillé Sparta Wayland New Era Pentwater Rothbury Shelby Irving Middleville Vermontville Drent he Bridgeport Chesaning Clio Frankenmuth Freeland Geul See Gera Hemlock Merrill Mt. . Morris New Lothrop INort, huſood Oakley Parshallburg Rogersville St. . Charles TuS COla Brunswick Casnovia Fremont, Grant Hesperia Kent City White Clºud Alan S.On Brutus Conway Levering Mackinaw Oden Pell Ston FOWſler Maple Rapids Westphalia Carson City Edmore Lakeview McBrides Miller Riverdale WESTERN DIVISION. (Contd.) Allegan Vriesland Sheridan Berlin Zeeland Six LakeS Bradley Hubbardston Westaburg Byron Centre Lake Odessa ACme Caledonia Lyons Bingham Cedar Springs Matherton Kewadin Coopersville Muir Kingsley corinth Orleans Mapleton DOJr. Saranac Mayfield Dutt. On Pt. Au Sable NeahtaWanta Eastmanville Scottville Old Mission Edgerton Nunica Suttons Bay Grandville Whitehall Williamsburg Hanley Bailey Hilliards Bridgeton The territory covered by the lines of the Michigan Telephone Company is shown by the map on the following page — the dotted lines showing the proposed work which will probably be completed before January 1st , 1901. These will give con— nection throughout the entire state. Regular service is now maintained from Detroit to Mar— quette and by the latter part of June connection will be made º through to Houghton and Calumet. The copper country has also direct connections with Chicago through Menominee and Milwaukee over the lines of the Wisconsin Telephone Company. PROPERTY EXAMINET). Eighteen different cities were visited and thirty exchanges examined; thus covering all of the larger cities and a few of the smaller ones . All the principal leads in these cities, and in many cases the toll lines were seen by driving over them with a Carriage; also in Some places from the electric and steam cars when they ran parallel to the tracks, – notably on the toll lines from St. Ignace to Houghton — a distance of about 250 miles. Connected to the exchanges visited are 24,216 subscribers, which is about two-thirds of the total number of subscribers in the State. — 14 - – MICHIGAN TELEPHONE CO. A-252////z.:- 4320.* , -7. Azzzzz ///* /24° Z/2//ZZ24 cazzóż ż. * ** 5.4//7' 575. AZA/7/5 :^4//444 2& * ///y/24/AAA' - SN t ZZ/Z2//Y672/V /M//5/25%/Y \ } | | ^-- #ZAAZ4ZZZZ, 4’ AZAR5 CONSTRUCTION OF EXCHANGE PLANTS• The line construction covered by the Michigan Telephone Company's exchanges consists of the follo"ing: POle Miles — — — — — — — — — — — 1352 Wire Miles — — — — — — — — — — —681.13 Miles in aerial cable — — — - - 8355 {{ " underground cable — — —24365 tº on insulators — — — — — — 35393 Of this exchange wire that is on insulators, 72% is iron wire; the wire in the aerial and underground cables is copper #18, #19 and #20. A common return service is largely used; while this is not an ideal method, it gives good results on the smaller ex- changes. The larger exchanges either have installed or are at present installing met allic service connections. The exchange construction consisted largely of 30, 35 and 40 foot poles, from 10 to 18 years old and in varying con- ditions. The work of substituting for these 45, 50, 55 and 60 foot poles has in several cities been completed and in others is now being rapidly pushed. The neur poles used are Idaho cedars, clear and straight, with large tops and solid butts. New cross arms and new wires are being put up and cable in many cases is replacing heavy leads of wires on $nsulators and porcelain knob S. Great care has been used on this new construction to make it substantial; corners are all double cross armed and poles well guyed, wires are pulled tight, the use of knobs is abandoned, and in general the wires are above all other construc- tion and free from mechanical interference. considerable new aerial cable has been put up, thus re- ducing the space occupied by the wires and freeing them from troubles caused by contact with the limbs of trees. New distributing poles, 60 feet long are being installed to replace those of 30 feet; new iron distributing tops are used and a twisted pair of rubber covered wires for service Connections, Whe underground conduit is reported as follows:– Duct feet of camp tile — — — — — — — — 5568.33 !! º " Wood log — — — — — — — — 52495 !? $f * Iron pipe — — — — — — — — 5647 th | lſº $f !? Round Clay— — — — — — — — 46 O Dorsett — — — — — — — — 2O789]. A total of 158 miles. All of the duct new being installed is the Camp tile; it is carefully laid and consists of good material. In Several cities the conduit has been delivered and will be installed during the summer; in a few other places leg- islation for placing the wires underground is being condidered. The man-holes are well designed and carefully built. In some places, however, they contain considerable water but since the cables are lead covered, there should be no trouble result— ing. All new cable is dry core, paired, though some of the Old Cable is still in use in Detroit . Our examination leads us to believe that up to about three years ago, little complete reconstruction of the lines Tras attempted, but that since that time considerable rebuilding has been done and that this is fully up to the best standard Of the present time. All of the poor construction that now remains, we under- stana, is to be rebuilt, (during the present year if possible). If this is done it will give a construction which should be Classed as excellent. EXCHANGES. We examined the exchange plants in the following cities and towns:- Detroit, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Saginaw, Bay city, Flint, Port Huron, Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaumee, Calumet, Houghton, and Mt. Clemens. The new exchanges being installed are "up to date" in all respects; the marked changes being the use of lights for signals in place of the old style drops and a common battery, located in the exchange, for all the subscribers in place of the magneto and the talking battery, at each subscribers in- stallation. The new equipment includes in several places new build- ings erected by the Company, together with new switchboards, cables, racks, relays, motor generators, and storage batter— ies. As the entire Michigan plant is at present in a state of transition it is difficult to give accurate estimates of the exact condition at this time. SERVICE. Just now the service in many of the larger exchanges, especially Detroit, is very slow and the cause of considerable Complaint. This is largely due to the fact that new switch- boards and in some cases entirely new exchange plants, are being installed and as the old ones are crowded, temporary arrangement B are improvised which cause slow work in making connections. This is not understood by the general public and gives cause for complaint which some are only too ready to Imake use of, The condition will be done away with as soon as the new ***** ** equipment can be put into use and a better service than they have ever had will then be inaugurated. f The long distance service is very satisfactory but with the completion of a few connecting links now contemplated it will be materially improved. TOLL LINES • The putting into service many new toll lines and toll stations has greatly increased the value of the telehhone to the subscriber, who is quick to appreciate the facility with which connections may be made to any point in the State. The advertising of one minute and three minute rates, which has recently been taken up, will certainly increase the revenue from toll Service. Great care has been exercised in the running of new toll lines to keep the wires away from trolley and electric light lines, and as far as possible to bring the toll lines into the exbhanges direct without entering aerial or underground Cables . The Cross country lines are constructed with shorter and stubbier poles which will undoubtedly give less trouble from Storms and high winds. The new toll line construction is excellent, there still remains, however, some few old lines over which the service is questionable. The toll line construction consists of the following:- Pole miles — — — — — — — — — - - - 3976 Wire tº — — — — — - - - - - - -13774 about 60% of this is copper wire and it is practically all on metallic circuit . FRANCHISES AND RIGHTS OF WAY- The State charter permits the building and maintaining of telephone lines within the state boundaries. Franchises have also been granted by the cities or towns in which the Company is operating. On the long distance lines it is generally impossible to run on the railroad right of way, but the lines have been constructed about three feet outside of the right of way upon land which is occupied by private agreement or through condemna- tion proceedings which are authorized by the State. This makes the patrolling of the long lines easy as they can be inspected from the railroad trains and it is certainly important as the heavy timber in some sections is a menace to the lines . REAL ESTATE- The Company owns land and bºildings or both in the following cities:- Detroit, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Jackson, Adrian, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Port Huron, Kalamazoo, Pontiac, Marquette, Lansing, Bay City. This represents an investment of about four hundred and forty thousand dollars ($440,000) DETAILS OF PLANT'S VISITED: The latest reliable figures on the population are from the census of 1890; since that time material changes have taken place, which in the lumber and logging districts have materially decreased the population, while in the mining districts of the north particularly, and also in the farming districts of the south there has been an increase in population. The following pages contain descriptions of the property examined in the different cities and towns visited. A few photographs also show, better than words, the class of work which is being installed. DETROIT, Population 1890 238264 tº 1900 (estimated) 325,000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows :- April 1st — 1897 4181 May 1st — 1900 * 8455 To the Telephone Building, in Detroit, a six story fire proof structure, there has been added, in the rear, an exten- sion two stories high, the top floor of which is utilized as a shop while the ground floor is largely used for storage. This addition is well arranged and suitable for the uses for Which it was planned. : The Telephone Building itself is being entirely rearranged and adapted to the increase of business which is coming to the company. An entirely new modern switchboard is being installed; the board is Of the latest, Western Electric make with visual signals and arranged for common battery. It is a multiple circuit, metallic board with an ultimate capacity of 5400 sub- Scribers, The board at present used was adapted to the Work When it was installed but it has been outgrown and improvements in the art have made it out of date for an exchange of this size. At present about 1000 Michigan subscribers are connected to the Detroit Company's board and connections to regular º º º º i * 4 ſostąed – eſueuox， „ſąºeſ, - 25 - "ºſoitººd – ººtaetrox， „ųqaeron, |-|-|-ſae. ， ！| （） |-| № ！tii， | || （ ） IIII|| . . ： ！ （ - （~ （） _- |- . - |- – 26 - tº-º. 27 – Michigan subscribers are made by trunking lines which make the service 3LOW. With the new boards will be installed new cable, new racks, motor generators, storage batteries and a complete new installation throughout . The in East, tº Exchange Building, at Helen Street and Jeffer— son Avenue remains the same as three years ago. The old switch- board is being rejected, although in working condition, and a modern board, new terminal racks, relays, power plant and storage battery is being installed, which is entirely up to date and has an ultimate capacity of about twice the present number of Subscribers. The "North" Exchange is in a new building just completed, built for the Telephone Company after their general specifica— tion S. It is both ornamental and convenient and has an appear- ance of substantiality about it which cannot fail to atrract attention. The exchange and its equipment is up to date in all re- Spects. New visual signal switchboards, racks, power plant and storage batteries are installed and are in use giving satis— factory results. The "Grand." Exchange is a small office rented in a large brick block. Their quarters are only temporary, the boards are old style and the entire equipment is old but it will eventually be reconstructed and put in a building erected by the Company. - 28 – - | | * "T - | | | º H. º/ // -- - | | l | | | º | - | | | tºº 29 – The ºwest." Exchange is in a small brick block; these are also temporary quarters; the equipment of the exchange is not of the most modern make nor are the cables or distributing frames in good condition. This exchange on a whole is not well maintained. On Woodward Avenue — near the city limits — has been built a “Relay Station. “ This is a brick building similar to the sub-exchanges and is located near the outskirts of the city to take care of the through long distance service, the idea being to make of this a switching point for toll lines so that the through toll business will be kept out of the Detroit cables both underground and overhead, thereby greatly improving the service and also reducing the capacity required in the Detroit cables. The pole leads are in various conditions throughout the city. The new lines (in many cases replacing old work) are constructed of large Idaho cedar poles of the finest quality, straight and with large tops. In some sections of the city there are leads which are upwards of twelve years old which are constructed with light poles and which are heavily loaded with aerial wires and cables and in some cases porcelain knobs are used. These are being gradially replaced by new and heavier construction but there remains yet a great deal of this reconstruction to be done be— fore the entire city can be called reconstructed. The new distributing poles in the underground district - 3.0 - 3. º * sº - º Replacing broken pole - Detroit, "º ſo！? º(I – peeri º nuº Aſ Uſos pn. H - 32 - Liºnſ peºri ſe TTV ºn |ºſ1 = º º ſo.Iſſº / \ ſae--, -， ----- ---- ſae ºttº, †t - 53 - \ Is SS N \\\\ N $S are selected Idaho cedars, with modern distributing tops and paired rubber wires for service connections. These are excel- lent and as good as the best. With the installation of a common battery system it becomes necessary to keep the wires more carefully insulated. contact with trees in damp weather occasions trouble and it becomes necessary to use very high poles or to run the wires in eables. A considerable amount of this work will have to be done very soon as it is the intention of the Company to have the entire city of Detroit operated on a common battery system by January 1901. The rapid growth of the business in Detroit, above that which was anticipated, has overtaxed the capacity of the plant in wires, cables, and switchboard accommodations. This has made much of the construction temporarily irregular and unsys— tematic . The Camp tile or duct is used entirely on new underground work and gives excellent results when carefully laid. The new manholes are well designed, carefully built and are entirely satisfactory for the work required of them. ANN ARBOR. Population 1890 LLO69 th 1900 (estimated) 15500 Total number of subscribers reported as follows :- April lst — l897 2O8 May 1st — 1900 578 which is an increase of 277%. The pole leads on the whole are heavy and need attention, especially near the office where the falling of one pole would cripple the service. There is no new construction here but the Work has been fairly well kept up. The underground ducts are in, but the cable is not drawn in as yet although this is on the ground and Will be put in place very soon. This will, of course, relieve much of the old and heavy construction in the centre of the city. The switchboard is a trunking board which has been added to from time to time and it should shortly be replaced by a multiple board • The general arrangement of the exchange is not very good, but the service does not seem to have suffered. The Office is rented. JACKSON, Population 1890 - 22614 th 1900 (estimated) 31000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows:-- April 1st — 1897 48l. May 1st — l900 1533 which is an increase of 318%. During the past three years an exchange building has been built and equipped. This has been found to be inadequate and at present time is being enlarged and a second story built upon it . The old Switchboard built for common return service is being used at present but will soon be replaced by modern equipment throughout . A small underground system is in use but this is not very extensive; at the same time all the wires are kept off of the main street. Some Inew construction work has been installed — Idaho Cedar poies are largely used and the new work is of a high order. The old work while fairly heavy seems to be safe and lisable • LANSING, Population 1890 15834 !? 1900 (estimated) I8000 TOt, all number of subscribers reported as follows :- April 1st — 1897 352 May 1st — 1900 809 This exchange is all old and far behind the standard. The pole leads are all weak and heavily loaded, and in some places in dangerous condition. Very few guys are used and corners are not properly con- structed. The exchange is not adequate for the work at hand, the way the cables are brought in is not satisfactory, and the general arrangement is crude. A new building with all the modern improvements has been constructed just off of the main street and we are told will soon be equipped and occupied. There is no underground construction and few aerial Cable Se *ºuſsumerſ – ººtaetſ ox{ſi puae ſuſprſnº ºoſ JºJo men - |--№ |- （， ， ， ， ） . （№. BATTLE CREEK. Population 1890 15522 ſº 1900 (estimated) 16300 Total number of subscribers reported as follows :- April 1st — 1897 284 May 1st — 1900 989 The construction work here has recently been entirely overhauled and rebuilt and is at present in excellent condition. New Idaho cedar poles with modern methods of guying and turning Corners are used. Most of the new poles and cross arms have been painted and the contrast between the new construction and what little old still remains is very striking. The building in which the exchange is located is old and the boards and terminals are old and crowded and are not of sufficient capacity to handle the business already contracted for e The aerial cables come into the office in a neat manner, There is no underground construction. - º: º º º C º H --> --> º º - º º -. --> º º º --> º # º 42 - ſ.ſºſ: ） （）ſº， ſ. |- ¿¿ { … | · Calhoun Street Lead - Battle Creek. McCamley Street – Battle Creek. KALAMAZ00. Population 1890 21058 # 1900 (estimated) 25000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows :- April 1st — 1897 53L May 1st — 1900 LL88 A great deal of re-construction has just been completed here, which is up to date in all respects. Idaho cedar poles are used, well guyed, painted, double cross armed at corners and railroad crossings. A small amount of old construction, nearly 20 years old, still remains but we are told that this is planned to come down. The underground construction is in and will be used and extended as soon as the changes to the new building are made • The present switchboards are of several very old styles, badly crowded and not protected by fuses and as the boards are trunked instead of being multipled it makes the service on a board of this size very slow. A modern building has just been completed and it is at the present time being equipped with entirely new and up to date switchboard apparatus and fittings. The general offices have already moved into the new building. - - - | ----- - - - | {}RAND RAPIDS. Population 1890 6O278 º 1900 (estimated) 9 OOOO Total number Of Subscribers reported as follows :- April 1st — 1897 1122 May 1st — 1900 3383 This is an excellent example of a modern exchange thor— oughly up to date in all respects. A new building, one block from the main street, was built by the Company, designed solely for the use of the Company, to which it is well adapated. A new multiple circuit switchboard using relays, visual signals, and common batteries is in use and gives excellent Service. The discipline maintained in the exchange and the entire absence of noise is very noticeable. All of the exchange construction is new; the tall Idaho cedar poles replacing shorter Michigan cedar poles and with new cross arms and new wires all properly erected it gives a sys— tem in excellent working condition. The business part of the city is connected on metallic circuit and the residence portion on common return. The underground construction uses Camp tile and is apparently well maintained and covers a large part of the business section of the city. There are two sub exchanges temporarily in rented pro- perty, both of them mixed service boards, partly common battery calls and partly magneto calls. We understand that land has been bought and two newſ buildings will be erected for sub exchanges at once. There is also on the main Street a Small office for the solicitor and for public toll booths. This plant is at the present time complete and shows very clearly the class of construction and equipment which is to be installed in many of the other exchanges now in a transi– tional state. MUSKEGON Population 1890 2ll4]. tº 1900 (estimated) 25000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows :- April 1st — 1897 90 May 1st — 1900 378 This, exchange plant is in about as poor condition as could exist and still operate. It is probably the oldest ex- change of any size in the State and is entirely out of date, as it cannot be much less than 18 years old. The plugs, cables and drops are all in bad condition. It is to be abandoned at once as new quarters have been secured and they will be equipped with a switchboard of a moremodern style. We are informed that land has been bought for the erection of an exchange building but this will not at present be built. The construction work in the city is fairly well main- tained but there is little that is entirely new. There is no underground construction. º 49 - SAGINAW. Population 1890 44641 º 1900 (estimated) 55OOO Total number of subscribers reported as followſ S : — April 1st — 1897 8 O5 May 1st — l900 1969 There are four exchanges in Saginaw. The Main or "East tº exchange is in a building erected by the Company several years ago. It has not all of the improvements of the buildings which are being put up today, but it is Vrell adapted to carry- ing on the business at hand. The SWit, chboard is of the multiple type and the distributing board and protections are of modern type. The operating room is rather noisy and the discipline lax. The "North" Exchange is in a rented building; it is main- tained by one operator and a simple board with trunk lines to the other exbhanges. The iſ South" Exchange is similar to the "North'ſ Exchange. The tº West n Exchange is larger than either the North or South Exchanges, but of similar type. This exchange at present is in the process of being enlarged. The additions to the switchboards are of modern type but are not the latest, still they will be satisfactory for the service required of them at present . The exchange pole lines are now undergoing reconstruction, the new work is fully up to the modern standard of excellency, the old work remaining is in hazardous condition but we under- stand is to be attended to at Once. In the neighborhood of the West exchange the work is all underground; outside of this it is all aerial and in some places the poles are heavily loaded with cables and wires. BAY CITY AND WEST BAY CITY. These are two independent municipalities but they are closely associated and from a telephone standpoint are operated as one city. Population of both cities 1890 42380 tº tº tº {} 1900 (est. ) 5OOOO Total number of subscribers reported as follows— April 1st — 1897 | 592 May 1st — 1900 l283 A new exchange building has just been completed. It, is of brick and fire proof construction and well designed for the uses of a modern telephone exchange. The general offices are now occupied and the new modern switchboard, power plant, racks, etc., have been received but are not as yet installed. The present main exchange contains a multipled board, but owing to the transitional state is in a very unsatisfactory condition, neither neat or orderly. The exchange at West Bay City is rather out of date, but it is a busy little board and gives fair service. A new outfit is about to be installed which will cause the removal of the old switchboard and wooden racks, which are a source of danger as is witnessed by a recent fire. They are at present installing an underground system tising the Camp tile which is carefully installed and supplied with a sufficient number of well constructed manholes. On the completion of the underground work many of the pole leads which are now old and heavily loaded will be taken dOWn. The overhead work has been partially rebuilt but some still remains which will need early attention. Population 1890 10422 n 1900 (estimated) I.4000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows:-- May 1st — 1900 5OO The exchange here is of old style and although crowded is in fair condition and well maintained. The Office and pub- lic quarters are not convenient, but a new location for offices and exchange has been rented and when equipped will certainly be a great improvement. The pole leads apparently average between 7 and 20 years old and are only in fair condition. Many, however, will shortly be taken down when an underground system, which is planned, will be installéd. The lines have evidently had bit little attention and there has been no new construction installed very recently. The toll lines around Flint are in poor condition and the service over them cannot be otherwise than doubtful. tºº 54 • PORT HURON Population 1890 1814.7 !? 1900 (estimated) 21 000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows :- April Let — 1897 400 May 1st — 1900 852 The construction in Port Huron is apparently quite old. The main leads are very heavily loaded and near the exchange they are badly mixed up, crowded, and generally unsatisfactory. In some cases Weather proof wire made up in bunches is used in lieu of cables, porcelain knobs are also very extensively used, If this is not attended to before the time of Winter storms and winds we should anticipate considerable . irregularity in the Service, A new underground system is nearly completed and when put in use will remove much of the liability for trouble on * overhead construction • The present switchboards are old and have a mixed class of service, not in the best of condition. The general office arrangements are not systematic. A new fire proof building, strictly first class, has just been completed and will soon be put into service. MARQUETTE. Population l890 9724 º 1900 LOOOO Total number of Sub Scribers reported as follows:- April 1st — 1897 382 May 1st — 1900 773 Marquette is the shipping port of the iron district of Michigan and it has been thought advisable to connect all of the town interested in the iron industry on one service free from t Olls between the different towns, * This includes the following towns with subscribers as indicated:- champion 19 Humboldt 14 Ishpeming l4l Michigamme 15 * Negaumee I.49 Republic 104 Marquette 773 Total 1215 The exchange is a very old style and the general office equipment old and unsystematic. The cables are brought in, in rather a crude manner and the terminals are in an unsafe condition. The exchange leads are all quite old and heavy with wire, while the poles are light and many porcelain knobs are used. The material for rebuilding the exchange lines is upon the ground and we understand the reconstruction will be taken up at once. The toll lines are on new poles and are in goc d condition • The excavation for a new building has been made and work is at present progressing upon the foundations. ISHPEMING, Population 1890 11689 º 1900 (estimated) 15OOO Total number of subscribers reported as follows:- May 1st — 1900 l4]. There is only a small simple switchboard in the exchange here, but it is in good order and the other fittings are modern. The office is small and the public poorly accommodated. The exchange lines in general are in fair condition. The toll lines are excellent with exceptionally high poles above all other construction. MEGAUMEE, Population 1890 * 5940 #! 1900 (estimated) 6500 Total number of Sub Scribers reported as follows :- May ist — 1900 149 About three quarters of the exchange lines have recently been rebuilt and the remainder is in fair condition. There is a small Simple SWitchboard in the exchange which is ample to take care of present subscribers and growth in immediate future. This is an important toll switching centre and handles the lines from Chicago, Calumet, Marquette and Detroit. HOUGHT ON . Hought on and Hancock are operated from a single exchange:– Population 1890 3934 th 1900 (estimated) 22000 The towns in the copper district are all connected on one free service system. This includes — Houghton, Hancock, Calumet, Red Jacket and Lake Linden – with a total number of Sub Scribers of 854 • The exchange at Houghton is old and very poorly arranged and in a generally unsatisfactory condition. We understand, however, that offices have been rented in a new building just completed which will be fitted up very soon. The construction Work as a Whole is in a fair condition and we understand work on reconstruction is now going on. Most of the exchange wires in this district are of copper and ar- ranged upon a metallic service, and most of the subscribers instruments are of the long distance type. CALUMET e Population 1890 7OOO ſº 1900 (estimated) 45000 Total number of subscribers reported as follows : — May 1st — 1900 361 There is a small simple switchboard in the exchange here which is well maintained and adapted to its use. The con– struction work is in good operative condition. The tº Oil lines are evidently about 4 years old, and as they were well constructed are in good condition. DETROIT AND NEW STATE COMPANIES. Since our examination of the above companies in December 1899 very little change has taken place. The pole lines which were generally in good condition have been Well maintained but no extensions have been made. The underground construction remains the same. The absorption of these two companies by the Michigan Telephone Company revealed a large number of subscribers having both services . These duplicates are being removed as fast as possible especially in the City of Detroit, though in many of the smaller towns, the two exchanges are operated independently as before the union of the companies. We understand, however, that no new contracts are taken for connection Trith the Detroit Or New State Switchboards. The consolidation, in removing competition, throws out of service and makes valueless a great many subscribers instru– ments, switchboards, and some pole lines. On the other hand many of the pole lines and much of the underground construction can be utilized to good advantage. By further consolidating the exchanges, the cost of operation and of maintenance can be reduced, and this will eventually work out to the benefit of the subscribers as Well as to the Company • 62 CENTRAL TELEPHONE COMPANY., During the present year the Company has acquired the property of the Central Telephone company. This Was an inde- pendent organization having its headquarters at Kalamazoo and covering an area with a radius of about 100 miles. The exchanges are as follows:- There Decatur Dowagiac Kalamazo O Lawtoſh Marcellus Otsego Paw Pathſ Plaintwell Wickhburg Wayland 5 re foll Stations in the Augusta Bangor Bent. On Harbor Climax Cedar Creek Delt. On Timondale Fulton Fishers Hartford Hickory Corners. 17 339 757 3O 4l 69 55 56 3O 32 l426 following places:- Kellogg OstemO Pavillion Prairieville Partello. Scotts West Carlisle Watson WOlinia Yorkville The apparatus, exchange equipment, and pole lines are of about the same order as those of the New State Company. The pole lines are for the most part light and nearly all the circuits are of iron Wire. The switchboard in Kalamazoo is in fair operative condition but the distributing frames and cables are far below the standard of modern equipments. There is no underground construction and the plant as a whole is of little physical value. S Ü M M A R Y . The plant of the Michigan Telephone Company is at pre- sent, in a state of transition. The entire reconstruction Of the exchange lines is now going on. They aré using heavier poles and the work is done in a more careful and systematic manner than formerly. The completion of the work of putting the Wires underground in several cities will materially improve the plant. The toll lines which have been recently constructed are excellent and the older lines have in general been well maintained, The new toll lines now in process of construction and others which will be erected during the present year will give increased facilities and better toll service. The completion of several new exchanges buildings, and the equipment of these, and others recently completed, with new switchboards will put the plant in a most satisfactory working condition. We have estimated the cost of reproducing this plant on December 31st, 1899, using as statistics those furnished by the company, and in our judgment the cost would be, exclusive of all franchises and rights of Way — six million three hundred and thirteen thousand dollars ($6,313,000.00) The Company also shows an expenditure for construction work during the months of January, February, March and April 9 pf seven hundred and twenty two thousand dollars; thus making the total value May 1st, 1900, seven million and thirty five thousand dollars ($7,035,000.00) We have bought our estimates up to May 1st. Since that time no figures are abtainable but the construction work is Still progressing and We are informed that the total expendi— ture for the year is estimated between one million five hundred thousand dollars and two million dollars. Of this amount seven hundred and twenty two thousand dollars has already been expended as stated above. 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