222 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



a little courage and consented to Amsterdam being connected: 

 with the Hague and Rotterdam, a work which the company 

 successfully achieved in the face of considerable difficulties. The 

 local authorities along the route raised many objections to the 

 planting of the poles, and no less than seven submarine cables had 

 to be laid across the intervening rivers and canals. Experience 

 again demonstrated that, although the telephonic traffic was con- 

 siderable, the effect on the telegraphic revenue was both slight 

 and transitory, and the Government at last determined to yield 

 to public opinion and bring about the linking up of the other 

 principal towns. But, although the company had proved at its; 

 own expense and risk the existence of a telephonic demand and 

 the practicability of satisfying it, the Government determined to- 

 keep the trunks so far as possible in its own hands. Apparently 

 there were obstacles to such a policy being given effect to openly 

 and without reserve ; so it was decided to allow the Netherlands- 

 Bell Company to continue constructing and working, on the 

 understanding that the State should supply the material and the 

 company the labour, the company receiving 4 per cent per annum 

 on the cost of their share of the work by way of interest, and 

 agreeing to make over the lines to the State at any time on 

 reimbursement of their outlay, the amount of which was to be 

 determined and certified on the completion of each trunk. This 

 is a good bargain for the company, since it gets back the full 

 value of its work, whatever the state of the lines may be when 

 eventually taken over. At the same time (November 1889) the 

 annual trunk subscriptions were abolished and the present pay- 

 ment per time unit substituted. The trunk lines go straight inte- 

 rne company's exchanges and are worked by its employees without 

 interference of any kind. The lines, however, are maintained by 

 the State. The receipts are divided, 75 per cent, going to the 

 State and 25 per cent, to the company. This policy has resulted 

 in the linking up of all the sixteen towns conceded to the 

 Netherlands Bell Company and one other. 



The trunk traffic is large, but the State officials are not now 

 disposed to say that it has any bad effect on the telegraph 

 revenue. The impression rather prevails that the efficacy of the 

 telephone as a general feeder and stimulant over the whole system- 



