Holland 227 



The Zutphen Telephone Company has one exchange : 



Per annum 

 s. d. 



Zutphen 2 17 10 



The Maastricht Telephone Company has one exchange : 



s. d. 

 Maastricht . . . . . . 2 17 10 



Mr. Jan Sot has two exchanges : 



Alkmaar . . . . . . . . 



Helder 



97 



The Dutch rates cover all expenses of installation and main- 

 tenance. They do not, at least to an unprejudiced or disin- 

 terested outsider, appear remarkable for extravagance or oppressive- 

 ness ; but such is the frailty of human nature, which for ever yearns 

 for something not yet within its grasp, the subscribers are not 

 satisfied, and hope to obtain better terms when the present con- 

 cessions expire. On the other hand, the concessionaries appear 

 quite satisfied. The Zutphen Company is making money, and 

 Messrs. Ribbink, van Bork & Co. deplore the fact that Holland, 

 telephonically speaking, is, at least pending the reclamation of the 

 Zuyder Zee, nearly used up, and but few towns worth mentioning 

 remain to be telephoned. This firm assured the author that their 

 rate of thirty-five florins (2/. i js. io</.) pays them satisfactorily, and 

 that they are willing to take as many new towns as they can get 

 on the same terms, and would even agree, if the Government 

 wished, to put in metallic circuits. It is well to state, however, 

 that the firm are manufacturing electricians and, there being no 

 patent laws in Holland, make all the switch-boards and instru- 

 ments they require in their own shops. Something, the manu- 

 facturer's profit, is saved in this way on the first cost of their 

 exchanges. But the Zutphen Company without this advantage, 

 and with first-class construction and instruments, contrives to make 

 a profit on the same rate. 



2. Rates for internal trunk communication. To acquire the 

 right to use the trunks a subscriber must agree to pay i6s. 6\d. 

 per annum in advance in addition to his local subscription. 



Q 2 



