246 Telephone Systems of tJie Continent of Europe 



the indicator shutters over his head. The manager receives 

 only 24/. 13-r. 9^. per annum by way of salary, but he is en- 

 titled 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 respec- 

 tively. New construction and repairs are contracted for with 

 the Netherlands Bell Telephone Company at fixed rates. In- 

 spection 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 de- 

 claration of a dividend of 4*2 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 in- 

 clusive annual subscription of 2/. i^s. lod. may be obtained. 



In considering the cost of construction, it would not be correct 

 to imagine that the work was performed by underpaid or un- 

 skilled 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 sub- 

 scription to 4/. 5*. 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 prac- 

 ticability 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 



