That said return of 4.7 per cent. per annum is not unjust, unreasonable or excessive, and that said proposed schedule of rates and rentals for service in said area, which will produce such net return, is just and reasonable. The Commission further finds from the record made upon said hearings, that the convenience of the public will be promoted by said proposed sales and purchases of said public utility property, and, from the aforesaid findings, that the public will, thereupon, be furnished adequate service for a just and reasonable rate, rental, toll or charge therefor, and is satisfied that consent and authority for said sales and purchases of such public utility property should be granted. It is, therefore, ordered: (a) That said The Ohio Bell Telephone Company be, and hereby it is, authorized to sell and convey to The Tuscarawas County Telephone Company its local exchange property in and about Dover and New Philadelphia, Ohio, with certain toll lines connecting said exchanges and radiating therefrom; and said The Tuscarawas County Telephone Company hereby is authorized to purchase and acquire the same; and (b) That said The Tuscarawas County Telephone Company be, and hereby it is, authorized to sell and convey to The Ohio Bell Telephone Company its local exchange property in and about Dennison, Uhrichsville, Newcomerstown, Tuscarawas, Gnaddenhutten and Port Washington, Ohio, with certain toll lines connecting said exchanges and radiating therefrom; and said The Ohio Bell Telephone Company hereby is authorized to purchase and acquire the same. It is further ordered, That, upon the consummation of said sales and purchases of said property and pending the complete unification of the telephone properties in said areas, said The Tuscarawas County Telephone Company in said Dover and New Philadelphia exchange areas, and said The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, in said Dennison-Uhrichsville, Newcomerstown, Gnaddenhutten, Tuscarawas and Port Washington exchange areas, maintain, impose, charge and collect for the furnishing of service the rates and charges now in effect and, upon the complete unification of facilities in said respective areas, may establish, maintain, charge and collect rates, charges, tolls and [0] C. L. 148] rentals not greater than nor in excess of the rates, charges, tolls and rentals hereinbefore found and determined to be just and reasonable. It is further ordered, That schedules be filed accordingly. It is further ordered, That the finding herein before set forth as to service shall not be binding upon this Commission in any future proceedings involving the subject of service in any of said exchange areas. Dated at Columbus, Ohio, this fourth day of March, 1924. In re APPLICATION OF THE TROY TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR No. 3049. Decided March 10, 1924. Purchase of Preferred Stock of One Telephone Company by Another ORDER. The Commission having heretofore, by order made and entered as of date February 15, 1923, in Proceeding No. 2767 consented to and authorized the issue and sale, for the highest price obtainable but not less than 90 percentum of the par value thereof, of 6 per cent. preferred capital stock of the par value of $10,500 by The Tipp Telephone Company this day (it appearing to the Commission from the verified allegations in said application and the sworn statements and exhibits filed in connection therewith, and other documentary evidence submitted, that the taking of oral testimony herein is unnecessary) this matter came on for consideration upon the joint application of The Troy Telephone Company for the consent and authority of this Commission to purchase and acquire 812 shares of said preferred capital stock, and of said The Tipp Telephone Company for authority to sell the same to its said co-applicant. The Commission, being fully advised in the premises, finds from the pleadings and exhibits filed herein; its independent inquiry and investigation thereupon, and for the purposes of making and entering an order herein. That the public will, upon such purchase and sale of said capital stock, be furnished adequate service for a reasonable and just rate, rental, toll or charge therefor, and is satisfied that consent and authority for such purchase and sale of said preferred capital stock should be granted. It is, therefore, ordered, That said The Tipp Telephone Company be, and hereby it is, authorized to sell, of the $10,500, par value, of such capital stock authorized to be issued by the order made and entered as of date February 15, 1923, in Proceeding No. 2767, $8,150, par value, of its 6 per cent. preferred capital stock to The Troy Telephone Company; and said The Troy Telephone Company hereby is authorized to purchase the said capital stock of said The Tipp Telephone Company and to pay therefor a consideration equal to 90 percentum of the par value of such capital stock. It is further ordered, That said The Troy Telephone Company make verified report to this Commission of the exercise of the authority herein granted. It is further ordered, That the findings hereinbefore set forth as to rates and service shall not be binding upon this Commission in any future proceedings involving rates and/or service. Dated at Columbus, Ohio, this tenth day of March, 1924. In re RATES OF THE OHIO BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY. Decided March 28, 1924. Proposed Schedule of Rates Ordered Stricken from the Files. It appearing that The Ohio Bell Telephone Company has filed with this Commission, to become effective April 1, 1924, the following proposed schedules of rates, charges, [Ohi C. L. 148] tolls and rentals for the furnishing of local exchange telephonic service within the service areas hereinafter set forth, to wit: P. U. C. O. No. 7. P. U. C. O. No. 3. P. U. C. O. No. 2. P. U. C. O. No. 3. P. U. C. O. No. 2. P. U. C. O. No. 2. P. U. C. O. No. 9. P. U. C. O. No. 3. Service in Akron exchange area, including Berton, Service in Bedford exchange area. and to become effective May 9, 1924. P. U. C. O. No. 10. Service in Youngstown exchange area. And it appearing, further, that, with the exception of the said proposed schedule for service in the West Carrollton exchange area, each of the aforesaid schedules carry so-called service connection charges in violation of law and former orders heretofore made and promulgated by this Commission. And it appearing, further, that the said proposed schedule for service in the West Carrollton exchange area seeks to change rates and charges heretofore prescribed by this Commission before the expiration of two years after the making and entering of such order, and without the affirmative action by the Commission upon an application by said telephone company for a modification and amendment of said order, heretofore made and promulgated by this Commission, It is, therefore, ordered, That each and every one of the afore-enumerated and described proposed new schedules of The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, published and filed with this Commission by said The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, to become effective as hereinbefore set forth, be, and hereby it is, rejected from the files of The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. March 28, 1924. SOUTH DAKOTA. Board of Railroad Commissioners. In re APPLICATION OF THE NORTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE TELEPHONE RENTAL RATES AT ITS CANTON EXCHANGE. F-953. Decided March 29, 1924. Tentative Value Fixed Charges for General Supervision Discussed Depreciation Charges Fixed - Increase in Rates Authorized. REPORT. In this case the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company of Omaha, Nebraska, filed an application for authority to increase its telephone rental rates at Canton, South Dakota. In its application the present net rates were set forth as follows: Business, individual line Per Month $2.00 Residence, individual line (Above rates are for wall type, 25 cents per month additional for desk type) Rural, residence, party line Extension Stations: Business, wall type 1.40 Per Quarter $4.20 Per Month $1.00 |