Show WESTERN UNION CO CLOSES BEST YEAR I 1916 Report Shows Big Profits in Spite of Higher Wages Wage and Material The Thc Western Union Telegraph company r enjoyed one ono of or thc best best year In the thc lils- lils tory ton of ot the tim company compan according to tho an annual report for 1916 that was wa The Tile it itself it- it to stockholders to today company self celt no not nol only enjoyed t the le most prosperous year vear ar since its its ors organization but the em em- all ilI received receive comfortable l Increases es I In wanes oven o down In lot o the he cr boys while I tho ho lInes of or theo thee were an anti Improved upon nn much other aldI additional Improvements w were re completed This company closed ed last year with a n surplus of or 3 The Incont of for lor 1916 was vas giving ln a a. surplus account of 3 i. i Net additions and betterments to plant and nd equipment during the y year yr r amounted to On December 31 31 11 1916 there were Vera miles of pole line 14 miles of or Iron wire miles of or copper cappel wire 2 SS miles B of or land lino IIno I cables nn arid and 2 2272 nautical miles of ocean cables The operated offices were 25 3 in Iii number an 10 Increase of oC 92 offices I lat last year ar Stocks of Telegraph raph Cable CallIe and other I allied companies operated under un cl term cnn l leases leg have decreased chiefly due to the annual writing down of or the stock stoel I Telegraph and I owne o owned In the American com company pan Stocks of or Telegraph Cable and other companies have Increased Material I an and supplies show liow an nn Increase of over that th of or last year Careful Careful Care Care- ful Inventories priced at ost with al allowances al- al 10 ances for depreciation tion were made of or orall all material and supplies Accounts receivable uble less Jess reserve reser for doubtful accounts Increased b by 1 I not unreasonably the tho large Jarge Increase In the volume of or business 8 The treasurers treasurer's balances have ha decreased d 1 1 cau caused ed generally I by the in increased In- In creased dividend paid p l during the year and investments In securities and purchases purchases purchases pur pur- chases of or outstanding shares h res of oC leased companies The customary audit of or the treasurers treasurer's accounts was ma made o and the amounts amount on deposit certified to b by the banks were reconciled with the records Under authority of the tho board hoard of directors directors directors tors there was disbursed In a single special special spa spa- cial dat payment to each rc regular receiving compensation nt at the rate of oC 2000 or less per annum and who had been continuously in the service since January Januar 1 1 J. 1916 excepting su stub sudi h cable as received special payments during the year ear the following All me messengers at Independent offices a flat sum of 23 each receiving wages less than 1200 per annum 7 per of annual w wage tre receiving recel wages from 1 1200 00 to 2000 per annum both inclusive 6 C percent pet per cent of or annual wage wabe |