Show Telephone Co spends 23 million In 69 Mountain Bell spent a record 23 million in Utah last year to expand and Improve telephone service it was reported by Dee Severson local manager for the telephone company To keep pace with the states state's growing telephone needs the company will spend more than 30 million in 1970 Major projects underway throughout the state Include a a. anew anew new 7 million accounting buIldIng building build buIld- ing In downtown Salt Lake City and a 5 million electronic switching center near the University University University Uni Uni- of Utah designed to serve the rapidly growing eastern eastern east east- ern section of the city Statewide telephones were added to the company's lines during 1969 bringing to the number now served by Mountain Bell Bellin in Utah continued to be the people in the nation averaging more than 1000 calls per person each year compared with a national average of approximately approximately ap approximately ap- ap proximately annual mes mes- sages Mr Severson pointed out that the telephone company collected and paid more than 25 million in taxes in 1969 representing per month for every telephone telephone tele tele- phone in service in the state At years year's end Mountain Bell employed people in Utah The company's total payroll In the state was million in 1969 Today the company serves about 91 per cent of all households households households house house- holds within its territory in Utah the highest percentage of any state in the state seven-state Mountain Bell area and most of them 67 per cent have one- one party lines Mr Severson sees the as a d decade cade of progress in the telephone business Well continue continue continue con con- our emphasis on good service and Innovation and well we'll be ready to handle growth In Inthe Inthe inthe the Ephraim area he said |