T^[< m ^^^^^^^^1 I r\ ^ 5-1R3 ' h-5m ^^1 tr -.^^^^^^^^^^^1 I90R I^KIKI^ TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS «* 1902 Tk SI ^^ I Do 1 ■n THE GIFT OF .U.5:3.,...&-JimJaurs.-Bjja^ '1357 A.Zij.J.53D ^^- Date Due Ti/- c^o-.^?!."^" University Library TK 5123.A3T2 1902 ^^'^lfi'ii?K,.?.«.'!,.,'?'^S"P''S- 1902 :(and Mu 3 1924 022 817 674 4\ ''^l Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022817674 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR u-s. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS S. N. D. "NORTH, DIRECTOR SPECIAL REPORTS TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS 1902 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1906 GQPIitUL U U I V i ,^.y b \i /i; R Y J\.-L\^\SlO CONTENTS. Page. Letter of transmittal xi PART 1. TELEPHONES. CHAPTER I. General Statistics. Introduction 3 General statistics for telephone and telegraph systems 3 Dominance of telephony 4 CHAPTER II. ■ General Telephone Statistics. Comparative summary 5 Summary of systems in outlying districts .5 Classification of systems 6 Statistics for systems, by class 7 Statistics by geographic divisions 8 Rural lines 11 CHAPTER III. Telephone Capitalization. Capitalization of incorporated companies 12 Capitalization of commercial systems ■- 12 Capitalization of mutual systems - — 13 Capitalization of Bell and independent systems 13 Assets and Uabilities 14 Balance sheet for commercial systems — 15 Balance sheet for mutual systems > IS CHAPTER IV. Revenue and Expenses. Revenue 16 Operating expcn-ses 16 Outlay for new construction 16 Division of net earnings 1 17 Returns for Bell systems 18 Revenue and expenses of large systems 18 Revenue and expenses, by states - 18 Revenue and expenses of commercial systems 19 Revenue and expenses of mutual systems 19 CHAPTER V. Telephone Tkapfio. Nature of traffic - - - - 21 Definition of message 21 Traffic statistics - - - 21 Distribution of telephone stations - - . - 22 Traffic, by geographic difisions - - 22 Traffic, by states and territories - 23 (iii) iv CONTENTS. Page. Traffic of commercial and mutual systems 23 Belation between telephones, messages, and population 26 Telephones in urban centers 26 Rates 27 Traffic per subscriber and instrument 28 Relation of traffic to earnings and expenses 29 Other factors of traffic 30 Traffic records 30 CHAPTER VI. Apparatus of the Substation. Physical equipment 33 Statistics of substations 33 Rural substations 33 Private stations and pay stations 35 Classification of private stations 35 Classification of pay stations 35 Party line stations - 36 Magneto and common battery stations 36 Magneto substation apparatus 36 Series and bridged substations 36 Common battery apparatus 37 Substation receivers 37 Substation transmitters 37 The induction coil 38 Signaling apparatus 38 Protection of substation 38 Automatic stations 39 . CHAPTER Vn. The Wire Plant. Governing conditions 40 Statistics of wire circuits i 40 Wire mileage, by geographic divisions 40 Wire mileage of rural lines 40 Underground, overhead, and submarine wires 40 Miles of wire per system and station ■ _ 41 Kind of poles used 41 Telephone cables .' ■. 42 Telephone conduits 43 CHAPTER VIII. Central Office or Exchange. Definition of central office 44 Telephone switchboards ■ 44 Statistics of switchboard equipment .' 44 Geographic distribution of exchanges and switchboards 45 Capacity of exchange and switchboard 45 Miscellaneous central office equipment 45 Method of central office connection ' ._ 4g The complete switchboard : 46 Lamp signal switchboards 47 The distributing board 47 The common battery equipment 47 Common battery switchboard circuits 4g Toll line switchboards 48 CHAPTER IX. Employees, Salaries, and Wages. General statistics 49 Statistics of employees and wages for all systems 49 Statistics for principal states 50 Statistics of commercial systems 50 Statistics of mutual systems 50 The welfare of telephone operators 50 CONTENTS. V CHAPTER x: Development of the Message Rate Plan in New Yoek Cmr. Page. Early service and rates 52 Metallic circuit' introduced _ 53 First message rates _ _ 53 Features of message rate plan ., 54 Reductions in message rate schedules * '64 Rates in local areas — borough of the Bronx 54 Residence rates 55 Private branch exchange service and rates..'. 55 Pay stations 56 Rates in Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond boroughs 56 Present conditions and growth since adoption of message rate 57 CHAPTER XI. HiSTOKT AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONY. Early development 63 The work of Bell 64 First commercial telephony 65 Early telephone competition _ 66 Independent development 67 CHAPTER Xn. Telephony in Fokeign Countries. General data , 68 Germany 69 Austria 69 Belgium 70 Holland : 70 Denmark ' 70 Spain — 70 Italy 71 Russia - ^>- 71 France j.^« 71 Switzerland 71 Norway - 72 Sweden 73 Great Britain and Ireland. 73 British India — '. 75 Canada 75 Japan 75 Telephone rates 75 Telephonic telegrams ..- 78 PART II. TELEGRAPHS. CHAPTER I. Telegraph and Cable Systems. General statistics 99 Chief features of the data 100 Comparison with the telephone 100 Comparative data — earnings and expenses 100 Salaries and wages - 102 Wire mileage - - 102 Telegraph power plants - - 102 Methods of telegraphic operation 103 Press messages 103 District messenger system - 103 The stock quotation service .- 104 Commercial telegraphs on steam railroads 104 Railway telegraphs and telephones 104 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER II. Governmental Telegraph and Telephone Service. Page. United States Signal Corps 106 The Signal Corps in the Philippines 106 Alaskan telegraphs 107 United States cable ships 108 Other telegraphic work of the Signal Corps '. 109 Telegraphy in the Weather Bureau ^ 109 United States Life-Saving Service - 110 CHAPTER III. History and Development of Telegraphy. Pioneers of telegraphy Ill Commercial developments 114 Submarine telegraphs 116 Submarine cables 116 Submarine signaling. ; .' 118 Wireless telegraphy 118 PART III. MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. Electric fire alarm systems. 123 Historical and descriptive 134 Electric police patrol systems 139 Historical and descriptive 146 Special features 148 LIST OF TABLES. TELEPHONES. Table 1. — Comparative summary — telephone and telegraph systems, including submarine cable systems: 1902 4 Table 2. — Comparative summary — all telephone systems : 1902, 1890, and 1880. 5 Table 3. — Summary — outlying districts: 1902. 6 Table 4. — Number of systems and independent rural lines, miles of wire, and number of telephones: 1902 7 Table 5. — Summary — all systems; 1902 7 Table 6. — Summary — Bell and independent Systems: 1902 7 Table 7. — ^All systems — telephones, messages, and population, with percentages and averages, by geographic divisions: 1902 8 Table 8. — All systems — summary by geographic divisions : 1902 8 Table 9. — Commercial systems — summary by geographic divisions: 1902 8 Table 10. — Distribution of existing independent commercial systems according to year in which established, by states and territories: 1883 to 1902 9 Table 11. — Mutual systems — summary by geographic divisions: 1902 IQ Table 12. — Distribution of existing mutual systems according to year in which established, by states and territories : 1881 to 1902 10 Table 13. — Number of rural lines, classified as commercial, mutual, and independent rural, with the wire mileage, and the number of tele- phones, by geographic divisions: 1902 H Table 14. — Capitalization of incorporated companies — all systems : 1902 12 Table 15. — Capitalization of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and its licensee companies: 1902 13 Table 16. — Capitalization of incorporated companies — Bell and independent systems: 1902 . . . .' 14 Table 17. — Balance sheet for all systems and for commercial and mutual systems: 1902 14 Table 18. — All systems — income account: 1902 ig Table 19. — All systems — analysis of operating expenses: 1902 Ig Table 20. — All systems — cost of additional construction, by states and territories: 1902 I7 Table 21. — Revenue and expenses of all systems and of systems having 1,000 telephones and over: 1902 18 Table 22. — Commercial systems — income account: 1902 ig Table 23. — Commercial systems — analysis of operating expenses: 1902 I9 Table 24. — Mutual systems — income account: 1902 ig Table 25. — Mutual systems — analysis of operating expenses: 1902 20 Table 26. — ^AU systems — average population per telephone station, by geographic divisions: 1902 22 Table 27. — Messages — commercial and mutual systems, by geographic divisions: 1902 23 Table 28. — All systems — average number of local and of long distance and toll messages per telephone, by geographic divisions: 1902 23 Table 29. — Commercial systems — analysis of physical equipment and messages, by states and territories: 1902 24 Table 30. — Mutual systems — analysis' of physical equipment and messages, by states and territories: 1902 25 CONTENTS. vii Page. Table 31. — ^AU systems — telephones, messages, and population, by states and territories: 1902 26 Table 32. — Estimated population, number of telephones, and average population per telephone for the largest fourteen cities: 1902 27 Table 33. — Summary — ^urban and rural commercial systems: 1902 27 Table 34. — Messages per subscriber and per telephone: 1902 38 Table 35.— Traffic comparison, Bell and independent systems: 1902 29 Table 36. — All systems — average revenue and operating expenses per telephone and per message, by states and territories: 1902 29 Table 37. — Summary — aU systems, physical equipment: 1902. 33 Table 38. — Number of rural lines, classified as commercial, mutual, and independent rural, with the wire mileage and the number of tele- phones, by states and territories: 1902 34 Table 39. — Number of rural lines, with the wire mileage and the number of telephones, for the five leading states: 1902 35 Table 40. — Number of public exchanges, Bell and independent systems, by states and territories : 1902 45 Table 41. — ^Telephone development. United States and Europe 68 Table 42. — Telephone development in large cities _ 68 Table 43. — All telephone systems — summary, by states and territories : 1902 80 Table 44. — All telephone systems — revenue and expenses, by states and territories: 1902 82 Table 45. — All telephone systems — employees, salaries, and wages, by states and territories: 1902 , . . . 84 Table 46. — All telephone systems — exchanges, stations, and line construction, by states and territories: 1902 86 Table 47. — All telephone systems — telephone switchboards, power plants, and batteries, by states and territories: 1902 88 Table 48. — Commercial telephone systems — summary, by states and territories: 1902 ... 90 Table 49. — Conunercial telephone systems — revenue and expenses, by states and territories: 1902 92 Table SO. — ^Mutual telephone systems — summary, by states and territories: 1902 94 Table 51. — Mutual telephone systems — revenue and expenses, by states and territories: 1902 95 TELEGRAPHS. Table 1. — Commercial systems — comparative summary: 1902 and 1880 99 Table 2. — Capitalization of incorporated companies : 1902 •. 101 Table 3. — Commercial systems — income account: 1902 101 Table 4. — Commercial systems — operating expenses ; 1902 101 Table 5. — Commercial systems — balance sheet: 1902 101 Table 6. — Commercial systems — employees, salaries, and wages: 1902 , 102 Table 7. — Commercial systems — line construction: 1902 102 Table 8. — Commercial systems — generating plants in offices: 1902 102 Table 9. — Commercial systems — miles of wire owned or leased, distributed according to method of operation: 1902. 103 Table 10. — Railway telegraphs and telephones — summary : 1902 104 MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. Table 1. — Electric fire alarm systems, grouped according to boards or departments of administration: 1902 123 Table 2. — Electric fire alarm systems installed each year 124 Table 3. — Electric fire alarm systems, grouped accord\ng to population of cities, and the percentage each item is of total: 1902 124 Table 4. — Electric fire alarm systems reporting difl'erent varieties of construction and equipment, grouped according to population of cities: 1902 ---- 126 Table 5. — Underground construction of electric fire alarm systems, by states and cities: 1902 ^ .. . 127 Table 6. — Employees and wages in cities of 100,000 population and over, electric fire alarm and police patrol systems: 1902 128 Table 7. — Electric fire alarm systems, by states: 1902 130 Table 8. — Electric fire alarm and police patrol systems of Honolulu, Hawaii: 1902. 132 Table 9. — Electric fire alarm and police patrol systems having perpetual right of way on poles or in conduits, without cost to the city, grouped according to population of cities: 1902 _ 133 Table 10. — Construction and equipment of electric systems used interchangeably for fire alarm and police patrol, grouped according to popu- lation of cities: 1902 - - — -. 133 Table 11. — Electric police patrol systems, grouped according to boards or departments of administration: 1902 139 Table 12. — Electric police patrol systems installed each year 139 Table 13. — Electric police patrol systems, grouped according to population of cities, and percentage each item is of total: 1902 140 Table 14. — Electric police patrol systems reporting difl'erent varieties of construction and equipment, grouped according to population of cities: 1902 141 Table 15. — Underground construction of electric police patrol systems, by states and cities: 1902 142 Table 16. — Electric police patrol systems, by states: 1902 144 APPENDICES. Appendix A. — Schedules - - 153 Appendix B. — Instructions to special agents 161 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Facing page. A magneto substation 22 Subscriber set, bridging system lines, local battery 26 Subscriber set, common battery or central energy system 26 Cabinet set transmitter 28 Bipolar receiver 28 Telephone receiver _ 30 Section of receiver 30 Receiver dissected 30 Desk set, receiver and transmitter 30 Transmitter head _ 34 Section of transmitter _ 34 Rear view of assembled transmitter, case removed 34 Lightning arrester 36 Combined fuse and lightning arrester 36 Magneto bell 36 Magneto generator assembled 36 Magneto generator dissected 36 Automatic telephone desk set, subscriber's station 38 Automatic telephone wall set, subscriber's station ' 38 Automatic telephone wall set, showing party calling 38 Automatic telephone switch, central station .' : 38 Telephone conduits near street railway track 1 42 Group of twenty-four ducts in telephone conduit showing standard practice 42 Central automatic exchange. Grand Rapids, Mich., 6,000 line full automatic 44 Main exchange, Pittsburg, Pa., before occupancy by operators 44 Small magneto switchboard 46 Rear view of magneto switchboard 46 Early telephone e!xchange in New York city 46 One wing of telephone exchange, Cortlandt street. New York city, with operators at positions 48 Telephone central offices and central office districts in New York city, January 1, 1894 61 Telephone central offices and central office districts in New York city, January 1, 1905 62 A main operating telegraph room 112 Automatic repeater equipment in telegraph operating room 112 New fast stock ticker 114 Typewriting telegraph system 114 Types of submarine cables , 117 Telegraph department, fire alarm headquarters, Washington, D. C. : 1902 128 DIAGRAMS. Page. 1. — Telephone calls by hours, business center, residence district, and outskirts of a large city: 1902 31 2. — ^Telephone calls per line in the three districts of a large city, shown by hours in Diagram 1 : 1902 31 3. — ^Telephone calls by hours, main and branch offices, in city of medium size: 1902 32 4. — Telephone calls by hours in a manufacturing city having a population of about 100,000: 1902 32 S. — Telephone calls by hours in a village having a population of about 2,000: 1902 : 32 (ix) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. department of commerce and labor, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D. C, January 23, 1906. Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the telephone and telegraph systems and the municipal electric fire alarm and police patrol systems of the United States. This report was prepared in accordance with the provisions of section 7 of the act of Congress of March 6, 1902. The statistics cover the calendar year ending December 31, 1902, and were collected and compiled under the supervision of Mr. W. M. Steuart, chief statistician for manufactures. The text has been prepared by Mr. Thomas Commerford Martin, of New York city, expert special agent, with the cooperation and criticism of Mr. A. V. Abbott, as to the telephone portion, and Mr. W. Maver, jr., as to the telegraph portion. The report presents statistics concerning the physical equipment, service, and financial operations of the commercial and mutual telephone and telegraph systems of the country and the physical equipment of independ- ent rural telephone lines. It also gives data relative to the systems controlled in whole or in part by railway com- panies, and the ocean cable systems that were in operation all or part of the year. This is the last of a series of reports on the generation and utilization of electric current. Former reports relate to street and electric railways and central electric light and power plants. The statistics for the telephone and telegraph systems were published on December 15, 1904, as Bulletin 17 of the Bureau of the Census, and those for municipal electric fire, alarm and police patrol systems on May 31, 1904, as Bulletin 11. With the publication of this report the Bureau of the Census closes the first complete census of the generation and utilization of electric current for the transmission of power, messages, and conversation. These industries are of such vast importance, have undergone such rapid changes, and have advanced during the past decade to such an extent that, in order to convey a correct idea of their development, the census should be taken at more frequent intervals than decennially, as required by the present law. The telephone and telegraph companies have uniformly treated the request of this ofiice for statistical infor- mation with the utmost courtesy and consideration. They have freely furnished information of a confidential character concerning their financial operations, and have manifested a willingness to assist in the compilation of reliable statistics, which has been gratifying to all engaged in the work. Some companies have incurred large expense for clerical assistance to compile the data, and have furnished the ofiice with every facility for making a complete report. Unfortunately the account books of some of the smaller companies and mutual systems were so incomplete that accurate answers could not be given to all of the Census inquiries. Very respectfully. Hon. Victor H. Metcalf, Secretary of Commerce and Labor. (xi) PART I TELEPHONES (1) TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. By Thomas Commerford Martin, Expert Special Agent. PART I. TELEPHONES. OHAPTEE I. GENERAL STATISTICS. Introduction. — ^The first statistics of the telegraph and telephone industries of the United States were those collected for the census of 1880. When the act of Congress of March 3, 1879, made provision for that census, telephony was new and still in the formative stages of development, and . telegraphy, after nearly forty years of steady growth, was the great agency for the instantaneous exchange of information. Although the act related specifically to telegraph companies and made no reference to telephony, it was deemed proper and within the scope of the powers of the Census Office to secure such data as was avail- able in regard to the art of telephony. During the period from 1877 to 1880 the telephone industry was to some extent associated with the telegraph com- panies, just as it has always been in European countries, where in many instances the telegraph systems are governmental institutions. From the standpoint of technique and engineering the relation of telephony and telegraphy is of the most intimate nature, and competent legal decisions in America and abroad have treated them as essentially one art. Telephony has become differentiated from telegraphy, and in the United States it is now conducted as a distinctly separate industry. By 1899 telephony had become one of the typical American industries, and not only had surpassed telegraphy in physical and financial magnitude, but by its very growth had seriously restricted the expan- sion of the older art. As a result telegraphy has been regarded by many authorities as being in a condition of arrested development. The introduction of wire- less telegraphy is likely, however, to have a marked effect upon the growth of the industry. The vast strides made by telephony were recog- nized when the census law of March 3, 1899, was passed, and categorical provision was made for an inquiry regarding telephone systems. The comparisons made to illustrate the develop- ment of the two industries are based upon the sta- tistics shown in the reports of the census of 1880, although the data relative to telephones presented briefly as a part of the statistics of manufactures in 1890 ' are cited incidentally. The extraordinary nature of the changes in tele- phonic evolution is in itself sufficient to debar the statistician or economist from deriving full benefit from the material in hand, or from instituting an analysis that can do justice to the less obvious fea- tures of such rapid growth. Telephony is undergoing even now, about thirty years after the invention of the speaking telephone, a development almost without parallel. It would seem that under such circumstances the data and statistics of most weight would be those derivable from comparisons mad'e for shorter periods than decades, and might well be for five-year terms, as in the census of manufactures. General statistics for telephone and telegraph sys- temsf — ^The statistics presented herewith are for the telephone and telegraph business as conducted com- mercially either for the year ending December 31, 1902, or for the fiscal year most nearly conforming to that year. Table 1, which is a summary for con- tinental United States, indicates the magnitude and the relative importance of the two industries. ^ Eleventh Census, Bulletin No. 196. (3) TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 1. — Comparative summary — telephone and telegraph systems, indiiding submarine cable systems: 190H. Number of systems Miles of wire Salaried officials, clerks, etc.: Number Salaries Wage-earners: Average number Wages , . Capital stock and bonds outstanding, par value Common stock Preferred stock Bonds Total revenue '. Operating expenses and fixed charges, except interest on bonds Interest on bonds , Dividends paid Net surplus Total assets Construction and equipment (in- cluding telephones) Real estate Stocks and bonds of other com- panies Machinery, tools, and supplies — Bills and accounts receivable Cash and deposits Sundries Total liabilities Capital stock Bonds Cash investment, unincorporated companies Bills and accounts payable Dividends unpaid , Reserves Sundries Surplus 4,176 6,168,836 14,953 $11,048,518 91,426 840,246,776 1510,977,583 $385,033,601 $6,069,621 $119,874,361 $127,755,574 $90,661,707 $5,461,098 $21,239,412 $10,403,357 8647,676,321 $523, 473, 142 $27, 484, 669 $35,878,286 $10, 635, 486 $33,714,416 $15,579,224 $911,098 $647,676,321 $391,103,222 $119,874,361 $6, 168, 609 $50,547,584 $554, 733 $38,889,276 $1, 124, 265 $39,414,271 Telephone systems. 4,151 4,850,486 64, 628 $26,369,735 $348,031,058 $269,180,076 $4,869,621 $73,981,361 $86,825,636 $61,652,823 $3,511,948 $14,982,719 $6,678,046 $452,172,546 $366,561,694 $22,716,538 $9,938,342 $9,689,691 $30, 629, 677 $12,291,840 $344,764 $452, 172, 546 $274,049,697 $73,981,361 $6,161,299 $44,302,999 $188,067 $31,029,628 $1,124,265 $21,335,230 Telegraph systems. 25 1 1, 318, 350 829 81, 162, 632 26,798 $13,877,041 $162,946,625 $115,863,625 $1,200,000 $45,893,000 $40,930,038 $28,998,884 $1,949,150 $6,256,693 $3, 725, 311 $195,503,775 $166,911,448 $4, 768, 131 $25,939,944 $945,795 $3,084,739 $3,287,384 $566,334 $195,503,775 $117,063,525 $45,893,000 $7,310 $6,244,585 $366, 666 $7,859,648 $18,079,041 1 Includes miles of wire operated by Western Union Telegraph Company out- side of the United States, but does not include 16,677 nautical miles of cable operated by submarine cable systems. Table 1 does not include the statistics for the inde- pendent farmer or rural telephone lines of a cooperative nature, or those for the telegraph and telephone lines owned by steam and electric railway companies and operated along their tracks for service purposes. For these two classes of lines, together with those used in the electric fire alarm and police patrol systems of the various cities, 358,787 miles of single wire were reported, making, with the 6,168,836 miles shown in Table 1, a total of 6,527,623 miles of single wire used in the transmission of messages, besides the 16,677 nautical miles of cable operated by submarine cable sys- tems owned by American companies. While the total thus obtained contains some duplications, due to the use of the same wire for more than one service, it does not include wire used for purely private purposes, such as connections between two or more places of business or farmhouses, since these lines are not of sufficient importance to be classed as farmer lines. Moreover, it does not include mileage of submarine cables that stretch across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from American or contiguous shores and are owned and operated by foreign capital, although they may be dependent in very large degree upon American pat- ronage and upon business transferred to them from American land lines. Dominance of telephony. — Although the commercial telephone has developed entirely during the past thirty years, the comparison made in Table 1 shows that it is of vastly greater importance than the tele- graph. In 1902 the telephone systems operated 78.6 per cent of the wire mileage reported for both tele- phones and telegraphs, gave employment to 70.7 per cent of the wage-earners, paid 65.5 per cent of the wages, received 68' per cent of the total revenue, and paid 67.8 per cent of the total expenses. In the appendix to this report are printed the special schedules 'employed in the collection of the telegraph and telephone statistics, and the instructions for their application. CHAPTER II. GENERAL TELEPHONE STATISTICS. Comparative summary. — When the telephone sta- tistics were compiled in 1880, the industry was in an embryonic condition. Human speech was first trans- mitted over a wire by Prof. Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. A few experimental circuits were established in 1877, and in the same year the industry was given commercial shape. In May, 1877, the first attempt at interconnection on the exchange plan was made in Boston, utilizing burglar alarm circuits, and in Janu- ary, 1878, the fijrst fully and regularly equipped com- mercial telephone exchange was opened for business a,t New Haven, Conn. The early work was done with magneto telephones of limited range as to distance of transmission, but the introduction of the microphone transmitter in 1878 gave a tremendous stimulus to the art, so that by 1880 activity in the exploitation of the business was everywhere manifest. It is a matter of record that in the spring of 1880 the American Bell Telephone Company had in operation some 61,000 transmitting and receiving telephones. The collec- tion of data for the census followed shortly afterwards, yielding results that are compared in Table 2 with those of 1890 and 1902. Table 2. — Comparative summary — aU telephone systems: 1902, 1890, and 1880. Number of systems Miles of wire Number of subscribers Number of stations or telephones of all kinds Number of public exchanges Number of employees Capital stock authorized, par value. Total revenue Operating expenses and fixed charges Dividends Net surplus Total assets Total investment s Number of messages or talks 1902 4,151 4,850,486 2, 178, 366 2,315,297 10,361 78, 752 8384,534,066 $86,825,536 SJ65,164,771 814,982,719 $6,678,046 $452,172,546 $348,031,058 5,070,554,553 1890 240,412 227, 357 233,678 1,241 8,645 W $16,404,583 $11,143,871 $3,168,208 $2,092,604 (>) $72,341,736 453,200,000 1880 148 34,305 48, 414 54, 31 J 437 3,338 $17,386,700 2$3,098,081 '$2,373,703 2 $302, 730 '$421,648 < $15, 702, 135 $14,605,787 W I Not reported. 'Sixteen systems failed to report any financial data. 3 Including interest on bonds. * Only 74 systems reported assets. 5 Capital stock and bonds outstanding, par value. In connection with the statistics presented in Table 2 it may be noted that in 1880 the population of the United States was 50,155,783, and that the number of telephones reported in that year was 54,319; thus there was an average of 923 persons to every telephone. In 1902 the population had increased to an estimated 78,576,436, and the telephones to 2,315,297, the aver- 18407—06 2 age being about thirty-four persons per telephone. In the 22 years from 1880 to 1902 the total number of public exchanges increased from 437 to 10,361, and the number of employees, from 3,338 to 78,752. The total telephone revenue reported in 1880 was $3,098,- 081, or an average of $57.03 per telephone, as com- pared with $86,825,536, or $37.50 per telephone, in 1902. This apparent diminution is explained in smaU part, however, by the large number of mutual tele- phones that were in existence in 1902 but were un- known in the earlier period, when all the work was within city limits. The amount of capital stock authorized in 1880 was only $17,386,700, while that for 1902 was $384,534,066, or a little more than twenty-two times greater. In the presentation of the figures for 1880 in the Census bulletin the industry was referred to as hav- ing passed through the stages of an unprecedented development during the census year of 1879-80. At the beginning of that year the industry amounted to little or nothing, but at the end of the year it repre- sented one of the great interests of the country. In addition to the 148 systems that made reports in 1880 there were some companies and individuals known to own telephone machinery and wire from whom no reports could be obtained, because when the Tenth Census was taken they either had not fully organized or had not commenced operations. Hence the sta- tistics for 1880 should be regarded only as a fair approximation to the telephone exchange industry at that time. The bulletin of 1890 called attention to the fact that the number of subscribers had increased 369.6 per cent during the decade, the number of subscribers per exchange had increased 64.9 per cent, and the mileage of wire per subscriber had increased 49.3 per cent. The comment was made that these increases showed how necessary the telephone service had become in commercial and social affairs, and spoke volumes for the enterprise that had attended the development of inventive genius in this branch of the electrical industries. Summary of systems in outlying districts. — Reports were received for 1 system in Alaska, 1 in the Philip- pines, and 7 in Hawaii, these systems reporting in the aggregate 5,518 miles of single wire and 2,891 tele- phones. The statistics are summarized in Table 3. (5) TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 3. — Summary — outlying districts: 1902. Number of systems 9 Miles of wire 5 gig Number ol subscribers 2 880 Number of stations or telephones of all kinds 2! 891 Number of public exchanges 14 Number of pay stations 8 Number of party lines 796 Number of stations on party lines 1 595 Manual switchboards, total number 14 Common battery 2 Magneto '.. 12 Messages or talks during year, total number 3,887,925 Salaried officials, clerks, etc.: Number ; 28 Salaries ...'. $25,908 Wage-earners: Average number 134 Wages $43,532 Capitalization: Authorized, common stock $507, 900 Outstanding, common stock $390, 745 Total revenue $135,568 Operating expenses and fixed charges $90, 469 Dividends paid $25, 858 Net surplus $19, 241 Total assets $531, 197 Construction and equipment $409, 676 Telephones $61, 785 Kealestate $31, 782 Machinery, tools, and supphes $6, 869 Bills and accounts receivable ' $16,966 Cash and deposits $4, 119 Total liabilities $531, 197 Capital stock $390, 745 Reserves $8, 768 Bills and accounts payable $22,995 Dividends unpaid $771 Net surplus $107, 928 No reports were received for the telephone lines in Porto Rico, and, except in Table 3, the data for the telephone systems in the outlying districts of the United States are excluded from the statistics presented in this report. Classification of systems. — In compiling the present statistics each system — comprising all the telephone lines, exchanges, and toll stations owned and oper- ated by any individual, collection of individuals, firm, or corporation — was considered as a unit requiring a separate report. Companies organized to finance operating companies or to control them by the ownership of the majority of the stock, but not engaged in actual operation of exchanges, were not reported. Companies simply manufacturing appa- ratus were, of course, excluded. There are many individual telephone plants of a purely private character operating in one build- ing or connecting two or more buildings or places of business. These correspond to isolated plants in electric lighting, and no attempt was made to enu- merate lines or systems of this character, although the ;iumerous private branch exchanges operated as part of telephone exchanges for the more efiicient service of the subscriber are duly brought to account in the exchange statistics. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company and its 43 licensee corporations were counted as 44 separate systems. The reports for the 43 licensee companies were credited to the states in which their operating headquarters were located, and the long distance system operated by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company was credited to New York, its operating or official headquarters being located in New York city. In cases where the same company operated exchanges in more than one state the com- bined reports for all its exchanges were counted as for one system, but separate reports were obtained for the equipment and business of the individual exchanges in each state, so as to give proper credit to the respective states. The statistics are shown separately in this report for three distinct classes of telephone systems as follows : 1. Commercial systems, including all systems oper- ated by individuals, firms, or corporations, primarily for revenue. 2. Mutual systems, including all systems operated through a mutual arrangement among persons deriv- ing benefit from the service, primarily for the benefit of the owners, revenue being incidental to the opera- tion of the line. 3. Independent farmer or rural lines, including aU lines having no regular exchange or central office. These lines are often operated under conditions similar to those controlling mutual systems. The rural telephone lines usually consist of one or more circuits strung through a sparsely settled rural district and connected to the various farmhouses. Frequently these lines operate on a grounded circuit, barbed wire fences being sometimes utilized. Often these systems connect in some manner with a mutual system or with a commercial system, and in this way obtain for their owners the advantage of extended telephonic connection. Obviously the natural course of evolution in tele- phonic systems is the formation of a mutual system by the consolidation of two or more rural lines, which unite and establish an exchange for the benefit of the several owners; and next, the mutual system as it grows and extends is likely to become incorporated and be transformed into a commercial system. Only the commercial systems were known to the earlier art and to the censuses of 1880 and 1890, and until the expiration of the fundamental Bell tele- phone patents the industry had remained virtually under the control of one corporation with one cen- tralized management. During the present decade, however, a great many independent and mutual companies have been established, and in some states such systems are of great importance, although in 1902 there was no mutual system in any large center of population. Great activity prevailed during the census year in the formation of new local telephone exchange companies and in the consolidation of existing independent companies. As a result of this development the collection of the latest statistics was a task of considerable difficulty and magnitude. Although it is probable that in some respects the GENERAL TELEPHONE STATISTICS. data are incomplete, the totals may be accepted as an accurate indication of the condition of the indus- try during 1902. Statistics for systems, hy class. — Table 4 shows, for each of the three classes, the number of systems, miles of single wire, and number of telephones (not including any instruments employed by the systems exclusively for their own use) in continental United States in 1902. These items constitute the only information obtainable for the independent rural lines, hence the statistics for these lines are omitted from all tables unless otherwise stated. Table 4, — Number of systems and independent rural lines, miles of wire, and number of telephones: 1902. Total. Commer- cial. Mutual. Inde- pendent rural lines. Number of systems and lines Miles of wire 9,136 4,900,451 2,371,044 3,157 4,779,571 2,225,981 994 70,915 89,316 4,985 49,965 Number of telephones 55,747 Table 5. — Summary — all systems: 190S. At the end of 1902 there were in operation in con- tinental United States 9,136 telephone systems and independent farmer or rural lines, with 4,900,451 miles of single wire and 2,371,044 telephones. There were 4,985 independent lines reported, or 54.6 per cent of all the systems and lines. These lines have had a remarkable development during the past six years. In Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Mis- souri there were 3,758 lines of this character, or 75.4 per cent of the total number. Of the total wire mileage the commercial telephone systems operated 97.5 per cent, the mutual systems 1.5 per cent, and the independent farmer or rural lines 1 per cent. Of the telephones the commercial systems reported 93.9 per cent, the mutual systems 3.8 per cent, and the independent farmer or rural lines 2.3 per cent. The average numbers of telephones per system were 705 for the commercial systems, 90 for the mutual, and 11 for the rural. But such averages lose sight of the fact that the bulk of the business is transacted by a comparatively small number of the systems. The reports show that out of the 4,151 commercial and mutual systems only 194, or 4.7 per cent, oper- ated 1,000 or more telephones, but these 194 systems returned 1,679,199 telephones, or 72.5 per cent, of all the instruments in use. This is evidence of the exist- ence in telephony of the prevalent tendency toward consolidation. Though the independent rural lines must be included in a complete enumeration of the telephone facilities of the United States, they must be excluded from the category of commercial undertakings. When they are excluded, the telephone systems are divided into com- mercial and mutual and appear as in Table 5. Number of systems Miles of wire Number of subscribers : Number of stations or telephones of all Idnds Number of public exchanges Number of private branch exchanges. . Number of automatic pay stations Number of all other pay stations Number of party lines Number of stations on party lines Switchboards, total number Manual: ' Common battery Magneto Automatic Messages or talks during year, total number Local exchange Long distance and toll Salaried officials, clerks, etc. : Number Salaries Wage^carners: Average number Capital stock and bonds outstanding, par value Common stock Preferred stock Bonds Total revenue Operating expenses and fixed charges, except interest on bonds Interest on bonds Dividends paid Net surplus Total. 4,151 4,850,486 2,178,366 2,315,297 10,361 7,883 32,477 48,393 268,166 886, 152 10,896 837 10,005 54 5,070,554,563 4,949,849,709 120,704,844 14,124 $9,885,886 64,628 826,369,736 8348,031,058 $269,180,076 $4,869,621 $73,981,361 $86,826,636 861,662,823 $3,511,948 $14,982,719 86,678,046 Commercial. 3,157 4,779,671 2,089,846 2,225,981 9,419 7,883 32, 459 48,009 248,908 808,571 9,964 9,071 53 4,971,413,070 4,861,416,539 119,996,531 13,968 89,871,596 63,630 $26,206,065 8347,366,793 8268,518,811 $4,869,621 $73,978,361 886, 622^,211 861,371,002 $3,511,768 $14,981,649 86,657,792 Mutual. 994 70,915 88,620 89,316 942 18 384 9,258 77,681 942 1 1,141,483 1,433,170 708,313 166 $14,290 8163,670 8664,265 8661,265 83,000 18303,325 8281,821 $180 81,070 $20,264 1 Includes assessments. Table .5 shows 4,151 systems, of which the com- mercial lines comprised 3,157, or 76.1 per cent, and the mutual lines 994, or 23.9 per cent. The commer- cial telephone companies controlled 98.5 per cent of the wire mileage and 96.1 per cent of the telephones in use, and reported 95.9 per cent of all the subscrib- ers. I'he proportion of the telephone business trans- acted by the systems operated cooperatively for convenience rather than profit was very small. It is interesting to contrast the relative proportions of the telephone systems operated by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and those under the independent organizations, as shown in Table 6. Table 6. — Summary — Bell and independent systems: 1902. Number of systems Miles of wire Number of subscribers Number of stations or telephones of all kinds Number of public exchanges Number of private branch ex- changes Number of automatic pay stations. Number of other pay stations Switchboards, total number Manual; Common battery Magneto Automatic Messages or talks during year, total number Local exchange ; Long distance and toll Salaried officials, clerks, etc.: Number Salaries Wage-earners; Average number Wages Total. 4,151 4,850,486 2,178,366 2,315,297 10,361 7,883 32,477 48,393 10,896 837 10,005 54 5,070,654,663 4,949,849,709 120,704,844 14, 124 89,885,886 64,628 826,369,736 Bell. 44 3,387,924 1,222,327 1,317,178 3,763 7,266 26,673 29,083 3,820 356 3,463 1 3,074,530,060 2,998,344,933 76,185,127 10,341 87,848,661 46,064 821,026,257 Independent. 4,107 1,462,662 956,039 998,119 6,608 617 6,904 19,310 7,076 481 6,642 63 1,996,024,493 1,961,604,776 44,619,717 3,783 $2,037,335 18,664 85,343,478 8 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. It appears that out of a total of 4,151 systems the American Telephone and Telegraph Company oper- ated 44, or 1.1 per cent, and the independent compa- nies, 4,107, or 98.9 per cent. In other words, there were about ninety-three times more organized systems among the independent interests than among the Bell companies, but the latter, in which consolidation had already gone so much further, had 131.6 per cent more miles of wire, 27.9 per cent more subscribers, and 32 per cent more telephones, and handled 54 per cent more messages. The reports show that there were independent ex- changes in all the states and territories except the Dis- trict of Columbia and Utah. The American Tele- phone and Telegraph Company operated in all regions except Indian Territory, and predominated in 20 states and territories. In these states and territories there were 2,615 exchanges, of which the Bell interests con- trolled 1,992; or 76.2 per cent. Statistics iy geographic divisions. — Table 7 shows the relation between population, telephones, and mes- sages, and Table 8 summarizes, by geographic divi- sions, the principal items for all classes of telephone systems. Table 7.— ALL SYSTEMS— TELEPHONES, MESSAGES, AND POPULATION, WITH PEKCENTAGES AND AVERAGES, BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS: 1902. Estimated . population. Number of stations or telephones of all kinds. Number of messages or talks during year. PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL. AVERAGE. DIVISION. Popula- tion. Tele- phones. Messages or talks. Population per tele- phone. Number of messages per capita. Number of ' messages per tele- phone. 78,576,436 2,315,297 6,070,664,663 100.0 100.0 j 100.0 34 65 2,190 North Atlantic 21,778,196 10,770,414 27,087,206 14,651,635 4,289,085 647,670 143,314 1,091,168 225,999 207, 146 1,208,179,198 353,559,870 2,446,267,875 681,497,626 381,059,984 27.7 13.7 34.5 18.6 5.5 28.0 6.2 47.1 9.8 8 9 23.8 7.0 48.3 13.4 7 5 34 76 25 65 21 55 33 90 47 89 1,865 2,467 2,242 3,015 1 840 Nortti Central South Central Western.. Table 8.— ALL SYSTEMS— SUMMARY BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS: 1902. Num- ber of sys- tems. Miles of wire. Number of sta- tions or tele- phones of all kinds. Number of pub- he ex- changes. Number of switch- boards of all kinds. Number of messages or talks during year. SALARIED OFFICIALS, CLERKS, ETC. WAGE-EARNERS.- Total revenue. Total expenses. Net Number. Salaries. Average number. Wages. surplus United states.... 4,151 4,850,486 2,315,297 10,361 10,896 6,070,554,563 14,124 19,885, 886 64,628 $26,369,735 $86,825,636 880,147,490 86,678,046 North Atlantic 490 421 2,568 565 107 1,669,248 322,376 2,015,087 638,347 305,428 647,670 143,314 1,091,168 226,999 207,146 2,330 791 6,212 1,144 884 2,480 830 6,600 1,199 887 1,208,179,198 353,559,870 2,446,257,875 681,497,626 381,059,984 5,703 1,015 4,768 1,266 1,372 4,779,345 645,107 2,961,686 841,390 668,358 21,702 4,025 25,445 7,060 6,396 10,204,325 1,453,419 8,986,075 2,419,070 3,306,846 36,741,249 4,530,560 29,682,263 7,941,911 7,929,553 35,773,374 4,132,206 26,078,186 6,700,757 7,462,968 967,875 398,354 3,604,078 1,241,164 466,585 North Central . ... South Central The North Central division returns show 61.9 per- cent of the total number of systems and 41.5 per cent of the total wire mileage. Moreover, as this division had the largest population — 34.5 per cent of the total — it naturally transacted the greatest amount of busi- ness as measured by the number of messages, showing 48.3 per cent. Table 9 summerizes the statistics for the commercial systems. Table 9.— COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS— SUMMARY BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS: 1902. Num- ber of sys- tems. Miles of wire. Number of sta- tions or tele- phones of all kinds. Number of pub- lic ex- changes. Number of switch- boards of all kinds. Number of messages or talks during year. SALARIED OFFICIALS, CLEilKS, ETC. WAGE-EARNERS. Total revenue. Total expenses. Net surplus. 1 Number. Salaries. Average number. Wages. United states.... 3,157 4,779,571 2,225,981 9,419 9,954 4,971,413,070 13,958 $9,871,596 63,630 826,206,066 886,522,211 $79,864,419 $6,657,792 371 348 1,856 496 86 1,666,263 317,827 1,957,250 534,648 303,683 643,014 139,319 1,014,164 223,507 205,977 2,256 729 4,442 ■ 1,121 . 871 2,406 768 4,730 1,176 874 1,203,979,018 349,373,521 2,361,506,911 677,517,694 379,035,926 5,693 1,012 4,626 1,261 1,366 4,778,888 644,946 2,950,741 839,605 657,616 21,643 3,977 24,605 7,029 6,376 10,197,916 1,449,047 8,842,764 2,414,545 3,301,793 36,723,783 4,515,004 29,437,516 7,927,428 7,918,480 35,757,126 4,117,266 26,851,056 6,686,816 7,452,157 966,657 397,739 3,686,461 1,240,612 466,323 South Atlantic North Central South Central . - . GENERAL TELEPHONE STATISTICS. 9 The North Central division returned 1,856, or 58.8 per cent, of the commercial systems, and 1,014,164, or 45.6 per cent, of the commercial telephones. The commercial systems controlled the larger pro- portion of the wire and telephones operated by the in- dependent systems, and their development is the im- portant factor in the growth of the independent movement. Table 10, showing the distribution of the existing independent commercial systems accord- ing to the year in which established, by states and ter- ritories, indicates the rapidity of the growth of this feature of telephony. Table lO.— DISTRIBUTION OF EXISTING INDEPENDENT COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO YEAR IN WHICH ESTABLISHED, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1883 TO 1902. STATE OR TERRITORY. Total. 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1898 1895 1891 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1881 1886 1886 1884 188S United States 3,113 628 549 508 380 334 264 207 199 80 18 12 8 7 6 8 3 6 4 2 1 43 10 76 10 8 4 3 23 71 5 240 37 261 240 161 84 14 21 15 8 76 118 32 225 4 73 li 28 12 171 71 29 234 23 16 73 1 36 47 28 156 4 30 65 5 62 139 1 10 2 7 1 3 10 3 15 1 2 6 1 16 1 2 2 ""s 1 3 3 8 2 4 6 1 2 1 1 Arkansas : 4 7 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 Colorado 1 1 1 5 12 1 29 6 19 16 13 9 1 1 3 1 10 22 i 1 6 '""i' 3 1 1 Delaware 10 1 27 10 37 60 37 14 2 4 10 26 6 29 1 3 8 42 11 47 60 33 14 1 3 3 1 8 17 7 46 1 1 3 Florida ; 4 11 1 39 3 48 41 31 15 2 3 "i" 12 18 2 24 1 5 1 4 25 11 1 51 3 2 16 2 10 1 31 4 31 31 23 9 3 2 1 1 10 17 1 25 1 12 1 3 4 1 18 6 2 39 4 2 8 2 9 1 1 Georgia 1 Illinois 30 1 29 10 9 3 2 2 2 1 6 6 6 23 13 2 19 12 3 9 3 1 2 2 8 3 4 28 20 5 2 1 1 . 20 10 10 7 9 6 2 1 ""2 1 1 1 Iowa 1 2 1 Maine 2 1 6 7 1 14 2 1 Maryland 3 1 4 "i' 7 Michigan 1 1 1 1 Mississippi 1 ...... 1 1 1 1 26 2 1 5 1 38 11 9 30 4 2 8 1 5 11 3 27 17 1 2 29 8 8 40 9 6 6 3 1 2 ■ 4 3 1 1 2 3 1 8 5 2 10 1 1 9 1 3 2 13 8 1 17 1 2 1 8 \ New Jersey New York 15 14 4 21 2 16 6 1 18 1 8 1 1 1 1 Ohio 4 2 1 1 "■ 3 5 1 3 1 5 13 4 9 3 34 8 8 9 26 1 6 7 1 10 28 5 6 .2 20 2 6 "19 2 3 7 8 1 2 8 4 2 1 8 1 1 2 3 1 -■■-j- 1 3 2 1 4 9 i 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 Texas . . - 1 1 1 1 1 Utah ""u 1 7 21 1 3 9 2 7 25 9 7 4 7 1 3 1 1 2 1 5 16 10 14 7 10 4 9 "■■3 i 3 1 3 1 1 2 While Table 10 is based upon the replies received in answer to the direct inquiry, "Date when this exchange system was first established," it is possible trfit in some instances the date of the reorganization of the system was given, instead of that of its original establishment. In sections where reorganization has been very active during recent years such a mistake would be apt to occur. Table 10 shows that of the independent commer- cial systems still in existence, the first was estab- lished in 1883, and that between 1883 and 1893, inclusive, 74 such systems were organized. Inasmuch, however, as the Bell patents did not expire until 1893 it might seem a misnomer to call these 74 systems independent, as it is perhaps hardly possible that they all operated independently of the Ameri- can Bell Telephone Company. During the early life of the Bell patents a number of exchanges were organ- ized under the Edison and Elisha Gray patents and were operated in opposition to the Bell system, but the rapid increase in the number of independent cora- mercial systems dates naturally from 1893, when the Bell patents expired; during the nine years from 1894 to 1902, inclusive, there were 3,039 such systems established. Table 11 summarizes the statistics for the mutual systems. 10 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 11.— MUTUAL SYSTEMS— SUMMARY BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS: 1902. Num- ber ol sys- tems. Miles of wire. Number of sta- tions or tele- phones of all kinds. Number of pub- lic ex- changes. Number of switch- boards of allMnds. Number of messages or talks during year. SAL.IRIED OFFICIALS, CLEKKS, ETC. WAGE-EAENEE8. Total revenue. Total expenses. Net Number. Salaries. Average number. Wages. surplus. United States 994 70,915 89,316 942 942 99,141,483 166 S14,290 998 $163,670, $303,325 $283,071 520,2.54 North Atlantic. 119 73 712 69 21 2,985 4,549 57,837 3,699 1,845 4,666 3,995 77,004 2,492 1,169 74 62 770 23 13 74 62 770 23 13 4,200,180 4,186,349 84,750,964 3.979,932 2,024,058 10 3 142 5 467 161 10,945 1,885 842 59 48 840 31 20 6,409 4,372 143.311 4; 625 5,053 17,466 15,656 244,747 14,483 11,073 16,248 14,941 227,130 13,941 10,811 1,218 615 South Atlantic North Central 17,617 South Central. . 542 262 According to Table 11, there were 994 mutual systems, of which 712, or 71.6 per cent, were in the North Central division, while only 21, or 2.1 per cent, were in the Western states. The North Atlantic divi- sion ranked second in the number of mutual systems, notwithstanding the fact that 4 of the 9 states in this division did not report any. In the North Central division there were 77,004 telephones, or 86.2 per cent of the total number, returned by the mutual systems. Table 12 shows the number of existing mutual systems established during each year in each state and territory. Table 12.— DISTRIBUTION OF EXISTING MUTUAL SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO YEAR IN WHICH ESTABLISHED, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1881 TO 1902. STATE OE TERKITOEY. Total. 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1896 1894 1893 1891 1888 18S3 1881 United States 994 295 269 181 84 75 32 21 15 7 9 2 1 1 2 4 1 2 2 j 1 1 Arkansas 6 3, 1 1 1 1 i' 1 1 1 1 1 1 Connecticut 1 Delaware Florida 2 6 1 138 '3' 1 36 1 2 1 1 1 1 Illinois 33 34 13 14 3 4 1 106 170 11 35 1 4 4 37 83 5 3 41 5S 2 8 17 18 3 9 4 6 1 4 1 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 6 1 2 2 1 Maine 2 1 2 1 1 1 33 31 3 90 2 32 2 13 12 8 9 3 3 4 4 1 8 3" 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 21 2 12 26 13 6 9 2 \ 13 1 4 1 1 2 New Jersey 88 12 3 49 1 5 20 7 1 1 13 1 3 2 19 5 1 13 24 2 1 16 10 1 13 3 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 Ohio 2 4 1 .. . 1 1 6 1 6 i .... Pennsylvania 2 1 2 1 Rhode" Island 6 7 13 12 2 7 2" • 1 2 1 Tennessee 3 2 1 3 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 Texas Utah 6 22 1 6 1 4 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 Virginia 3 2 1 21 43 1 6 13 3 8 2 6 1 4 5 3 5 4" 2 1 Wisconsin 2 GENERAL TELEPHONE STATISTICS. 11 The date of the establishment of the systems was given in reply to a direct question, but it is Uable to the uncertainties Referred to in connection with the commercial systems. Accepting the numbers reported for each year as indicating the growth of mutual systems, it appears that between 1881 and 1895, inclusive, there were 37 such systems established, and from 1896 to 1899, inclusive, 212 systems. In 1900 there was a large increase in the m.utual ownership, 181 systems being established. But the great increase began with the present century, 269 mutual systems being established m 1901 and 295 in 1902. In 1902 Iowa— probably one of the first states in which a mutual system was established — had 170 systems, or 17.1 per cent of the total number of these systems; 159, or 93.5 per cent. were established between 1900 and 1902, inclusive. There were no mutual systems rej)orted as in opera- tion during the year covered by this report in Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Indian Territory, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, or Washington. Rural lines. — Table 13 shows approximately the number of rural lines, classified as commercial, mutual, and independent so far as it has been possible to segregate them, and gives the mileage of wire and the number of telephones for each class by geographic divisions. These statistics, except those relating to the independent rural lines, are included in the tables immediately preceding. The subject is more fully considered under "Rural substations" in Chapter VI. Table 13.— NUMBER OF RURAL LINES, CLASSIFIED AS COMMERCIAL, MUTUAL, AND INDEPENDENT RURAL, WITH THE WIRE MILEAGE AND THE NUMBER OF TELEPHONES, BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS: 1902. iniMBEK OF LINES. MILES OF WIRE. NUMBER OF TELEPHONES. DIVISION. Total. Commer- cial. Mutual. 1 Inde- pendent rural. Total. Commer- cial. Mutual. Inde- pendent rural. Total. Commer- eial. Mutual. Inde- pendent rural. United States 21,577 15,598 994 4,985 259,306 138,426 70,915 49,965 266,968 121,905 89,316 55,747 North Atlantic 1,151 1,195 18,069 958 204 947 674 13,186 634 157 119 73 712 69 21 86 448 4,171 255 26 18,069 17,824 205,660 13,889 3,864 14,152 7,629 108,475 6,564 1,606 2,985 4,549 57,837 3,699 1,845 932 5,646 39,348 3,626 413 18,706 11,268 226,606 7,829 2,559 12,499 3,822 100,856 3,546 1,182 4,656 3,995 77,004 2,492 1,169 1,551 3,451 North Central ..: 48,746 South Central 1,791 208 The total number of rural lines in operation in the United States in 1902 was 21,577. Of this number, 15,598, or 72.3 per cent, were owned by commercial systems; 994, or 4.6 per cent, were controlled by the mutual systems; and the remaining 4,985, or 23.1 per cent, were independent farmer or rural lines. More than three-fourths of these lines were in the North Central division, the proportion being 83.7 per cent, and the number, 18,069. This division also contained the greatest number in each class of rural lines, the proportions being as follows: Commercial, 84.5 per cent; independent, 83.7 per cent; and mu- tual, 71.6 per cent. Of the total rural lines in the North Central division, the proportions formed by the various classes were 73 per cent for commercial, 23.1 per cent for independent, and 3.9 per cent for mutual lines. The South Atlantic division ranked second in the number of lines, although its proportion of the total rural lines was only 5.5 per cent. The North At- lantic states ranked third, with 5.3 per cent. Only Delaware, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Utah did not report any line of a purely rural character. No mutual rural systems were re- ported for Arkansas, Indian Territory, Massachu- setts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, or Washington, and no independent rural lines were found in Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachu- setts, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Okla- homa, Rhode Island, or Washington. It is probable that some small systems of this character were in operation in these states and territories, but it was impossible to locate them or obtain any information concerning them. OHAPTEE III. TELEPHONE CAPITALIZATION. Capitalization of incorporated companies. — The cap- italization of incorporated telephone companies is exhibited in Table 14, which shows the amount of capital stock, preferred and common, authorized and outstanding; the amount of dividends paid on each kind of stock; the amount of authorized and out- standing funded debt; and the amount of interest paid thereon during the census year. Table 14. — Capitalization of incorporated companies — all systems: Number of incorporated companies Capital stock and bonds authorized, par value Capital stock and bonds outstanding, par value Capital stock: Total authorized, par value Total outstanding, par value. . . Dividends paid Common- Authorized, par value.. Outstanding, par value. Dividends paid Preferred — Authorized, par value. . Outstanding, par value. Dividends paid Bonds: Authorized, par value Outstanding, par value Interest paid Assessments levied Total. 2,271 $542,633,160 $348,031,058 $384,534,066 $274,049,697 $14,982,719 $373,852,341 $269,180,076 $14,895,857 $10,681,725 $4,869,621 $86,862 $158,099,094 $73,981,361 $3,511,948 $137,536 Commercial. 1,924 $541,080,781 $347,366,793 $382,988,68? $273,388,432 $14,981,649 $372,306,962 $268,518,811 $14,894,787 $10,681,725 $4,869,621 $86,862 $158,092,094 $73,978,361 $3,511,768 Mutual. 347 $1,552,379 $664,265 $1,545,379 $661,265 $1,070 $1,545,379 $661,265 ' $1,070 $7,000 $3,000 $180 $137,536 Of the 4,151 telephone systems included in the re- port, 2,271, or 54.7 per cent, divided into the two classes — commercial and mutual — were operated by incorporated companies. The commercial group was largely predominant, as 1,924, or 84.7 per cent, of the incorporated companies operated commercial systems and only 347, or 15.3 per cent, operated mutual sys- tems. As a number of companies operated in more than one state, and the capitalization of such companies covered their entire equipment, it was, impossible to segregate either the stock or bonds so as to present the figures by states and territories; hence only the totals for the United States are shown. Of the total authorized capitalization, the par value of capital stock constituted 70.9 per cent, and that of bonds or funded debt, 29.1 per cent. At the end of the year covered by the reports 64.1 per cent of the authorized capital had been issued and was out- standing. Of the total par value of capital stock out- standing, common stock represented 98.2 per cent and preferred stock, 1.8 per cent. Of the $14,982,719 reported as paid in dividends, $14,895,857, or 99.4 per cent, was paid on common stock. The par value (12) of all common stock outstanding amounted to $269,- 180,076, and the dividends indicated an average rate of 5.5 per cent. There were, however, 1,627 compa- nies with outstanding common stock of a par value of $46,933,950 that paid no dividend, the dividends being paid by companies with common stock having a par value of $222,246,126; therefore the average rate of dividends was 6.7 per cent. The dividends paid on preferred stock amounted to $86,862, an aver- age of 1.8 per cent on all such stock; but there were 17 companies with outstanding preferred stock of a par value of $461,025 that paid no dividend. The par value of the preferred stock of the companies paying dividends on such stock was $4,408,596, or an average rate of 2 per cent. The majority of the companies charged interest on funded debt outstand- ing as having been paid. The total amount of in- terest was $3,511,948, an average rate of 4.7 per cent. The $137,536 shown as received in assessments was reported by the mutual companies as the araount levied during the year in order to meet current ex- penses and make necessary improvements and exten- sions. Capitalization of commercial systems. — ^The incor- porated commercial telephone systems numbered 1,924, or 60.9 per cent of the total of 3,157 commer- cial systems. Of the total capital outstanding, $273,388,432, or 78.7 per cent, was in stock, and $73,978,361, or 21.3 per cent, was in bonds. The par value of the pre- ferred stock was $4,869,621, or 1.8 per cent of the par value of all the stock outstanding. The par value of both stock and bonds outstanding was 64.2 per cent of the total amount of capital — stock and bonds — authorized. The dividends paid on the common stock amounted to $14,894,787, apparently an average return of 5.5 per cent. This amount, however, was reported by only 636 systems, with a common stock of a par value of $222,228,966, and if it be assumed that dividends were paid by these companies on all the common stock outstanding the average rate becomes 6.7 per cent. It would appear that the capital obligations of the companies were represented largely by the com- mon stock, for the dividends paid on the preferred stock were small, the amount being $86,862, or an apparent average of 1.8 per cent on all such stock. When the preferred stock not paying dividends is eliminated, the par value of that in good standing was only $4,408,596, making an average rate of 2 per TELEPHONE CAPITALIZATION. 13 cent. Therefore a considerable proportion of the capital of commercial incorporated companies was evidently invested in common stock that received a large share of the net income. Gdpitalization of mutual systems. — Of the 994 mu- tual telephone systems, 347, or 34.9 per cent, were selected for purposes of comparison and considered as incorporated companies. As a matter of fact, many of these were associations that had association or scrip stock, but were not necessarily incorporated under state laws. Hence, strictly speaking, they WQre not incorporated companies according to the true definition of such , companies as applied to com- mercial systems, but the tendency of these systems as they grow in magnitude and complexity is dis- tinctly toward full commercial incorporation, and they are of interest from a comparative standpoint. The total value of the outstanding stocks and bonds of the mutual systems was $664,265, or less than one- half of the amount authorized. Of the outstanding capital, only $3,000 was funded debt and all the rest was common stock, there being no preferred stock. Capitalization of Bell and independent systems. — While some of the independent telephone systems, at the time of the compilation of this report, had been consolidated into groups, each under its own central- ized ownership and management, the Bell system was the only one operating throughout the whole country for which authentic figures of capitalization could be presented. The figures of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company are given in Table 15, which shows for each of the allied Bell systems the total par value of the authorized and issued stocks and bonds. In each case, unless otherwise noted, all the stock is common, and the par value is $100. There is a conspicuous absence from the telephone field, as from the telegraph field, of preferred stock as one of the classes of securities. Table 15.— CAPITALIZATION OF THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ITS LICENSEE COMPANIES: 1902. NAME OF COMPANY. State in which operated. CAPITAL STOCK. Authorized. Outstanding. Bonds outstand- ing. Total. American Telephone and Telegraph Company The Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo The Bell Telephone Company of Missouri The Bell Telephone Company of Philadelphia 2 The Delaware and Atlantic Telephone ana Telegraph Company. The Central District and Printing Telegraph Company Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Company Central Union Telephone Company The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company Chicago Telephone Company The City and Suburban Telegraph Association ' The Cleveland Telephone Company The Colorado Telephone Company » The Colorado Telephone and Telegraph Company Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company Duluth Telephone Company 2 East Tennessee Telephone Company The Empire State Telephone and Telegraph Company Freeport Telephone Exchange Company Hudson River Telephone Company Iowa Telephone Company * Knox Telephone and Telegraph Company Michigan Telephone Company The Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company- Nebraska Telephone Company New England Telephone and Telegraph Company New York and Pennsylvania Telephone and Telegraph Company. New York Telephone Company New York and New Jersey Telephone Company Northern Telephone and Telegraph Company Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company 2 Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company The Pennsylvania Telephone Company « Plymouth and Campton Telephone Exchange Company. Providence Telephone Company = Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company Southern Massachusetts Telephone Company Southern New England Telephone Company The Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph Company. White Mountain Telephone Company Wisconsin Telephone Company Vermont Telephone and Telegraph Company New York Missouri and Illinois Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware . Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia New York Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana Maryland, District of Columbia, and West Vir- ginia. lUmois and Indiana Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana Ohio Colorado New Mexico Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, and Alabama. Minnesota and Wisconsin Kentucky and Tennessee New York Illinois New York Iowa and Wisconsin Maine Michigan Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota- Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. New York and Pennsylvania New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut New York and New Jersey New Hampshire Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota . . California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington ... Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Pennsylvania and New Jersey New Hampshire Rhode Island and Massachusetts Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Massachusetts Connecticut Arkansas and Texas New Hampshire and Maine. Wisconsin Vermont $414,432,000 15,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000 200,000 10,000,000 100,000 300,000 250,000 10,000 4,000,000 ' 4,000,000 '250,000 10,000,000 5,000,000 2,000,000 30,000,000 1,000,000 50,000,000 15,000,000 10,000 6,000,000 15,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 12,000 3,000,000 2,600,000 1,000,000 600,000 5,000,000 10,000,000 100,000 5,000,000 50,000 $306,627,501 99,008,572 5,000,000 2,646,980 10,979,700 397,945 8,750,000 961,500 5,450,877 2,650,000 11,993,400 3,638,250 3,100,000 3,400,000 200,000 9,353,650 100,000 300,000 200,000 10,000 3,613,200 = 1,425,000 8 220,000 5,000,000 3,102,000 1,800,000 21,616,700 1,000,000 50,000,000 11,435,160 4,000 4,354,300 11,000,000 3,000,000 2,130,867 12,000 1,600,000 2,200,000 1,000,000 600,000 2,990,000 7,316,000 6,300 3,011,100 50,000 $65,673,272 1 38,000,000 100,000 6,000,000 1,451,000 » 1,149,000 210,000 150,000. 350,000 ■5,694,400 490,000 4,000,000 812,500 1,700,027 1,283,000 2,799,721 593, 124 200,000 790,500 1 Includes $10,000,000 in bonds of American Bell Telephone Company. 2 The par value per share of the stock of this company is $50. 3 Includes $16,000 in bonds issued by Ohio Valley Telephone Company. I The par value per share of the stock of this company is $25. • Includes 82,725,000 of preferred stock. » Includes $160,925 of preferred stock. ' Includes $150,000 of preferred stock. 8 Includes $120,000 of preferred stock. » Includes $594,400 in bonds issued by Detroit Telephone Company. 14 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. The total par value of the outstanding stock of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and its licensee companies was $306,627,501, and the value of the outstanding bonds was $65,673,272, making a total capitalization of $372,300,773. But in order to show the actual investment, the following duplications must be deducted : Total $139,029,837 Stock owned by American Telephone and Telegraph Company in licensee companies 103, 381, 528 Stock owned by licensee companies in other licensee companies 9, 319, 960 Bonds owned by American Telephone and Telegraph Company in licensee companies 2, 141, 000 Stocks and bonds owned by American Telephone and Telegraph Company in other corporations, either foreign corporations or corporations engaged in manufacturing industries not a part of the telephone industry of the United States 24, 187, 349 When $139,029,837 is deducted from $372,300,773, the remainder is $233,270,936, which may be accepted as the capitalization or investment of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company's systems in the telephone industry in this country. The total out- standing capitalization of the independent systems, including cash investments of unincorporated com- panies, amounted to $120,921,421, all of which, so far as is known, was invested in the telephone industry. The total capitalization for the two classes of systems is therefore $354,192,357, of which the American Tele- phone and Telegraph Company's systems contributed 65.9 per cent. Table 16 shows the total capitalization of the Ameri- can Telephone and Telegraph Company's systems and the independent systems. Table 16. — Capitalization of incorporated companies — Bell and inde- pendent systems: 1902. Total. Bell. Independent. Number of incorporated companies.. ■Capital stock and bonds authorized, 2,271 $542,633,160 $348,031,058 S384, 534, 066 $274,049,697 $14,982,719 $373,852,341 $269,180,076 $14,895,857 $10,681,725 $4, 869, 621 $86,862 $158,099,094 $73,981,361 $3,611,948 $137,536 44 $305, 896, 400 $233,270,936 $264,132,000 $198,298,969 $13,714,437 $261,257,000 $198,018,044 $13,711,420 82,875,000 $280,925 $3,017 $41,764,400 $34,971,967 $1,745,334 2,227 $236,736,760 Capital stock and bonds outstanding. $114, 760, 122 Capital stock: Total authorized, par value . . . Total outstanding, par value. $120,402,066 $75,750,728 $1,268,282 Common- Authorized, par value. Outstanding, par value ; . $112,695,341 $71,162,032 Dividends paid Preferred- Authorized, par value. Outstanding, par $1, 184, 437 $7, 806, 726 $4,588,696 Dividends paid Bonds: Authorized, par value Outstanding, par value $83, 845 $116,334,694 $39,009,394 $1,766,614 $137, 536 Assets and liabilities. — The increase in the capitaliza- tion of telephone companies has been very rapid during recent years, but the indications of overcapitaUzation do not appear conspicuously and are hardly likely to do so until part of the modern equipment bought during the earlier independent boom has been retired from use or has undergone reconstruction. It is beyond ques- tion that part of such work was done with light, cheap material, since such material was used to a great ex- tent in the initial Bell telephone construction twenty years ago. While low rates were possible in the Bell systems for a time, the renewal account and the in- creasing burden of capitalization have had their due effect. In order to determine the real assets and liabilities for the 4,151 commercial and mutual companies con- sidered, the entire business of each company had to be taken into account in making up the balance sheet. Table 17 shows the aggregate of the balance sheets for all the companies, together with similar statistics for the commercial and the mutual systems separately. Table 17. — Balance sheet for all systems and for commercial and mutual systems: 1902. Total assets Construction and equipment Telephones Real estate Stocks and bonds of other companies. . Machinery, tools, and supplies Bills and accounts receivable Cash and deposits Sundries Total liabilities Capital stock Bonds , Cash investment, unincorporated com' panics Reserves Bills and accounts payable Dividends unpaid Sundries Surplus $452, 172, 546 349,287,462 17,274,232 22,716,538 9,938,342 9,689,691 30,629,677 12,291,840 344,764 452,172,546 274,049,697 73,981,361 6,161,299 31,029,628 44,302,999 188, 067 1,124,265 21, 335, 230 Commercial, i Mutual. $449, 485, 693 347, 743, 470 16,210,515 22,708,634 9,938,342 9,667,956 30,610,294 12,271,718 344,764 449, 485, 693 273, 388, 432 73,978,361 4, 571, 318 31,029,465 44,223,572 188, 067 834, 661 21,271,917 $2,686,853 1,543,992 1,063,717 7,904 31,735 19,383 661,265 3,000 1,589,981 163 79,427 289, 704 63, 313 The value of the construction and equipment of the telephone systems was $349,287,462, or 77.3 per cent of the total assets. The value of the telephones in use was $17,274,232, or 3.8 per cent. The value of the real estate owned was $22,716,538, or 5 per cent. The stocks and bonds of other corporations held were mventoried at $9,938,342, or 2.2 per cent. The other items, comprising machinery, tools and supplies, bills and accounts receivable, cash on hand and on deposit, and sundries, amounted to $52,955,972, or 11.7 per cent of the total. Of the liabilities, $274,049,697, or 60.7 per cent, rep- resented the capital stock outstanding and $73,981,361, or 16.4 per cent, the outstanding bonds. These two items make a total of $348,031,058. This it may be noted was almost equal to the amount for construction and equipment. To obtain the total value of invest- ments, $6,161,299, the amount of cash investment of unincorporated companies should be added to the outstanding capital. On the other hand, the reserves amounted to $31,029,628 and the surplus to $21,335,230, these two items making a total of $52,364,858, or 11.6 per cent. The unpaid dividends were negligible, being only $188,067, or less than one-tenth of 1 per cent. The liabilities under "sun- dries" amounted to $1,124,265, or two-tenths of 1 per TELEPHONE CAPITALIZATION. 15 cent, and included such items as the value of tele- phones and other apparatus owned by individual sub- scribers, and additional cash investment for incorpo- rated companies showing stock or bonds. This balance sheet shows a large surplus, but in sev- eral individual cases there were not enough assets to offset the liabilities, and an aggregate deficit of $8,160,- 810 was reported by 171 systems. This amount was deducted from the surplus shown by the remaining 3,980 systems, in order to present a true balance sheet for the industry as a whole. The deficit appears to have been occasioned largely by the practice, followed by new companies, pf giving away stock as an induce- ment to the purchasers of their bonds; but it was also due in some instances to rapid depreciation of equipment. Balance sheet for commercial systems. — The total as- sets for the commercial systems were $449,485,693. Of this, the value of the construction and equipment was $347,743,470, or 77.4 per cent; the value of the telephones owned, $16,210,515, or 3.6 per cent; the value of real estate, $22,708,634, or 5.1 per cent; the par value of stocks and bonds of other corporations, $9,938,342, or 2.2 per cent; the value of machinery, tools, and supplies, $9,657,956, or 2.1 per cent; bills and accounts receivable, $30,610,294, or 6.8 per cent; cash and deposits, $12,271,718, or 2.7 per cent; and sundries, $344,764, or one-tenth- of 1 per cent. Of the total liabilities, the par value of the outstand- ing capital stock was $273,388,432, or 60.8 per cent; the par valu^of the outstanding bonds, $73,978,361, or 16.5 per cent; reserves, $31,029,465, or 6.9 per cent; bills and acounts payable, $44,223,572, or 9.8 per cent; unpaid dividends, $188,067, or less than one-tenth of 1 percent; surplus, $21,271,917, or 4.7 per cent; cash investment, $4,571,318, or 1 per cent; and sundries, $834,561, or two-tenths of 1 per cent. Of the commercial systems, 143 reported a deficit amounting to $8,147,938. Accordingly, in order to reach the actual condition of the remaining systems, the surplus shown in the foregoing balance sheet should be increased by that amount. Balance sTieetfor mutual systems. — The construction and equipment of the mutual systems were valued at $1,543,992, or 57.5 per cent of the total assets; and the telephones used, at $1,063,717, or 39.6 per cent. The other items were individually small. Of the liabilities, $1,589,981, or 59.2 per cent, represented the cash in- vestment of 647 unincorporated systems, and $661,265, or 24.6 per cent, was the outstanding stock of the 347 incorporated companies. OHAPTEE IT. REVENUE AND EXPENSES. Revenue. — The total revenue of all telephone sys- tems in 1902, as shown by Table 1, was $86,825,536, while the total operating expenses and fixed charges, exclusive of interest on bonds, was $61,652,823. The interest on bonds amounted to $3,511,948, and the net surplus for the year was $6,678,046. Table 18 presents the revenue and expense totals for the United States in the form of an income account. Table 18. — All systems — income account: 190S. Gross receipts from operation i S81, 599, 769 Operating expenses ; 56, 867, 062 Net earnings from operation 24, 732, 707 ■ Income from otlier sources: Dividends on stock of other companies S268, 044 Lease of Knes, wires, and conduits 1,197,476 Rent from real estate 1, 348, 894 Interest 1,359,963 Miscellaneous 1, 051, 400 5,225,767 Gross income, less operating expenses 29,958,474 Deductions from income: Taxes 2,944,281 Floating dett 1,831,377 Funded debt 3,611,948 Paid for leased lines 10, 103 8,297,709 Net income 21,660,765 Deductions from net income: Dividends on preferred stock 86,862 Dividends on common stock 14, 895, 857 14,982,719 Net surplus for tlie year 6, 678, 046 1 Includes assessments for mutual systems. As will be noted, the revenue of telephone compa- nies is derived almost wholly from operation, the gross receipts from that source being $81,599,769, or 94 per cent, this including, however, assessments for mutual systems. When the whole revenue of $86,825,536 is treated as the measure of earning capac- ity, the yearly average income was $37.50 per tele- phone and 1.7 cents per talk or message. The average income per telephone is much more definite and accu- rate than that for messages, since every company knows the number of its telephones in use, while the amount of traffic is entirely a matter of estimate, except where the business is on the measured rate footing. When a telephone is installed on a flat rate basis, few subscribers refuse to let their friends use it ; whereas, if the instrument is installed on a measured rate basis, its use is much less freely granted. The total operating expenses amounted to $56,- 867,062, without the fixed charges and dividends: therefore the average annual expense per telephone was $24.56. Operating expenses. — Table 19 is an analysis of the operating expenses for all systems. (16) Table 19. — AU systems — urudysis of operaiing expenses: 190^. Total $56,867,062 General operation and maintenance, including legal expenses 49, Salaries of general and other ofSoers 5, Salaries of clerks, etc *i Wages 2b, Maintenance and legal expenses .- 13, Rentals arid royalties on instruments and apparatus 2, Rentals of offices and other real estate 2, Rentals of conduits and underground privileges Telephone traffic paid or due other companies Miscellaneous 587,964 249,890 636,996 369,735 332,343 837,013 498,814 681,727 442,260 819,284 From Table 19 it appears that wages alone formed nearly one-half of the total operating expenses, and that salaries and wages combined amounted to not less than $36,255,621, or 63.8 per cent of the total. This seems a large percentage in view of the fact that the work of young women and girls is so considerable a factor in all telephonic intercommunication. The next largest item — $13,332,343, or 23.4 per cent — is that for maintenance and legal expenses, including all expenses for repairs, renewals, and outlays incident to franchises, rights of way, etc. — a rather incongru- ous grouping for what was essentially engineering work, but it was not possible to differentiate the items more fully. It. should be added that the legal expenses were largely made up of "personal injury" cases, due to claims for death or shock from contact with the telephone circuits, and other damage suits of the same character. Outlay for new construction. — The companies were requested to give separate answers as to new construc- tion during the period of twelve months reported upon, these answers being designed to include the cost of lines, real estate, equipment, etc., added during the year, whether by construction or by acquisition through purchase. It was difficult to make and pre- serve the distinction between renewals and entirely new constructive additions to the physical property. It is quite probable that in some instances the reported figures for new construction contain some statistics for outlay on mere repairs and renewals, and in other instances the totals reported for "maintenance and legal expenses" include some amounts expended for new construction. The uncertainty as to the division of expenses between these two items was especially apt to occur in cases when wire was given out in bulk for both repairs and extensions and when new poles were set on old lines. On the whole, however, a fair ap- proximation to the facts is presented in Table 20, which gives the total reported cost of new construction, by states and territories. REVENUE AND EXPENSES. 17 Table 20. — AB systems — cost of additional construction, hy states and territories: 1902. STATE Oa TERRITORY. Total. STATE OR TERRITORY. Total. United States $51,903,021 $2, 501, 924 170,706 564,456 16,840 54, 742 2,153,816 18,892 7,566,365 373, 580 71,441 571,801 66,484 172,636 1,779,896 951,369 567,996 264,295 205,761 874,836 108,657 4,472,060 68,927 1,780,942 1,841,288 625,406 1,279,203 450,660 116,266 1,204,109 2,136,437 1,399,746 1,639,824 328,960 Arizona California Colorado New Mexico Delaware North Carolina Florida Georgia Ohio . 2,929,774 363,415 249,426 6,114,696 419,546 143, 891 856,643 1,232,438 303, 945 Idaho Illinois Oregon Indiana South Carolina Kansas Tennessee I^ouisiana Utah 63,120 Maryland * Virginia 780, 328 774,230 West Virginia 298, 414 MiTlTlpsntn. 832, 618 250,216 1 Includes District of Columbia. 2 Includes Rhode Island and Wyoming. In spite of the large maintenance account noted, in- creased, however, by an indeterminate amount of le- gal expenses, the surprisingly large sum of $51,903,021 ■was reported as the cost of construction during the cen- sus year 1902. If this rate of growth should continue, the investment values in the telephone industry will have more than doubled by 1912. The outlays for new construction were largest in the most populous states, the amounts and proportions being as follows: New York, $7,566,365, or 14.6 per cent; Pennsylvania, 56,114,696, or 11.8 per cent; and Illinois, $4,472,060, or 8.6 per cent. There is a probability that the cost of real estate constituted a larger proportion of the outlay in 1902 than in earlier years. The practice is growing for telephone companies to purchase real estate and erect appropriate buildings thereon, thus creating an invest- ment and lessening the amount paid out yearly for rent, the practice formerly having been to hire one or two top floors and adapt them to exchange purposes. Thus Table 19 shows an annual payment of $2,498,814 for rent of ofiices and real estate, while Table 1 shows $22,716,538 as the value of the real estate owned by the 4,151 telephone systems. It-is indisputable that this real estate item is growing rapidly, and it is Kkely, therefore, that rent will not increase seriously as an item of operating expense. Some of the newer tele- phone exchanges in large cities are handsome buildings, with very desirable rooms as general offices on the floors not occupied by the exchanges, switchboards, etc. In Table 18 an item of $1,348,894 is reported as rent from real estate. Division of net earnings. — The difference between the gross receipts from operation, $81,599,769, and the operating expenses, $56,867,062, gives $24,732,707 as the net earnings from telephone service proper. These earnings were increased by $5,225,767, the income from other sources. Of this total, $8,297,709 was used to defray the fixed charges, which included taxes, interest on funded and floating debt, and payments for leased lines. These fixed charges amounted to 12.7 per cent of the aggregate expenses, less dividends, as shown YD. Table 44. When the fixed charges were deducted from the previous net income, a new net income of $21,660,765 remained, this being an average of $9.36 per telephone. Of this total, $14,982,719 was expended in dividends and $6,678,046 was reserved as net surplus. The divi- dends paid amounted to 17.3 per cent and the surplus, to 7.7 per cent of the gross revenue. As the capital stock reported was valued at $274,049,697, it would appear that the dividends represented a return of nearly 5.5 per cent. When the company was pros- perous, the return to the investor would frequently be better than this, especially in the instances in which the stock was not fully paid or had been issued in part as a bonus with the bonds. As a matter of fact there were 130 systems that operated at a loss during the year covered by the report, their deficit amounting to $473,419. The net surplus, therefore, of the 4,021 profitable systems was that much more than the total reported for the whole country, or $7,151,465. The general reservation for depreciation and reserve appears to be inadequate, especially in view of the necessity for frequent and entire reconstruction of lines and exchanges, on account of the growth of the industry and the changes in the methods of operation. Some light was thrown upon this point by the report of the Merchants' Asso- ciation of New York concerning telephone rates in that city. In that report, presented in June, 1905, the case is cited of a company in Baltimore, Md., where the entire original plant, after being in service but five years, was disposed of as junk and $2,155,000 was spent in its replacement. As to New York city it was stated : In the New York telephone system improvements and changes have succeeded one another at close intervals durii^ the entire period in which the business of exchange telephone service has existed. During the sixteen years which the committee's investigation covers, the plant had been practically rebuilt three times. At various times radical improvements have been made in cables and in switchboard systems, which have involved the abandonment of plant by no means unserv- iceable because of its physical condition, and its replacement by plant of an improved character. Some of the central stations have been rebuilt three times within a little over ten years. These changes are not peculiar to New York, and if regarded as occurring all over the country, it would seem that the percentages of dividend payments and of reserve might well be reversed. The committee of the Merchants' Association gave its opinion as follows : To provide a fair return of^capital actually and necessarily invested, and a proper allowance for contingencies, 10 per cent margin above operating outlays is a reasonable and proper margin in the telephone business. 18 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Returns for BeU systems. — ^The returns made for the 43 licensee companies of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company showed an expenditure of $2,631,400, or 92.8 per cent of the $2,837,013 reported in Table 19, as rentals and royalties paid for instru- ments and apparatus. The telephones used by the Bell licensee companies and their subscribers are the property of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, which furnishes to such licensees its standard instruments, renewing them without expense to the operating company and replacing them with improved instruments from time to time. The in- come of the parent company from this source is in-cluded in the gross receipts from operation. The remaining items shown in Table 19 were common to the operation of all telephone systems. The licensing or hiring of telephonic apparatus on a rental basis is peculiar to the Bell system, and is not practiced among the independent companies, all of which are understood to have bought their apparatus outright; so that, unless there is an agreement to exchange old appa- ratus for new, the acquisition of improved appliances involves fresh outlay on the part of the local exchange system. The capitalization of the Bell system is reported in Table 16, where the total stock issued is given as $198,298,969, and the dividends paid as $13,714,437, or 6.9 per cent. This table shows also that the stock of the independent companies was outstanding to the amount of $76,750,728, and on this stock the payment of dividends was at the rate of 1.7 per cent. It should be borne in mind that the Bell system as a whole has been in existence over twenty years, while the inde- pendent conipanies are still in a general way in the initial period. Another reason for the discrepancy in apparent earning power is the fact that the Bell exchanges have had the advantage, having naturally occupied at the outset the larger centers of population. Revenue and expenses of large systems. — The concen- tration of the telephone industry in the larger centers of population is strikingly indicated by Table 21. Table 21. — Revenue and expenses ofaU systems and of systems having 1,000 telephones and over: 1908. Number of systems Number of telephones Gross receipts from operation Income from other sources Operating expenses Fixed charges Dividends paid Net surplus All systems. 4,151 2,315,297 $81,599,769 $5,225,767 $56,867,062 $8,297,709 $14,982,719 $6,678,046 Systems having 1,000 telephones and over. Per cent of all 194 1,679,199 $71,374,134 $5,193,807 $50,806,748 $7,562,950 $14,357,918 $3,840,326 4.7 72.5 87.5 99.4 89.3 91.1 95.8 67.5 In 1902 only 194 systems had 1,000 or more tele- phones ; yet these few systems were serving somewhat more than half the population of the country. They had 1,679,199 sets of instruments, the average being no fewer than 8,656 telephones per system. Of course the average per system would be lower if the 12 leading cities were excluded, as the average for them was 31,450 telephones, while for the remaining 182 systems it was 7,207 telephones. Although these 194 systems constituted only 4.7 per cent of all telephone systems, they operated 72.5 per cent of the telephones shown for all systems. The gross receipts from operation for these systems aggre- gated $71,374,134, or 87.5 per cent of the total for the United States. Their income from other sources was $5,193,807, or 99.4 per cent of the amount of such rev- enue. Their operating expenses were $50,806,748, and their fixed charges, $7,562,950 — 89.3 per cent and 91.1 per cent of the respective totals. The dividends paid by these systems amounted to $14,357,918, or 95.8 per cent of the dividends paid by all systems. The surplus for the year reported by these large sys- tems was $3,840,325, or 57.5 per cent of the net sur- plus of all telephone systems. Eleven of these 194 systems operated at a loss during the year covered by this report, the total deficit amounting to $217,527; hence the actual surplus for the 183 earning companies was $4,057,852. In the case of all but 2 of the 11 companies operating at a loss the deficit was due to the high fiixed charges ; with the 2 it was caused by the payment of a higher rate of dividend than the yearly net income warranted. The fact that so small a pro- portion of the companies controlled so great a percent- age of the telephone business of the country shows the strong tendency toward concentration. Revenue and expenses, hy states. — Table 44 gives the details of revenue and expenses by states and terri- tories. As will be seen. New York state was by far the most productive as to revenue, having $16,352,193, or 18.8 per cent of the total, while the operating expenses and fixed charges were large, amounting to $10,933,934, or 16.7 per cent of the aggregate. Next in magnitude was Pennsylvania, with a revenue of $8,083,896 and expenses and fixed charges amounting to $6,315,052; Illinois ranked third, with $7,308,885 and $5,537,793 as the corresponding totals. The totals for Ohio and Massachusetts were similar, the former having a rev- enue of $6,192,640 and operating expenses and fixed charges of $4,815,675, and the latter having a revenue of $6,127,452 and corresponding expenses amounting to $4,810,043. California stood high in the list, with a revenue of $4,091,076 and operating expenses and fixed charges of $3,430,662. These six states accounted for $48,156,142, or more than half of the revenue, and $35,843,159, or more than half of the expenses. Large amounts were reported also for the following states: Missouri, $2,970,597 and $2,114,071; Indiana, $2,816,509 and $2,164,064; Texas, $2,485,925 and $1,804,324; and Michigan, $2,444,051 and $2,208,955, the totals being respectively for revenue and expenses REVENUE AND EXPENSES. 19 including operating expenses and fixed charges. Al- though Iowa had the largest number of systems, 411, her totals are well down the list, being $1,962,362 for revenue and $1,401,824 for operating expenses and fixed charges — a sharp contrast with Massachusetts, which reported only 10 systems as doing its vast telephone business. The conditions with regard to revenue and expenses prevailing in the different states can also be ascer- tained from Table 44. For instance, the total amount of revenue derived from dividends on stock held as investment Ivas $268,044, of which $221,810, or 82.8 per cent, was reported for New York state. The revenue derived from leasing lines, wires, and conduits to other telephone systems and to outside parties amounted to $1,197,476. Of this amount, the group of adjoining states comprising Massachusetts, ' Con- necticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois reported $l,072,647,or 89.6 per cent, Pennsylvania alone contributing $284,332, or 23.7 per cent. Nineteen of the states and territories reported no revenue from this source. Of the ' $1,348,894 derived from real estate rentals, $545,159, or 40.4 per cent, was reported for New York. All the states and territories except New Mexico contributed to the total for this item of revenue. Interest on investments in other companies amounted to $1,359,953, of which $402,155, or 29.6 per cent, was ■ reported from New York state. For both interest and "miscellaneous" Indian Territory alone shows no .. revenue. Revenue and expenses of commercial systems. — Table 49 shows, by states and territories, a detailed revenue and expense account for commercial systems. Table 22 summarizes the totals in the form of an income account. Table 22. — Commercial systems — income account: 1902. Gross receipts from operation S81, 296, 444 Operating expenses 56, 591, 746 Net earnings irom operation 24, 704, 698 Income from other sources: Dividends on stock of other companies $268, 044 l,ease of lines, wires, and conduits 1, 197, 476 ■ Eent from real estate 1, 348, 894 Interest 1,359,953 Miscellaneous 1,061,400 5,225,767 Gross income less operating expenses 29,930,465 Deductions from income: „„,„,„„ Taxes 2,940,430 T Tl t G TG S t ^"^ Floating debt l'???'2Ii Funded debt 3,511,768 Paid for leased lines "'"°^ Net income 21,639,441 Deductions from net income: Dividends on preferred stock o 'Siv Dividends on common stock 14,894,787 14,9o1,d49 Net surplus for the year S, 657, 792 The total revenue derived by commercial telephone systems from all sources was $86,522,211, or an aver- age of $38.87 per telephone. Of this amount, $81,296,- 444, or 94 per cent, was realized from the actual oper- ation of the commercial telephone systems. The net income was $21,639,441, or an average of $9.72 per telephone, which average was, therefore, somewhat higher than the average of $9.36 for all systems. The total operating expenses amounted to $56,591,- 746, or $25.42 per telephone. The fixed char^fes and dividends deducted from gross receipts anlourited to $23,272,673, or $10.46 per telephone. ' Hencei the total net surplus, after deducting charges of all kinds, was $6,657,792, an average per telephone of $2.99, as compared with $2.88 for all systetos. Table 23 is an analysis of the operating expenses of commercial systems. Table 23. — Commercial systems — analysis of operating expenses: 1902. Total $56,591,746 General operation and maintenance, including legal expenses 49, 332, 620 Salaries of general and other officers 5,236,323 Salaries of clerks, etc 4,635,273 Wages 26,206,065 Maintenance, and legal expenses 13, 254, 959 Rentals and royalties on instruments and apparatus 2, 832, 361 Rentals of offices and other real estate 2,492,676 Rentals of conduits and underground privileges 681,727 Telephone traffic paid or due other companies 436, 666 Miscellaneous 815, 696 Of the operating expenses of conamercial companies, salaries and wages together constituted $36,077,661, or 63.8 per cent; maintenance and legal expenses, $13,254,959, or 23.4 per cent; rentals and royalties on instruments and apparatus, $2,832,361, or 5 per cent; rentals of offices and other real estate, $2,492,676, or 4.4 per cent; miscellaneous items, $815,696, or 1.4 per cent; rentals of conduits and underground privileges, $681,727, or 1.2 per cent; and the amount paid or due other companies for telephone traffic, $436,666, or eight-tenths of 1 per cent. Revenue and expenses of mutual systems. — ^There were, all told, 994 mutual telephone systems, and for these Table 51 shows a detailed revenue and expense account, by states and territories. In Table 24 the totals are summarized in the form of an income account. Table 24. — Mutual systems — income account: 1902. Gross receipts from operation $165, 789 Operating expenses ". '. . . . 275, 316 Deficit from operation 109, 527 Assessments 137, 536 Gross income less operating expenses 28,009 Deductions from income; Taxes $3,851 Interest — Floating debt : 2, 303 Funded debt 180 Paid for leased lines 351 6,685 Net income 21, 324 Dividends on common stock 1, 070 Net surplus for the year 20, 264 The actual revenue derived by mutual systems from operation was $165,789, and the operating expenses amounted to $275,316, causing an operating deficit of $109,527. The gross receipts from operation averaged 20 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. $1.86 per mutual telephone, while the operating ex- penses averaged $3.08; the operating deficit, there- fore, was $1.22 per telephone. In addition to the operating deficit, the fixed charges were $6,685, mak- ing a total deficit of $116,212, which was covered by assessment. The assessments amounted to $137,536, or 45.3 per cent of the total revenue, and, after the de- duction of the $1,070 paid in dividends by the 7 com- panies declaring dividends, a net surplus of $20,254 was left. In only 19 of the 30 states and territories reporting three or more systems did the actual revenue exceed the assessments, and in only 1 state, Maryland, was there no assessment. The 3 mutual systems in North Dakota were supported entirely by assessment. The operating expenses of the mutual systems are segregated in Table 25. Table 25. — Mutual systems — analysis of operating expenses: 1903. Total 8275,316 General operation and maintenance, including legal expenses 255, 344 Salaries of general and other officers 13, 567 Salaries of clerks, etc 723 Wages 163,670 Maintenance and legal expenses ^^' e„ Rentals and royalties on instruments and apparatus 4, 652 Rentals of offices and other real estate 6,138 Telephone traffic paid or due other companies 5,594 Miscellaneous ^' °°° Of the operating expenses for mutual systems, sal- aries and wages together amounted to $177,960, or 64.7 per cent; maintenance and legal expenses to $77,384, or 28.1 per cent; rentals of offices and other real estate to $6,138, or 2.2 per cent; the amount paid or due other companies for telephone traffic to $5,594, or 2 per cent; rentals and royalties on instruments and apparatus to $4,652, or 1.7 per cent; and miscel- laneous items to $3,588, or 1.3 per cent. CHAPTEE, Y. TELEPHONE TEAFFIC. Nature of traffic. — In telegraphic and telephonic parlance the word "traffic" is used to designate the amount of business, or number of messages. Each mejsage that a subscriber sends is usually termed an originating call. When a message passes over a trunk line connecting two exchanges in a single system, it is termed a trunk call. The functions of the oper- ator are usually as follows: When the subscriber turns the handle of the magneto generator in his telephone set or lifts the receiver from the hook, a signal is displayed at the end of the subscriber's line in the switchboard in front of an operator, usually termed an "A" operator. The operator on observing this signal picks up a brass plug attached to a flexible cord and inserts the plug into a spring jack, which forms the end of the subscriber's line in the face of the switchboard. The jack and plug are so con- structed that when the plug is inserted the conductors of the subscriber's line make contact with correspond- ing conductors in the attached cord. The operator by pressing a key connects a receiver strapped upon her ear and a transmitter suspended in front of her to the cord, and then communicates with the sub- scriber by pronouncing the familiar phrase, "Num- ber, please," or an equivalent request. In response the subscriber designates the desired correspondent by giving first the name of the office or exchange in which the subscriber's line is located, and then the number. The simplest case occurs when the wire of the sub- scriber called for runs into the same exchange as the wire of the one calling. Then the operator picks up a second plug connected to the one already inserted in the calling subscriber's jack, and makes a test to ascertain whether or not the line called for is engaged for other conversation, by touching the tip of the plug to the spring jack of the desired line. In case the line is engaged, this action causes the operator's receiver to emit a sharp click, while if the line is free no such sound is produced. In case the line is busy, the operator so informs the subscriber; if it is found disengaged, she inserts the plug into the spring jack, thus joining the two interlocutors, and rings the second subscriber by pressing a key which makes con- nection with a small dynamo machine that furnishes ringing current over the line of the subscriber to be called. If the desired subscriber is not located in the same central office or exchange, the operator must transfer the call to another office. This is done by pro- viding between the offices pairs of wires, usually called order wires. The A operator presses a key which connects her telephone to an order wire leading to the receiver at the ear of an incoming trunk operator (B operator) in the office desired, and pronounces the number of the subscriber to be called. In reply, the B operator in the other office pronounces a number back to the A operator over the order wire; this num- ber is the designation of the trunk line that the A operator is to use. The A operator inserts the plug in a jack connected to this trunk line. This completes the work of the A operator. The B operator, upon the reception of the order given by the A operator, selects a plug connected by a cord to the trunk line that has been designated, and tests the jack of the subscriber to be called. If it is disengaged, she inserts the plug into the jack and rings. Connected with the cords used to join subscribers for conversation are clearing-out signals, whose object is to notify the operators as soon as the subscribers have finished with the line. When the operators notice the display of the disconnect signals, they remove the plugs from the spring jacks, leaving the lines free again. Definition of message. — Messages are defined as being local, long distance, or toll. A local message is usually one that is conveyed within the city in which the call- ing subscribers are located. A toll message is a mes- sage traveling between two public exchanges that belong to the same system, but are, as a rule, located in different towns. A long distance message is one that passes between the exchanges of two different systems. These definitions fail to recognize the fact that dif- ferent telephone systems handle these classes of con- nections in various ways, but the classffication of the individual system making the report has been accepted. Traffic statistics. — In considering traffic statistics it must be remembered that the quantity of traffic is very largely estimated and in the nature of things can not be exact. It has become a custom with most of the telephone companies to make an actual count of the messages handled by each of the offices during a period of twenty-four hours once each month. The probable yearly business is computed from the statis- tics thus obtained by multiplying the average of the 18407—06- (21) 22 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. various monthly counts by the number of days in the year after a proper allowance has been made for holi- days. As some companies do not make such traffic investigations, or fail to report them, it seems probable that the number of messages indicated in the pre- ceding tables is slightly underestimated. For continental United States in 1902, Table 5 shows a total of 5,070,554,553 messages or talks, which makes an average of 2,190 messages per telephone. These statistics do not include any of the traffic over the 4,985 independent farmer or rural lines, since no records of traffic were kept for these circuits and con- sequently a mere guess would be the only means of estimating the business they transact. This table shows that the local messages formed 97.6 per cent, and the long distance and toll messages 2.4 per cent, of the total messages; that the commer- cial messages and the mutual messages were 98 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively, of the total mes- sages; and that the commercial and mutual long dis- tance ^nd toll messages were 99.4 per cent and six- tenths of 1 per cent, respectively, of the total toll and long distance messages. In other words, the mutual business amounted to about 2 per cent of the total telephone business of the country, and apparently was of correspondingly small importance. It should be remembered, however, that the mutual telephone lines serve communities in which the business is insuf- ficient to cause the investment of capital in large exchanges, and which, if it were not for this means of communication, would be more or less isolated. It is common for the mutual lines to secure some connection with the larger commercial systems, thus keeping the communities in which they are located in a much closer touch with the rest of the country than would otherwise be possible; hence they produce a certain psychological effect of far greater value than can be represented by the mere dollars and cents paid for the traffic that they handle. The 9 systems in Alaska, the Philippines, and Hawaii reported 3,887,925 messages. Distribution of teleplione stations. — The kind of tele- phone facilities offered has a bearing on the traffic, because "facilities breed traffic." Thus the "party line," used in common by several subscribers, by plac- ing a telephone service at a moderate price within the reach of the small user, has secured a large traffic that would otherwise be lost. Similarly the handiness of public pay stations presents a temptation to use the telephone that is certainly hard to resist. Table 26, which shows by geographic divisions the distribution of public stations and single and party lines, indicates that the great traffic of some divisions is the result of the inducements offered; Table 26. — AU systems — average population per telephone station, hy geographic divisions: 190S. Estimated population. AVERAGE POPULATION PEE— DIVISION. Public station. Single cir- cuit and private branch ex- change station or telephone. Party line sta- tion or tele- phone. United States 78,576,436 972 59 89 21,778,196 10,770,414 27,087,206 14,651,535 4,289,085 448 1,451 1,111 2,044 1,191 83 110 37 88 57 65 285 North Central.. 82 South Central 285 33 There was a public or pay station for every 972 persons in the United States, while for every 59 per- sons there was a private telephone, either on a single circuit or in a private branch exchange, and for every 89 persons there was a telephone on a party line. In the North Atlantic division the number of pay stations in proportion to the population was nearly twice as great as the corresponding number for the whole United States, and considerably more than twice as great as that for any other division. The- greatest development is shown for the party line stations in the Western division, where there was one such station for every 33 inhabitants. The North Atlantic divi- sion ranked second with one party line station for 65 inhabitants, while in the South Atlantic and South Central divisions there was only one party line sta- tion for every 285 inhabitants. Traffic, hy geographic divisions. — The North Central division reported the greatest population, or 34.5 per cent of the whole; the largest number of telephones, or 47.1 per cent of the total number; and the most mes- sages, or 48.3 per cent of the entire traffic of conti- nental United States. In this division the proportion of 25 people per telephone was next to the lowest, the Western division showing only 21; the messages per capita were the greatest, being 90; and the messages per telephone were third in rank, numbering 2,242, while the South Central division reported 3,015 and the South Atlantic 2,467. The Western division showed actually and relatively less population and less traffic than any other. The relation between the traffic of the commercial and mutual systems by geographic divisions is shown in Table 27. TELEPHONE TRAFFIC. 23 Table 27. — Messages — commercial and mutual systems, hy geographic divisions: 1902. DIVISION. MUMBEK OF MESSAGES. Total. Commercial. Mutual. United States 5,070,554,553 4,971,413,070 99,141,483 North Atlantic 1,208,179,198 353,559,870 2,446,257,875 681,497,626 381,059,984 1,203,979,018 349,373,521 2,361,506,911 677,517,694 379,035,926 4,200,180 South Atlantic North Central 84,760,964 3,979,932 2,024,058 South Central While the North Central division returned the great- est number of both commercial and mutual messages, giving 2,361,506,911 for the one and 84,750,964 for the other, it is noticeable that the commercial messages were about twice as many as were reported for the North Atlantic division, which ranked second, while the mutual messages were twenty times as many as were, reported for any other division. In fact, the North Central division returned about six times as many mutual messages as all other divisions put together. The greatest average number, 3,031, of commercial messages per telephone was reported for the South Central division; the least, 1,840, is shown for the Western. The North Atlantic averaged 1,872, the South Atlantic, 2,508, and the North Central, 2,329. The mutual systems reported 99,141,483 messages, but it is probable that the returns for these systems are much less reliable than those for the commercial ones, since few counts of messages are made by the mutual systems and it is difl&cult for them to make accurate estimates when little or no revenue is derived from the use of the line. The average number of mes- sages per telephone was 1,1 JO for the year, or over three per day for a year of 325 working days. On the same basis the average number of talks per telephone per day for all systems in the United States was nearly seven, or about twice, as great as the average for the mutual systems. But since most of the mutual sys- tems are open for only a few hours on Sundays and holidays, and only an hour or two each night, while most of the commercial systems are open all the time, it is unfair to compute daily averages for the two classes of systems on the same basis. A year of 300 working days may be taken as a more just one for mutual systems, and using this, the average number of messages per telephone per day was nearly four. The diffusion of telephonic facilities is one measure of the popularity of the service. This is indicated by population per telephone and also by messages per capita. Yet neither of these reflects the importance of the traffic, for one message from New York to Chi- cago may be of more value, cost more, and involve greater consequences than a thousand sent within the limits of a small town. Table 28 shows the distribution, by geographic divi- sions, of local and of long distance and toll business. Table 28. — All systems — average number of local 'and of long distance and: toU messages per telephone, by geographic divisions: 1902. f Stations or tele- phones of all kinds. NTJMBEK OF MESSAGES PER TELEPHONE. DIVISION. Total. Local. Long distance and toll. United States 2,315,297 2,190 2,138 52 North Atlantic 647,670 143,314 1,091,168 226,999 207,146 1,865 2,467 2,242 3,016 1,840 1,773 2,430 2,206 2,969 1,810 92 37 North Central - . 36 South Central 46 30 The least number of local messages per telephone — 1,773 — and the greatest number of toll and long dis- tance messages — 92 — were reported for the North Atlantic division. The number of toll and long dis- tance calls for this division was double that for any other division and almost double the number for the whole United States. This is due partly to the con- centration of business on the North Atlantic seaboard. Traffic, iy sthtes and territories. — A more detailed an- alysis by states and territories of the total messages and the proportion of local and of toll and long dis- tance business will be found in Table 43. From this table it is seen that in the total number of messages, Ohio led with 558,707,801; Illinois was next, with 541,161,932; while Nevada was last, with 1,409,134. In long distance and toll traffic Pennsylvania was first, with 20,409,621 messages; New York a close second, with 20,367,024; while Nevada was last, with 46,052. The greatest number of local messages, 547,238,743, was reported for Ohio, and the next largest, 535,744,349, for Illinois. Traffic of commercial and mutual systems. — Tables 29 and 30 show, by states and territories, the amount of traffic for commercial systems and mutual systems separately. / 24 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 29.— COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS— ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL EQUIPMENT AND MESSAGES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. STATE OB TEEEITOBY. United States. Alabama ^ Arizona! Arkansas i California Colorado Connecticut Delaware 1 Floridai Georgia Idaho 1 Illinois Indian Territory Indiana! Iowa Kansas i Kentucky i Louisiana i Maine Maryland 2 Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi i Missouri Montana* Nebraska Nevadai New Hampshire New Jersey i New Mexico i New York North Carolinai North Dakota i Ohio Oklahoma 1 Oregon! Pennsylvania ^ South Carolina '..-.. South Dakota 1 Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia i Washington i West Virginia ' Wisconsin All other states ' Number ol systems. 3,157 43 10 76 12 10 5 3 23 72 6 243 37 261 241 161 84 14 23 16 10 77 120 32 227 4 16 28 12 179 71 29 236 23 16 77 36 47 30 157 6 31 65 4 62 140 3 Number ol stations or telephones, 2,225,981 13,968 3,187 16,892 106,181 24,505 22,449 4,293 8,172 25,380 3,802 194,356 5,331 122,799 98,662 40,317 45,195 17,602 13,939 32,038 96,512 90,591 59,871 15,031 82,409 5,390 34,509 1,143 9,949 48,980 2,481 243,166 15,871 6,691 216,731 10,335 20,616 185,089 10,283 10,046 35,007 64,246 5,734 11,939 21,789 31,447 21,493 67,182 12,482 MILES OF WIBE. Total. 4,779,671 32,658 3,842 24,190 143,469 52,045 56,171 10,690 16,468 53,512 6,231 407,357 6,227 200,379 121,861 51, 699 153,278 49,359 25,358 97,056 267,461 194,186 134,657 29,383 168,724 8,397 51,055 1,220 18,390 136,617 621,315 24,047 9,492 611,118 16,136 29,058 500,219 18,288 10,560 84,512 140,005 9,866 16,257 42,454 43,027 56,322 106,273 37,620 Per system 1,514 767 384 318 11,956 5,205 11,234 3,663 716 743 1,039 1,676 141 768 505 321 1,825 3,626 1,103 6,066 25,746 2,522 1,121 318 203 1,149 4,879 274 3,471 339 , 327 2,166 702 1,816 6,496 508 226 2,817 1,973 524 653 10,757 892 759 12,540 Per sta- tion. 2.15 2.33 1.21 1.43 1.35 2.12 2.50 2.49 2.01 2.11 1.64 2.10 .98 1.63 1.24 1.28 3.39 2.82 1.82 3.03 2.67 2.14 2.25 1.96 1.93 1.66 1.48 1.07 1.85 2.79 1.32 2.56 1.52 1.42 2.36 1.56 1.41 2.70 1.78 1.05 2.41 2.18 1.72 1.36 1.95 1.37 2.57 1.86 3.01 PARTY LINES. Number 248,908 1,329 295 19,662 19,635 4,266 4,456 947 411 2,396 456 20,660 43 7,787 4,932 1,292 4,264 2,543 2,349 5,427 15,034 4,983 7,175 1,457 4,615 956 2,904 205 1,648 7,618 54 27,316 559 847 18,467 22 3,426 36,016 576 1,063 3,320 4,911 979 2,039 1,610 5,910 1,677 7,737 1,766 Stations. 808,571 3,022 1,136 1,617 66,702 16,303 18,615 2,117 943 5,618 1,615 66,475 113 31,087 17,649 4,383 11,118 6,958 11,493 12,214 69,922 13,208 17,181 3,730 15,911 3,169 10,589 803 7,446 28,236 177 86,200 1,544 1,701 60,541 12,229 95,223 1,582 2,768 8,648 14,211 4,132 8,896 3,905 20,543 6,254 23,466 7,113 Sta- tions per line. 3.3 3.9 2.5 3.4 3.8 4.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 3.2 2.6 4.0 3.6 3.4 2.6 2.7 4.9 2.3 4.7 - 2.7 2.4 2.6 3.5 3.3 3.7 3.9 4.6 3.7 3.3 3.7 2.8 2.0 3.3 3.0 3.6 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.9 4.2 4.4 2.4 3.5 4.0 3.0 4.1 SWITCH- BO AEDS. Num- ber. 9,954 70 29 126 372 96 45 21 39 118 33 782 55 538 561 258 197 62 112 90 235 479 274 94 387 32 199 10 87 249 12 124 47 796 76 114 105 151 346 22 103 124 140 163 304 36 Sta- tions per board. 199 110 135 285 256 499 204 210 216 116 249 97 228 176 166 229 282 124 356 411 189 219 160 213 168 173 114 114 197 207 352 128 142 272 136 191 215 116 186 261 116 176 225 132 188 347 NUMBEE OF MESSAGES OB TALKS. Long distance and toll. Local. Total. 119,996,531 491,059 67,833 774,946 2,407,043 1,531,309 1,516,677 176,564 165,686 576,818 228,546 6,365,721 223,848 4,001,492 3,142,086 1,047,185 1,275,009 475,607 895,025 1,284,094 9,814,424 3,746,682 2,627,645 611,405 2,871,444 246,747 1,210,179 44,792 764,204 4,783,047 36,260 20,341,663 , 441,901 ^ 361,547 11,421,367 459,976 523,403 20,382,847 385,633 641,932 1,062,801 5,210,998 277,762 534,483 748,318 756,100 1,420,323 2,552,297 394,013 Per station per year (325 53.9 35.1 21.3 45.9 22.7 62.5 67.5 41.1 20.3 22.7 60.1 27.6 42.0 32.6 31.8 26.0 28.2 27.2 64.2 40.1 101.7 41.3 42.2 34.0 34.8 45.8 35.1 39.2 76.8 97.7 14.6 83.7 27.8 62.5 62.7 44.5 25.4 110.1 37.6 53.9 30.4 81.1 48.4 44.8 34.3 24.0 66.1 44.6 31.6 Total. 4,851,416,639 45,568,699 4,884,894 35,941,937 175,043,649 58,706,204 34,381,525 8,786,328 18,668,341 95,503,748 6,171,216 510,859,240 8,114,111 281,296,040 169,636,333 57,126,113 140,554,810 67,601,308 20,912,890 60,676,787 173,300,896 230,770,258 108,937,117 59,858,306 226,973,088 11,072,729 1,341,082 16,222,808 61,388,176 4,261,660 337,296,703 35,450,097 13,664,186 540,922,794 22,819,692 34,320,265 471,810,398 23,347,281 17,132,672 124,932,918 161,660,264 11,477,368 18,377,414 62,462,408 63,868,882 39,280,194 95,481,675 22,632,107 Per station per day. 6.7 10.0 4.7 6.5 5.1 7.4 4.7 6.3 7.0 11.6 5.0 8.1 4.7 7.0 5.3 4.4 9.6 11.9 4.6 5.8 6.5 7.8 5.6 12.3 8.5 6.3 6.2 3.6 6.0 3.2 6.3 4.3 6.9 6.3 7.7 6.8 5.1 7.8 7.0 5.2 11.0 7.7 6.2 4.7 8.8 6.2 5.6 5.1 5.6 > Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. s Includes District of Columbia. •Includes systems distributed as follows: Rhode Island, 2; Wyoming, 1. TELEPHONE TRAFFIC. 25 Table 30.— MUTUAL SYSTEMS— ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL EQUIPMENT AND MESSAGES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. Number ol systems. Number ol stations or telephones. MILES OF WIBE. PARTY LINES. SWITCH- BOARDS. NUMBER OF MESSAGES OR TALKr. STATE OB TEBRITOKY. Total. Per system. Per station. Number. Stations. Sta- tions per line. Num- ber. Sta- tions per board. Long distance and toll. Local. Total. Per station per year (325 days) . Total. Per station day. United States... 994 89,316 70,915 101 923 70 177 13,308 9,220 13,261 650 1,308 77 81 2,335 1,799 70 8,564 1,656 1,593 633 40 3,616 436 1,199 333 225 1,683 478 106 2,218 1,062 3,263 531 71 .79 9,258 77,681 8.4 942 96 708,313 7.9 98,433,170 3.4 4 6 3 6 138 105 170 11 35 4 4 33 31 3 90 32 88 12 3 49 6 20 6 7 13 12 6 22 21 43 12 109 393 28 110 16,831 9,690 21,355 665 1,071 106 62 3,370 2,168 38 10,962 1,644 2,849 381 71 6,036 666 1,483 184 259 1,053 164 173 2,341 883 3,963 338 25 164 23 29 96 88 78 59 37 19 20 71 58 23 95 62 18 62 13 72 87 60 65 32 129 40 17 101 50 76 44 .93 2.35 2.50 1.61 .79 .95 .62 .99 1.22 .73 1.56 .69 .83 1.84 .78 1.01 .56 1.66 .66 .58 .78 .81 1.81 .87 1.60 2.91 .61 .95 1.20 .82 1.57 18 48 3 13 1,536 1,613 1,754 61 116 11 18 303 162 3 1,173 201 243 62 3 703 70 213 40 18 113 32 30 197 94 388 29 109 359 28 109 14,078 8,581 18,256 615 1,006 104 43 3,001 1,932 27 9,209 1,502 2,610 325 11 5,803 501 1,182 154 188 651 136 172 2,153 766 3,763 220 6.1 7.5 9.3 8.4 9.2 5.3 10.4 10.1 8.7 9.5 2.4 9.9 11.9 9.0 7.9 7.5 10.7 6.3 3.7 8.3 7.2 5.6 3.9 10.4 6.8 4.2 5.7 10.9 8.0 9.7 7.6 2 4 55 99 1,186 21,197 320 3,080 61,862 76,670 166,008 7,954 10,811 10.9 53.9 11.4 28.0 36.8 7.9 7.3 12.1 10.1 108,000 812,511 20,700 109,420 24,885,109 9,283,463 20,120,311 518,891 1,260,934 116,000 57,600 3,141,257 1,648,920 46,000 12,383,649 2,052,758 2,434,396 589,175 90,000 6,315,949 933,445 1,397,699 160,000 241,602 2,276,850 215,440 163,800 2,257,198 896,231 3,498,787 398,175 3.1 California 6.4 Colorado . . 2.3 2 163 112 168 8 7 56 103 97 127 82 153 3.1 Illinois ... 4.5 Indiana . . 59 2.9 2.4 3.6 3.4 Maryland 6 44 16 1 120 23 44 6 2 71 6 28 4 3 11 2 1 22 22 40 5 10 77 136 38 91 71 66 64 36 86 93 53 46 86 96 82 173 106 40 99 68 700 38,015 10,580 250 81,046 24,165 25,361 4,225 1,000 47,701 126 26,774 1,000 3,398 2,160 2,312 150 26,702 9,143 61,969 2,660 13.5 11.3 4.9 6.6 7.4 14.7 8.9 11.1 14.1 7.9 .2 18.1 6.4 13.1 2.0 14.1 .9 11.4 10.4 15.6 7.6 3.4 Michigan 2.9 2.3 Mississippi 3.6 3.5 Nebraska 3.8 New York 2.6 North Carolina North Dakota 4.8 3.C Ohio 3.2 Oregon 5.2 Pennsylvania 2.9 South'Carolina 2.7 2.9 6.7 4.0 Vermont 2.9 3.0 West Virginia 3.1 2.7 All other states and territories i . a.6 'Includes systems distributed as follows: Arizona, 1; Connecticut, 1; Florida, 2; Idaho, 1; Louisiana, 1; -Montana, 2; Nevada, 2; Oldahoma, 1; Wyoming, 1. The largest number of commercial local messages, 540,922,794, was reported for Ohio, and the greatest number of commercial long distance and toll messages, 20,382,847, for Pennsylvania. The greatest number of local mutual messages, amounting to 24,885,109, is shown to have been reported for Illinois, and the greatest number of mutual long distance and toll messages, aggregating 156,008, for Iowa. For the commercial systems the greatest number of toll and long distance messages per station per year was returned for Pennsylvania, the number being 110.1, while the least number, amounting to 14.6, was shown for New Mexico. The highest number of local messages per telephone per day for commercial sys- tems, amounting to 12.3, was in Mississippi, while the least number, 3.2, was found in New Jersey. For mutual systems the greatest number, 53.9, of toll and long distance messages per station per year was in California, and the least number, two-tenths of a mes- sage, in Oregon. The state for which the greatest number of mutual local messages was returned per station per day was Tennessee, the number being 6.7, while the least number, 2.3, is shown both for Colorado and Minnesota. 26 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Relation hetween telephones, messages, avd popula- tion. — Table 31 shows the estimated population, the number of telephones and messages, the number of messages per telephone and per capita, and the popu- lation per telephone in continental United States, by states and territories. Table 31. — All systems — telephones, messages, and popvlation, hy states and territories: 190S. STATE OE TEKEI- TORT. Number of sta- tions or tele- phones of all kinds. United States . Alabama. . Arizona Arkansas , , California. Colorado.. Connecticut. Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indian Territory. . Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland! Massachusetts . Michigan. . . Minnesota, . Mississippi.. Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire. New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina. North Dakota . . Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania... South Carolina . South Dakota. . Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont.. Virginia . . Washington West Virginia Wisconsin... ■ All other states 2. 6,070,564,553 14,077 3,259 16,892 106,574 24,533 22,494 4,293 8,216 25, 490 3,862 211,187 5,331 132, 489 120,017 40,972 46,266 17,609 14,045 32,090 96, 512 93,961 62,039 16,069 93,371 5,421 36, 153 1,165 9,949 48,980 2,481 246,015 16,252 6,762 222, 767 10,385 21, 172 186,672 10,467 10,305 36,060 64, 410 5,734 12,112 24, 130 31,447 22,376 61, 145 12, 489 Number of messages or talks during year. Estimated population. 46,168,943 5,072,727 36,716,883 178,284,400 60,258,533 35,933,102 8,962,892 18,906,002 96,192,066 6,451,762 541,161,932 8,337,959 294,657,565 103,054,738 68, 699, 143 143,101,564 68,083,915 21,923,915 62,019,081 183,115,320 237,695,112 113,124,262 60,414,961 242,309,227 11,352,976 73,227,030 1, 409, 134 16,987,012 66,171,223 4,297,920 360,098,123 36,485,398 14,106,733 568,707,801 23,329,668 35,777,238 493,617,718 23,893,914 / 17,919,604 128,274,719 167,079,014 11,765,130 19,075,847 65,494,626 64,623,982 41,605,891 101,594,728 23,033,120 Aver- age popula- tion per tele- phone. 78,576,436 1,891,765 129, 869 1,347,934 1,537,837 659,715 941, 184 187, 461 554, 104 2,298,713 176, 416 5,019,628 434,436 2,681,675 2,301,427 1,452,217 2,202,804 1,434,033 700,072 1,505,658 2,917,796 2,. 480, 764 1,822,106 1,603,604 3,187,031 266, 120 1,087,526 41,331 418,602 1,969,821 202,316 7,533,011 1,948,984 344,778 4,252,372 463,312 429,380 6,506,887 1,378,160 429,808 2,070,354 3,203,303 289,519 345,885 1,899,440 568,055 998,004 2,127,974 544, 466 134 40 80 14 23 42 44 67 90 46 24 81 19 19 35 48 82 50 47 30 26 29 106 34 49 30 35 42 40 81 31 120 51 19 45 20 35 132 42 67 60 50 29 79 18 46 35 44 Aver-- age num- ber of mes- per capita. Average number of mes- sages or talks per tele- phone per year. 24 39 27 116 108 38 48 34 42 37 108 19 114 84 40 66 47 31 41 63 76 43 67 34 41 29 21 48 19 41 131 50 S3 76 17 42 62 52 41 56 34 116 42 2,190 3,279 1,657 2,174 1,673 2,466 1,597 2,088 2,301 3,774 1,671 2,562 1,664 2,224 1,609 1,433 3,093 3,888 1.661 1,933 1,897 2,530 1,823 4,009 2,595 2,094 2,025 1,210 1,707 1,147 1,732 1,464 2,246 2,086 2,508 2,246 1,690 2,646 2,283 1,739 3,557 2,594 2,050 1,575 2,714 2,055 1,859 1,662 1,844 1 Includes District of Columbia. ' Includes Rhode Island and Wyoming. Table 31 shows that on the average in the United States there were 34 persons to each telephone, that each person talked 65 times a year, and that each telephone was used 2,190 times; but the statistics for the different states indicate wide variations from these averages for the whole country. Generally speaking, a liberal provision of telephonic facilities means a large number of calls or messages per capita and a low number per instrument. More- over, it is generally true that the population per tele- phone is smallest, and consequently the telephone facilities are greatest, where the independent move- ment has had the widest development, and where the service is measured, while the number of calls per instrument is highest where the flat rates prevail. The distribution of telephones, the use of each instrument, and the number of messages per capita do not depend solely upon density of population. Other factors, such as the kind of population, the prevailing nature of the industries, and the assiduity with which the telephonic habit has been cultivated by the managers of the companies supplying service, constitute potent agencies in varying the number of instruments installed and the use to which each is put. The most powerful influence is the tariff charged for telephone service. The effect of this influence is clearly reflected in the table. California was one of the earliest states to be served upon a measured service basis, and as this method of charging was vigorously pushed, the result was that this state had the largest number of telephones in proportion to its population, there being one telephone for every 14 inhabitants. Moreover, as a result of the low rates, the number of messages per capita was high in California, Ohio alone outranking it in this respect. Ohio exceeded California in population per telephone, with 19 inhab- itants per instrument. It is not difficult to understand, this condition when it is remembered that Ohio has been prominent in developing independent telephone service, and stands also among the first in the number of manufacturers of telephonic apparatus. Telephones in urban centers. — During the past ten years there has been a very rapid and wide extension of telephone service in the rural districts, but, other things being equal, the industry has shown the greatest growth in the states having the largest population, and has reached its maximum development in the leading cities. In 1900 there were in continental United States 1,157 incorporated urban centers with 4,000 or more inhabitants. Of these, 1,002 were pro- vided in 1 902 with telephone systems of some descrip- tion. In 137 of these towns the service was controlled by companies operating independently of the Amer- ican Telephone and Telegraph Company, while in 414 the system was in the hands of that company, and in 451 telephone service was offered both by the Amer- ican Telephone and Telegraph system and by an independent one. Table 32 shows the statistics of population per telephone for the 14 principal cities. TELEPHONE TRAFFIC. 27 Table 32. — Estimated population, number of telephones, and average population per telephone for the largest fourteen cities: 1902. New York Chicago Philadelphia.., St. Louis Boston Baltimore Cleveland Buffalo San Francisco. Cincinnati Milwaukee Detroit New Orleans . . Washington. . . Estimated population. 3,623,160 1,815,445 1,343,043 699,932 683,376 523,861 403,032 371, 731 351,540 329,590 304,965 301,670 296, 118 283,551 Number of stations or telephones. 93,301 60,948 46,393 19,228 30,202 15,181 24,809 12, 386 38,031 13, 627 10,765 12,536 7,158 8,061 Average popula- tion per telephone . Table 32 indicates that San Francisco, with 1 tele- phone to 9 persons, was the best telephoned city in the United States. Next to San Francisco was Cleve- land, with 1 telephone for every 16 persons. These abundant facilities are accounted for by the fact that there are in Cleveland 2 large exchanges — one operated by the Cleveland Telephone Company (Bell) and the other, an independent exchange, by the Cuyahoga Telephone Company. The third city according to population per telephone, was Boston, with 1 telephone to every 19 inhabitants. It is note- worthy that the large cities — such as Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York — are very near the foot of this list, having, respectively, 1 telephone to 29, 30, and 39 inhabitants. This is due to the combined operation of three causes: The proportion of the immigrant population of a class that does not use telephone facilities is much greater in the very large cities than in the smaller ones; telephone rates are considerably higher in these large cities than in the smaller ones, and there has been no competition in the two principal cities. The lowest average per capita among these cities was shown for New Orleans, where there was 1 telephone to every 41 inhabitants. The conditions that environ the telephone system of a large city are entirely different from those existing in a small town or in rural districts, and consequently the traffic in such places is totally dissimilar in volume, rate, and time of activity. Accepting a population of 4,000 inhabitants as the line of demarcation between the large and the small places, or the urban and the rural population. Table 33 is a summary of the sta- tistics for the commercial telephone systenis having their exchanges or centrals in urban and rural districts. Table 33. — Summary — urhan and rural commercial systems: 1902. Number ol systems Miles ol wire Number of stations or telephones oi all kinds Number ol public exchanges Number of messages or talks dur- ing year Salaried oiHoials, clerks, etc. : Number Salaries Wage-earners: Average number Total revenue.. Total expenses. Net surplus Total. 3,157 4,779,571 2,225,981 9,419 4,971,413,070 13,958 89,871,596 63,630 J26,206,065 $86,622,211 «79, 864, 419 56,667,792 Urban. 630 4,361,013 1,823,956 5,480 4,351,724,325 12,393 89,263,356 56,262 $24,343,626 $79,963,998 $75,372,210 $4,591,788 Rural. 2,627 418, 568 402,025 3,939 619,688,745 1,665 $608,240 7,368 $1,862,639 $6,568,213 $4,492,209 $2,066,004 Table 33 shows that the number of systems having their principal central, or exchange, in municipalities of less than 4,000 inhabitants was about 5 times the number having their exchanges, or centrals, in munici- palities of greater population; and that the systems whose headquarters were in the larger places averaged more than 22 times the number of telephones per system and handled over 34 times the traffic of the smaller places. Rates. — The first use made of the telephone was on private lines connecting two individual stations, the lines not going through an exchange. For this pur- pose the original patentees furnished the instruments and charged a rental for their use. As soon, however, as the telephone exchange was developed the element of labor in connecting different subscribers' lines at the exchange became a factor in the business. The ex- change proprietor, either an individual or a corporation, was then obhged to build and keep in repair the lines, the switchboards, and the subscribers' instruments, and to provide facilities for an increase of business; so that although the old term of "rental" remained in use after the establishment of the exchange, the charge made to telephone subscribers became a charge for telephone service and not a charge for rental of instru- ments. As the exchanges grew the number of subscribers in- creased, and with the increase in the number of per- sons who could be reached by a telephone the value of the telephone service to each subscriber became greater, and the result was a greater use of the tele- phone, the increase in the use being at a rate greater than the mere increase in numbers would indicate. The greater demand on the service naturally increased the cost of supplying telephone service. With the increased number of subscribers the area within which the subscribers were located became larger, and longer lines were necessary. There were corresponding in- creases in the investment for each station, in the amount of work required in making the connections between subscribers' lines, and in the expenses of re- pairs. It was soon discovered that the rates fixed by the first exchanges, which were sufficient when based upon a small number of individual telephones connected to an exchange, were too low to meet the expenses of the operation of the larger exchange and give a fair return upon the capital. The problem of rates then became one of arranging the charges for service so that all could use the telephone. The first differentiation in rates was between busi- ness places and residences, it being plainly evident that the latter used the telephone to a much smaller extent than the former. This division between business and residence rates continues throughout the entire coun- try, and with but few exceptions is found in every tele- phone exchange. Theidivision into these two classes was not, however sufficient to cover the necessary gradations in charges if all the people were to be connected by means of the 28 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. telephone system, and party line devices, enabling the placing of more than one telephone upon each circuit, were put in operation. Under the system of party line rates the rate is graded by the number of subscribers placed upon one circuit, and here again the distinction between business and residence is retained, each group having its own party line rates. The system of allowing the subscriber to use the tele- phone as freely as he chose upon the pa;yment of a fixed sum monthly or quarterly, was in its turn supplemented by the so-called measured rate, under which the sub- scriber pays for the actual use made of the service. Under this system a minimum charge is made, and for this payment a fixed number of messages are furnished, messages in excess of those contracted for being paid for at a specified rate per message. This system naturally reaches its highest develop- ment in the larger cities and allows the gradation of rates to be carried on to such an extent that everyone can find a rate suited to his own needs. A modifica- tion of this measured service rate is in use in Great Britain, where the post ofiice telephones are charged for on a combination rate, a fixed charge sufficient to meet the interest and the depreciation of the plant be- ing collected annually, and each message being charged for at a rate that is supposed to be sufficient to cover all expenses of operation. The measured rate system is undoubtedly the logical one, as the subscriber pays exactly in proportion to his use of the telephone, and instead of the large user secur- ing service at a rate much below the cost of the service and the small user paying much more than the cost, each user pays his proper share, the average return to • the company giving a return on the whole investment. It has not been found practicable to introduce this measured rate system in small places, and although its use is increasing, it is at present confined to the larger cities. Charges for the use of lines connecting distant points are usually based upon the time consumed during the conversation. This is the logical method of charge, because of the large investment necessary to build such lines and the consequent necessity of keeping the cir- cuits as fully occupied as possible. Although on many of the smaller and less important lines there is no limi- ■ tation as to the duration of a message, on lines where business is abundant the initial period is fixed and an extra charge is made for each minute of overtime. There is a great variation in the length of the initial period, but it is usually fixed at either five or three minutes. In some parts of the country and between towns closely connected in a business way rates are sometimes made for shorter initial periods, the periods being in some cases even as low as a quarter of a minute, To further utilize the investment in long distance lines and stimulate their use it is customary to give night service at reduced rates. The rates are also governed by the character of the service given, whether on individual lines or on party lines, by metallic circuits or grounded circuits, by underground circuits and cables, which represent a large outlay, or by other circuits. The cost of a service which is given to a large number of subscribers in any city over a large area, and which has sufficient equipment to supply the demands of all the users during the time of the maximum use, is necessarily much higher than the cost of a service that is given by a small exchange which has a compact territory and which at no time has any excessive de- mand upon its facilities. Telephone rates, therefore, are higher in large than in small cities. The rates, moreover, are low among the mutual and cooperative companies, with but few subscribers, since for such companies the members themselves do a large part toward the operation and maintenance of the plants. No attempt was made to tabulate the rates charged for telephone service, since they vary greatly as a result of the conditions covered by the numerous classes of service given by the companies. All these variations are found in all parts of the country, and the description ^ of the evolution of the telephone rates of New York city, where the logical plan of charging each subscriber as nearly as possible the cost of his particular class of service has been car- ried to the, highest development, gives a very good idea of the problem involved in the question of rates for telephone service. Traffic per subscriber and instrument. — While the pre- ceding tables convey an idea of the bulk of telephone traffic, it requires a further analysis to indicate the average amount of business transacted from each in- strument and by each subscriber. This is shown in Table 34 for the commercial and mutual systems in con- tinental United States and for the outlying districts. Table 34:.-^Messages per subscriber and •per telephone: 1902. AVEKAGB NUMBER OF MESSAGES. KIND OF SYSTEM. Per subscriber. Per telephone. Total. Local. Long dis- tance and toll. Total. Local. Long dis- tance and toll. Continental United states 2,327 2,378 1,119 1,350 2,272 2,321 1,112 65 57 8 2,190 2,233 1,110 1,344 2,138 2,179 1,102 52 54 8 Mutual Outlying districts A comparison betweeh the traffic handled by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and the independent systems is shown in Table 35. ' See Chapter X. TELEPHONE TRAFFIC. 29 Table 35. — -Traffic comparison, Bdl and, independent systems: 1903. Total. BELL. INDEPENDENT. % Number. Aver- age per system and sub- scriber. Number. Avei^ age per system 'and sub- scriber. Number of systems. . Number of sub- scribers ... 4,151 2,178,366 2,316,297 5,070,554,553 4, 949; 849, 709 120,704,844 44 1,222,327 1, 317, 178 3,074,530,060 2,998,344,933 76, 185, 127 27,780 29,935 2,615 2,453 62 4,107 966,039 998, 119 1,996,024,493 1,951,604,776 44,519,717 233 243 2,088 2,041 47 Number of stations or telephones Messages or talks, total number Local exchange. . Long distance and toll As shown by Table 35, the Bell companies operated 123 times as many telephones per system as the inde- pendent companies; the total local business of the Bell companies was 53.6 per cent greater than the cor- responding independent traffic, while the calling rate per subscriber was 20.2 per cent larger; and the toll and long distance work on the Bell lines was 71.1 per cent greater than that over the independent ones, while the toll and long distance calls per subscriber were 31.9 per cent more. The difference in the traffic rate per subscriber is probably to be explained by the fact that a large pro- portion of the Bell service in the United States is based upon some measured rate plan, either involving the use of telephone registers or pay stations, or requiring the operator to make a ticket for each call. The inde- pendent companies had rarely adopted measured service up to the time when their reports were made. Relation of traffic to earnings and expense^. — The relation of traffic to earnings and expenses is an important one, both from the standpoint of the tele- phone company and from that of the _ subscriber. When the cost to the subscriber is based upon some form of measured service, the volume of business is a more or less direct measure of the revenue of the com- pany and of its cost of operation. The operation of any form of metered service tends to reduce the amount of traffic; for if subscribers are charged by the mes- sage, they invariably economize as much as practi- cable. If the charge for the traffic is at a flat rate, the company's revenue depends upon the number of instruments installed and not upon the volume of traffic, while the expenses are measured more nearly by the number of messages transmitted. With a flat rate service there" is no tendency toward economy on the part of the subscriber, for, knowing that his telephone charges are represented by a fixed annual sum, he and his friends use the instrument liberally. Table 36 shows the average revenue and operating expense per telephone and message, by states and territories. Table 36. — AH systems — average revenue and operaiing expense per telephone and per Tnessage, hy states and territories: 1903. Average number of messages per telephone per year. AVERAGE GEOSS EEVENUE. AVERAGE 0PEEATIN6 EXPENSE. STATE OE TEEEITOEY. Per telephone (dollars). Per message (cents). Per telephone (dollars). Per message (cents). United States 2,190 37.60 1.712 24.66 1.121 3,279 1,567 2,174 1,673 2,456 1,697 2,088 2,301 3,774 1,671 2,562 1,664 2,224 1,609 1,433 3,093 3,888 1,561 1,933 1,897 2,530 1,823 4,009 2,596 2,094 2,026 1,210 1,707 1,147 1,732 1,464 2,246 2,086 2,508 2,246 1,690 2,646 2,283 1,739 3,557 2,591 2,050 1,576 2,714 2,065 1,859 1,662 1,844 37.57 35.13 33.46 38.39 46.36 59.06 44.22 26.82 33.86 46.16 34.61 30.79 , 21.26 16.35 21.42 29.77 45.88 42.62 47.28 63.49 26.01 30.30 32.95 31.81 56.26 30.63 30.06 39.87 55.91 21.94 66.47 21.32 34.81 27.80 25.83 31.13 43.33 27.23 27.86 34.73 38.60 61.26 26.62 26.25 31.48 22.69 26.16 69.31 1.146 2.266 1.639 2.295 1.887 3.696 2.118 1.122 0.897 2.763 1.351 1.969 0.956 1.016 1.495 0.963 1.180 2.724 2.446 3.346 1.028 1.662 0.822 1.226 2.686 1.512 2.484 2.335 4.876 1.267 4.641 0.960 1.669 1.108 1.160 1.842 1.638 1.193 1.602 0.976 1.488 2.601 1.690 0.930 1.532 1.220 1.676 3.758 22.37 21.44 21.80 30.02 31.23 39.46 36.66 16.65 21.26 34.79 23.73 17.55 13.64 10.. 53 12.76 19.72 23.69' 29.12 34.46 43.68 18.31 18.30 20.10 19.14 39.43 22.10 15.85 30.66 39.65 12.98 39.75 14.93 20.20 17.06 16.37 21.34 28.91 17.86 15.84 24.47 24.60 37.69 19.33 16.73 24.77 15.21 16.17 43.46 0.682 Arizona 1.377 1.003 California 1.795 1.271 OoTiTienticnt 2.469 1.766 Florida 0.723 Georgia. . . 0.563 Idaho....; 2.082 Illinois 0.928 Indian Territory 1.122 Indiana.. . 0.609 0.654 0.891 0.638 0.609 Maine 1.866 1.783 2.297 0.724 1.004 Mississippi 0.601 Missouri.... 0.737 1.883 1.091 1.310 New Hampshire 1.796 New Jersey 3.449 0.749 New York 2.718 0.665 North Dakota 0.968 Ohio 0.680 Oklahoma 0.729 Oregon 1.263 Pennsylvania . . 1.093 0.783 South Dakota 0.911 TftTlTlP.HHPP . 0.688 Texas. - 949 Utah 1.833 Vermont 1.227 Virginia.. . 616 Washington 1.205 West Virginia. . 0.818 0.973 All other states ' 2.356 1 Includes District of Columbia. 2Includes Rhode Island and Wyoming. According to Table 36 the average revenue per tele- phone amounted to 137.50. The highest rate was secured in New York and was $66.47, or 77.3 per cent more than the average. The lowest revenue was reported for Iowa and was only $16.35, or 43.6 per cent of the average. The greatest revenue per message — 4.88 cents — was shown for New Jersey, New York rank- ing second, with 4. 54 cents. The least revenue per mes- sage was reported for Mississippi and was a little more than four-fifths of a cent. Operating expenses per telephone were highest in Massachusetts, where they reached $43.58, and lowest in Iowa, where they were $10.53. The lowest operating cost per message was shown for Mississippi, where the average was one-half a cent, while the highest operating cost, 3.45 cents, was found in New Jersey. 30 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. The high rates per telephone in New York state are explained by the fact that this state contains the city that is at the same time the largest city of the country and the one that does the greatest amount of tele- phonic business. As the expense of operation increases faster than the population, it is necessary to arrange the tariff in recognition of the fact. But New York city is served upon measured rates, hence the traffic rate per subscriber is low, and the operating cost per message is less than in places, such as some of those in New Jersey, where the flat rate is more prevalent. It is significant that the people in the United States received telephone service during 1902 at an average cost of 1.71 cents per message transmitted, and that the average revenue above operating expenses amounted to fifty-nine one-hundredths of a cent per message. Other factors of traffic. — The preceding tables have been occupied chiefly with the total traffic reported for the various civil and geographic divisions of con- tinental United States. But it is desirable to consider also the variation in the number of messages which subscribers offer, the manner in which and the time when the business is delivered to the central office, and the ability of the operators and apparatus to handle it. As the reports "do not permit such an analysis to be made for every system, diagrams have been prepared containing a digest of statistics for about two thousand operators so selected that they are fairly representative. These are called " load dia- grams," because they show the varying weight or load of traffic. If every person wished to talk an equal number of times per day to everyone else, the traffic would be proportional to the size of the community and would depend on the number of combinations, taken two at a time, that could be made for the total number of inhabitants. , Experience shows that this does not happen, because of what is termed "the acquaintance factor." In every community each individual is acquainted with and transacts business among a cer- tain limited group ; and while such circles of acquaint- ance overlap and the business increases more rapidly than is indicated by a simple arithmetical ratio to the population, it does not increase quite as fast as the square of the population. Different communities vary in the amount of busi- ness they offer. In general, small towns of 10,000 or under are likely to show from 4 to 6 calls per sub- scriber per day. The business portions of medium- sized and large cities vary from 10 to 15 calls, the residence portions from 2 to 4 calls, while party lines average from 3 to 4 calls. The operations necessary for each message consume a certain amount of time; consequently the number of operators and the size of switchboard needed to handle a given amount of business will depend on the speed that the operator can attain, the efliciency of the switchboard, and the promptness with which the subscribers cooperate. The speed attained depends upon the capability of the operator and the amount of trainihg received, as well as upon the nature of the apparatus. Upon magneto switckboards installed in small country towns from five to ten seconds elapse between the signal of the suljscriber and the answer of the operator, while from ten to thirty seconds are often consumed in disconnecting subscribers' lines after service. With automatic lamp signal switchboards the operation is much expe- dited. Many systems strive to secure what is called ."three-second service;" that is to say, on the average only three seconds elapse between the removal of the receiver and the answer of the operator, while discon- nection is usually accomplished in from three to five seconds. It is only in the best managed and most highly efficient systems that this speed is uniformly secured. Taking the average of all systems, five- second service is more common. The service over trunk lines inevitably consumes more time. In the business districts of urban centers, messages are handled most speedily, because business men are trained to prompt and quick action, and usually have a fair idea of the inconvenience to which others are subjected by a delay in replying, while residents in small towns and villages often display indifference to I the prompt answering of a telephone call. In order that the service shall be good it is neces- ' sary that sufficient operating force be provided to ; transact the business offered during the busy hours at such speed as shall be satisfactory to subscribers. An examination of the diagrams will show that approxi- mately 12 per cent of the business is offered during the busiest hour of the day. Traffic records. — It is customary for central offices to keep more or less careful record of traffic. The com- mon method is to make a monthly count of the num- ber of originating calls and trunk messages during a given twenty-four hours. Usually each operator is provided with a wooden peg about the size of the ordi- nary plug, and is instructed to use the set of 100 multi- ple jacks nearest in front of her. Commencing at midnight of the predetermined twenty-four hours, all operators insert these pegs in the zero jacks of the banks, and then each operator moves the peg along one jack for every call that is received. At the end of each hour a clerk makes a memorandum of the num- ber of the jack in which each peg stands and removes the peg to the zero jack, thus making a record of the number of calls that each operator has answered. Such a traffic enumeration is termed a peg count. For toll line work, or measured service, where tickets are made for each call, the traffic record becomes auto- matic. If lines are supplied with a message meter located in the exchange, an hourly inspection of each meter is all that is required. FIG. 1.— TELEPHONE RECEIVER. FIG. 2.— SECTION OF RECEIVER. FIG. 3. — RECEIVER DISSECTED. FIG. 4.— DESK SET, RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER. DiAGEAM 1,— Telephone caMs hy Jiours, husiness, center, residence district, Diagram 2.— Telephone coils per line in the three districts of a large city and outsKrts of a large city: 1902. shown hy hours in Diagram 1: 1902. 16000 14000 1 13000 J V 1 / V laooo / / itooo / 7 toooo r sooo 1 I la A ■ \ \ i 1 ^ \ 1000 V ''" >>y' \ ^ \ \ I V A == ^ V V 300 \ , v / / / 1 3 1 1 A K ^ B 8 B L \ i\ Ii \ \ A /\ <* V \ A i/^ A 2 \\ V ^ \b \ V \ \ /\ \ 1 ^ 7\ 's 1 N 1 \ 1 \ 1 V \ \ J \ \ / \\ \ V ] \\ I^' '^ 12 2 AM. € 8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 W UOURS. P. M. MMO DIAGRAM URGE CITY. A— ORQE OFFICE IN BUSINESS CENTER. B— MEDIUM OFFICE IN RESIDENCE DISTRICT. C— SMALL OFFICE 111 OUlSKIRilS.. »» 2 4 6 8 10 Jl? 2 4 e 8 10 12 IlM. hours. R m load diagram large city reduced to calls per line, a— large office in business center, b— medium office in residemce district. c-:small office in outskirts. 32 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. To convey quickly and saliently to the eye the sta- tistics gathered in a traffic record "it is convenient to plot them, showing upon the horizontal scale the hours of the day and upon the vertical scale the number of calls received. Diagram 1 presents in this way the record for three exchanges in a large city. Three curves are shown. Curve A is the load line of a large DiAGBAM 3. — Telephone calls hy hours, main and hranch offices, in city of medium size: 190S. 7000 r- V / \ 6000 \ A A \ \ / \ \/ \ 6000 1 V 3 -] S 4000 a. 1 1 s z' 3000 \ \ " \ 1 ^ I 1000 ; ■^ v^ A \ ; / V- \ ^^ -^ A V ^ y. / \: V, -2 A..M, HOUBS. 2 4 6 8 10 12. P.M.. LOAD DIAGRAM MEDIUM SIZE CITY. A — MAIN OFFICE. B- BRANCH OFFICE. show the calls per line. In Diagram 2 this transfor- mation is performed for Diagram 1. Diagram 4. — Telephone calls hy hours in a manufacturing city having a population of about 100,000: 1902. exchange of from four to five thousand subscribers; curve B, that of a medium-sized exchange of from twenty-five hundred to three thousand subscribers in a residence district; and curve C, that of a small ex- change of from eight hundred to a thousand subscrib- ers in the outskirts. Diagram 3 is the traffic record of an exchange in a medium-sized city, curve A relat- ing to the main office of the business district and curve B, to a branch office. Diagram 4 is for a manufac- turing city with a population of about one hundred thousand. .Diagram 5 is the load line of a village of about two thousand inhabitants. There is a general resemblance between the dia- grams, which show that the telephonic load lines con- tain one high peak in the morning and one or more in the afternoon. In the large city the peak of the load occurs later in the day than in the city of medium size, and the falling off of traffic during the noon hour is more marked. In the manufacturing city two peaks occur, one relatively early and the other relatively late in the day, while in the small village there are three distinct peaks, one in the morning and two in the after- noon, the one at 3 p. m. being the highest. It is instructive to transform the diagrams which show total originating calls in such a manner as to 380 f 240 -h 220 f / \ ■ \ J 5 „u / \— ^ O I oc .-« \ m £ \ \ z '■*" \ \ \ I V j \ V "N J V 1 —4— t ' 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 9 1Q 11 12 A. M. HOUeS. P. M. Diagram 5. — Telephone calls ly hours in a milage having a population of about S,000: 1902. 140 A j no 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 ■30 20 W A 1 \ A ' J . / nJ / \ / \ 1 / ' / \ \ / \ / \ / \ I A f \ ^ y V 6 HOURS. LOAD DIAGRAM SMALL VILLAGE. The salient change is the difference in the relative heights of the curves in the main office and the sub- sidiary offices, for, when the loads are plotted in calls per line, there is a far less proportionate difference than that which seems to be indicated by the total load lines. OHAPTEE VI. APPARATUS OF THE SUBSTATION. Physical equipment. — The preceding statistics show- that the number of messages handled by the telephone systems of continental United States in 1902 was esti- mated at 5,070,554,553. To care for this enormous interchange of conversation a considerable equipment of apparatus was necessary. Table 37 summarizes the physical equipment for all systems. Table 31 .^Summary — all systems, physical equipment: 1902. Number ol systems 4, 151 Switchboards, total number 10,896 Manual: Common battery 837 Magneto 10,005 Automatic 54 - Total capacity of switchboards 2,447,403 Engines, horsepower 2, 750. 5 Dynamos, horsepower 5, 459. 1 Electric motors, horsepower 4, 209. 8 Auxiliary cross-connection boards, etc 9, 255 Magneto generators, ringers, etc., in exchanges 14,931 Batteries: Primary, number of cells 110,648 Storage, number of cells 19,001 Stations or telephones, total number ■ 2, 315, 297 Total mUes of wire 4, 850, 486 Underground construction: Miles of duet 16,474.9 Miles of cable 7,290.6 Miles of wire 1,690,502 Overhead construction: Miles ol single wire 2,369,914 MUes of cable 8,104.5 Circuit miles of wire in cable 780,530 Submarine: Miles of cable 262.6 Circuit miles of wire in cable 9,540 From a technical aspect it is convenient to divide the apparatus of every telephone system into three parts : 1. The substation, including the transmitter, re- ceiver, and signaling appliances on the premises of the subscriber. 2. The wire plant, embracing the electrical conduc- tors which connect the substations and the central office. 3. The central office, containing the apparatus nec- essary to enable different lines to be rapidly connected. In the case of interconnecting systems and inde- pendent farmer of rural lines there is no central office, because each station becomes its own central office, the subscriber performing for himself the functions of the operator in securing a connection with the desired correspondent. The collection of appliances placed on the premises of a subscriber in order to provide telephone service is variously called a substation or substation outfit, an instrument, a telephone, or a box. Statistics of substations. — The statistical tables have conveyed a general idea of the number of substations in continental United States in 1902, Table 2 showing 2,315,297 stations, serving 2,178,366 subscribers, an average of 1.063 instruments per subscriber. There were more instruments than subscribers because, in many instances, one subscriber had sufficient business to require the installation of more than one substation. Table 4 gives the number of telephones and shows their distribution among the commercial and mutual systems and the independent rural lines. From the standpoint of operating companies Table 6 shows the number of stations served by the Bell sys- tems and by the independent systems. The number of stations reported by the Bell organizations was 1,317,178, or 56.9 per cent of the total; while the num- ber reported by other systems was 998,119, or 43.1 per cent. Table 7 shows the distribution of stations by geo- graphic divisions. The North Central division con- tained the largest number of telephones, the propor- tion being 47.1 per cent of the whole. The North Atlantic division ranked second, with 28 per cent. When telephonic facilities are considered on the basis of population per telephone, the Western division stood at the head, with a population of 21 per instrument; while the South Atlantic division was at the foot of the list, with 75 inhabitants per instrument. The number of instruments for both the commercial and mutual systems are distributed by geographic divi- sions in Tables 9 and 11. For each of these systems the North Central division contained the greatest num- ber of instruments, the proportions being 45.6 per cent for the commercial systems and 86.2 per cent for the mutual. The latter percentage shows that this is the area in which there has been the greatest develop- ment of mutual systems. Tables 43, 46, 48, and 50 show the distribution of substations by states and territories. Table 50 shows that Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri led the list for mutual systems, showing, respectively, 21,355, 16,831, and 10,962 substations. These three states contained 55 per cent of all mutual stations. Rural substations. — The country districts are served by independent rural lines, by the mutual systems, all of which may be accepted as serving in rural districts exclusively, and by rural lines owned and operated by commercial systems with whose exchanges the lines are connected. Commercial systems having their prin- cipal exchange in larger cities often serve the smaller (33) 34 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. places, but it is the exception to find an exchange in a small place serving a large city. It is impossible to make an exact segregation of the statistics so as to show the amount of wire and the ntimber of telephones devoted primarily to telephone work in the country as distinct, from the urban dis- tricts. The number of rural lines of each of the three classes, their wire mileage, and the number of their telephones are, however, indicated approximately by states and territories in Table 38. Table 38.— NUMBER OF RURAL LINES, CLASSIFIED AS COMMERCIAL, MUTUAL, AND INDEPENDENT RURAL, WITH THE WIRE MILEAGE AND THE NUMBER OF TELEPHONES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. STATE OB TEREITORY. United States . Alabama. . Arizona Arkansas.. California. . Colorado.. . NUMBER OF LINES. Connecticut.. Florida Georgia- Idaho Illinois. Indian Territory. ■Indiana. Iowa KaJisas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts. Michigan Minnesota. Missouri. Montana.. Nebraska. Nevada New Hampshire, New Mexico New Yprk North Carolina . . North Dakota. Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania. . Rhode Island... South Carolina. South Dakota. - Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Washington . . . West Virginia . Wisconsin Wyoming 33 13 53 69 40 7 57 73 7 3,883 10 3,255 2,958 365 140 32 66 16 11 981 655 95 1,712 13 612 2 42 12 481 279 61 3,056 24 31 325 3 254 34 149 422 14 107 597 3 Commer- cial. 16,598 11 11 48 61 37 6 36 41 3 2,925 4 2,215 1,672 342 34 12 69 12 11 454 61 735 320 144 58 2,872 23 22 297 3 156 21 96 345 232 14 55 468 Mutual .1 994 1 2 6 1 138 105 170 11 35 1 4 4 31 Inde- pendent rural. 4,986 26 3 820 935 ,116 12 71 19 2 73 123 135 "i 2 155 MILES OF WIRE. Total. 259,306 671 194 357 1,407 331 30 605 1,411 145 47,463 106 28,380 40,251 3,347 2,675 428 3,869 162 148 10,971 8,310 1,273 25,094 212 8,865 174 999 174 4,692 3,492 652 22,767 295 1,008 4,967 2,494 712 3,211 4,874 3,325 7,615 124 2,045 8,868 95 Commer- cial. 138,426 263 146 274 439 261 20 224 622 10 26,516 20 15,602 14,516 2,382 471 199 3,776 81 148 7,293 S,593 656 6,746 6,625 999 91 2,382 1,419 612 17,983 246 535 3,586 39 1,337 395 1,083 3,354 3,203 3,391 124 555 4,212 Mutual. 70,915 101 30 923 70 10 46 177 83 13,308 9,220 13,261 650 1,308 9 77 81 2,336 1,799 70 8,564 120 1,656 1,593 633 40 3,516 50 436 1,199 333 226 1,683 478 106 2,218 Inde- pendent rural. 49,965 307 18 83 46 336 612 52 7,639 85 3,568 12, 474 315 • 220 16 1,343 918 548 9,784 92 674 717 1,440 1,258 38 183 1,662 3,263 10 824 92 446 1,042 16 2,006 NUMBER OF TELEPHONES. Total. 428 1,393 85 291 205 169 854 254 78 236 648 93 49,440 24 28,190 58,364 3,609 2,197 132 3,909 94 197 7,603 641 26,. 510 61 7,248 22 904 78 6,578 1,833 24,236 246 842 3,438 35 1,020 580 1,962 2,177 3,567 6,599 117 1,839 10,449 33 Commer- cial. 121,905 128 123 386 226 33 138 267 9 22,788 14,428 18,626 2,633 443 91 3,778 42 197 4,984 4,282 332 6,764 4,991 904 49 2,404 668 598 16,884 196 268 1,793 35 550 239 577 1,687 3,356 1,626 117 531 4,639 Mutual. 89,316 109 72 393 28 ' 45 44 110 60 16,831 9,690 21,355 656 1,071 7 106 62 3,370 2,168 38 10,962 31 1,644 22 2,849 381 e',036 60 556 1,483 184 259 1,053 164 173 2,341 3,963 7 Inde- pendent rural. 56,747 5 36 76 53 271 24 9,821 16 4,072 18,383 221 683 34 25 1,454 1,153 271 9,784 30 613 29 1,326 784 1,316 18 162 332 326 425 1,847 26 1 Systems. Tf all the places with a population of less than 4,000 be considered as rural districts, it will be necessary to add to the totals shov^ in Table 38 a considerable pro- portion of the wire and telephones reported by the commercial companies having their principal exchanges, or centrals, located in such places. As shown in Table 33, of the 3,157 commercial systems reported, 2,627, or 83.2 per cent, had their principal exchanges in places of less than 4,000 inhabitants, and operated 418,558 miles of wire and 402,025 telephones. While the combination of these totals with those shown in Table 38, giving 677,864 miles of wire and 668,993 telephones, produces some duplication, these figures may be accepted as an approximation of the rural telephone service. The rural substatiolis,. as shown in Table 38, aggregated 266,968, of which the commercial sys- tems reported 45.7 per cent, the mutual systems, 33.4 per cent, and the independent rural lines, 20.9 per cent. Table 39 contains statistics for the five states in which there were the greatest number of rural lines. FIQ. 1.— TRANSMITTER HEAD. FIQ 2.— SECTION OF TRANSMITTER. FIQ. 3.— REAR VIEW OF ASSEMBLED TRANSMITTER. CASE REMOVED. APPARATUS OF THE SUBSTATION. 35 Table 39. — Number of rural lines, witK the wire mileage and the num- ber cf telephones, for the Jive leading states: 1902. LINES. MILES OF WIRE. TELEPHONES. Number. Rank. Number. Rank. Number. Rank. 3,883 3,255 2,958 1,712 3,056 1 2 4 5 3 47,463 28,380 40,251 25,094 22,757 1 3 2 4 5 49,440 28,190 58,364 26,510 24,236 2 Indiana - 3 Iowa 1 Missouri 4 Ohio 5 The five states shown in the table contained 186,740 rural stations, or 69.9 per cent of all such stations in the United States. Iowa had the greatest develop- ment, the reports showing 58,364 telephones, which number was 21.9 per cent of the total for the whole country, and 31.3 percent of the total for the five states. Moreover, Iowa had 8,924 more rural telephones than any other state. It was in this state, also, that the greatest development of independent rural lines was found — the number of such lines being 1,116, or 22.4 per cent of the total. On these lines there were 18,383 telephones, or 33 per cent of all such instruments on the independent rural lines. Private stations and pay stations. — From a business aspect substations may be separated into two general classes — private stations and public stations. Private stations are those controlled exclusively by the sub- scribers who rent them, and used only by such sub- scribers or their authorized agents. A public station is one not rented to a particular subscriber, but estab- lished in some public place, as a hotel, theater, restau- rant, drug store, or depot, for the use of the general public, anyone being allowed to use the telephone upon the prepayment of the proper charge. Classification of private stations. — The private sta- tions can be divided into single lines, party lines, and private branch exchanges. The single line denotes a complete circuit allotted exclusively to a substation. The party lines have two or more substations upon the same circuit. The private branch exchange is a small central office located in the midst of a group of subscribers who desire frequent connections with each other and occasional service to other subscribers out- side of their particular circle. These small offices are equipped with switchboards that are in all respects sim- ilar to those used in the central offices, and their opera- tors are highly and carefully drilled. Thus the private branch exchange does not differ in any way, except in size, from one of the central offices that compose a large telephone exchange . Its function is not only to relieve the central office of a portion of the labor that is made necessary by the particular group of subscribers, but also to economize wire plant. Thus, A, B, C, and D may wish to talk to one another several scores of times daily, while they have occasion to communicate with F, G, and H (subscribers to the main exchange) only occasionally. Provided A, B, C, and D are close to each other, it is an evident economy in wire plant to serve the several stations by a small switchboard located in their immediate vicinity, rather than to eitend their lines and interchange of business to the central office. The private branch exchange consists of a switchboard having short lines extending to each of the substations, while a few trunk lines run from this switchboard to the central office. This type of installation finds a wide and constantly increasing scope in factories, hotels, and offices of large corporations. The tendency now is to make the private branch exchange operator a kind of general confidential clerk, who not only places different substations in connection with each other and with the central office, but also performs many other services. She orders railway accommo- dations, hacks, or theater tickets, and renders a thou- sand and one minor services that would be entirely outside the function of the ordinary exchange operator, and she is rapidly becoming a necessary and highly valued employee in the modern business office. In some cases the private branch exchange is so arranged that the instruments of a number of the subscribers can be connected only with each other, while the apparatus of another set of subscribers is such that each one may talk to every other subscriber connected with his par- ticular branch, and also receive service through the main exchange. Technically these two groups of subscribers are called private exchange subscribers and private branch exchange subscribers, respectively. Classification of pay stations. — Table 46 shows that out of a total of 2,315,297 instruments there were 80,870 pay stations or public telephones; that is to say, the public stations formed 3.5 per cent of the total stations. The public stations were divided into two classes: The so-called automatic or " nickel-in- the- slot" station, which contains a coin box so arranged that the caller must deposit a proper prepayment coin, usually either 5 or 10 cents, for each local call before the connection can be completed, and other pay stations, embracing the miscellaneous instru- ments. The automatic stations numbered 32,477, or 40.2 per cent. The commercial systems, as shown in Table 48, operated all but 18 of these and all but 384 of the other pay stations. The distribution of the mutual automatic and other pay stations is shown by states and territories in Table 50. New York had the largest number in each case, the reports showing 7 automatic and 53 other pay stations. Table 26 shows the distribution of pay stations by main geo- graphic divisions. There was an average of 972 inhabitants per pay station. The North Atlantic division showed the greatest facilities for telephonic communication, the average number of inhabitants 36 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. per pay station being only 448, while the South At- lantic division, with an average of 2,044 persons per pay station, had made the least progress. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company reported 26,573, or 81.8 per cent, of the automatic stations, and 29,083, or 60.1 per cent, of the other pay stations. Party line stations. — Table 46 contains statistics by states and territories for the party line stations, and j Table 47 the number and kind of switchboards ; while Tables 48 and 50 show the corresponding totals for the commercial and the mutual systems separately. In the commercial systems the party line stations numbered 808,571, or 36.3 per cent of the total, and averaged 3.2 stations per line. In the mutual sys- tems 77,581 stations, or 86.9 per cent, were on party lines, and the average was 8.4 stations per line. In order to distinguish party lines of commercial and mutual systems from those of rural lines, which are almost invariably party lines, the term party line is restricted to polystation circuits within the corporate limits of a city or town. The commercial companies reported a total of 248,908 party lines and the mutual companies 9,258 party lines. In Tables 29 and 30 a distribution by states and territories is made for com- mercial and for mutual party line stations. The rural lines for which statistics are shown in Table 38 had an average of 12 telephones per line, the commercial rural showing 8 and the independent rural, 11. Magneto and common hattery stations. — Technically, substations may be divided into two classes, namely, magneto and common battery substations. The chief difference between the two classes of substations is in the method of providing the electrical energy used in conversation and for signaling. The magneto substation embraces a receiver, a transmitter, a bat- tery to actuate the transmitter, a magneto generator with which to signal the central office, and the neces- sary apparatus to protect the substation from light- ning or abnormal electric currents. In the common battery substation the source of energy is a battery located at the central office; the exchange uses this battery both to signal and to supply the transmitter. By the use of the common battery the substation is simplified, its installation cost reduced, and its maintenance cheapened. Ex- perience has shown that the larger the territory in which a system operates the less the economy of this latter form of substation. When the subscribers are few and widely scattered, and when the traffic rate is low, magneto apparatus with local battery substa- tion is more economical. When a large number of subscribers are concentrated in a small territory, and the traffic rate is high, the common battery system is a decided gain. Thus in the smaller communities the mutual systems and the independent farmer or rural lines are almost universally constructed and operated upon the magneto plan, while the systems in cities and towns are chiefly of the common battery type. It is difficult to determine where the economical dividing line exists. It is probable that exchanges of less than 500 subscribers can be operated more eco- nomically with a magneto outfit, while for those with a larger number of subscribers there is greater econ- omy in using the common battery system. Table 4 shows a total of 2,371,044 stations, includ- ing independent rural lines, but there is no separation showing the proportion of magneto or local and com- mon battery installations, although in Table 5 the number of magneto and common battery switch- boards for commercial and mutual lines is given. Magneto substation apparatus. — The magneto sub- station apparatus is very diverse, although the tend- ency has been toward an outfit of which the illus- tration facing page 22 is a representative type. The foundation of this apparatus is a solid hard wood backboard affixed to a supporting wall. Upon this backboard is placed a cabinet, having a door and three compartments. The lowest part is a receptacle in which the cells forming the local battery for the transmitter are placed. Formerly the local battery was made of two or three Fuller cells, when the traffic was large, or a pair of Leclanche cells for lighter work. At present the use of dry cells is rapidly growing, since such cells are initially much cheaper, far less expensive to maintain, and free from the objectiona- ble presence of liquid chemicals. The second com- partment is somewhat smaller and contains the magneto generator, the right-hand wall being perfo- rated to allow the exit of the small shaft, on the exterior end of which is the crank that enables the subscriber to ring. The top compartment contains the hook switch, which projects through the left- hand wall and on which hangs the receiver. The door supports the ringer, whose gongs are secured on the outside. Below the gongs is the transmitter, usually hinged upon a swinging arm or base, which enables the mouthpiece to be conveniently adjusted to the lips. In the base of this arm a receptacle is commonly formed, in which the induction coil is placed. Underneath the transmitter a shelf is often attached to support the telephone directory, or to serve as a small desk upon which memoranda may be made. A great variety is found in the designs for the arrangement of this apparatus, since every manu- facturer offers a number of different patterns in order to suit the taste of various subscribers. Series and bridged substations. — Magneto substa- tions may be divided according to the arrangement of the ringing apparatus into series circuits and bridging circuits. There is an analogy here between i' 4. __ c. -F' FIG. I.— LIGHTNING ARRESTE.R. FIG. 2.— COMBINED FUSE AND LIGHTNING ARRESTER. FIG. 3.— MAGNETO BELL. FIG. 4. — MAGNETO GENERATOR ASSEMBLED. FIG. 5. — MAGNETO GENERATOR DISSECTED. APPARATUS OF THE SUBSTATION. 37 the series method in electric Ughting with arc lamps and the multiple or parallel method of lighting with incandescent lamps. The older, or series, type of telephone is usually provided with a bell of compara- tively low resistance — that is, 60 to 80 ohms — and a magneto generator having its armature normally shunted when not in use for ring signaling. With the best arrangement of this type it is impracticable to place a large number of instruments in series and secure satisfactory transmission, because of the atten- uation of the current in passing through so many mechanisms. The instruments of the bridging type are so adapted that they can be placed in multiple or bridging relationship with the line, and now they are commonly so placed for party lines having more than one substation. The illustration (Fig. 1) facing page 26 shows a bridging set with local battery transmission. The bridging telephone set is provided with a bell magnet of high resistance and a generator that has its armature on open circuit instead of being shunted^ as in series instruments. A permanent bridging arrangement across the line might appear to be injurious to the transmission of speech, since it tends to shunt incoming and outgoing current for talking, but, as the bell is wound to a resistance of from 1,000 to 2,000 ohms, it presents so great, an im- pedance to high frequency telephonic current that practically no difference can be detected; moreover, with such a circuit it is practicable to place a large number of instruments upon the same line and yet secure commercially satisfactory transmission. Hence multiparty lines have become a possibility and have been adopted widely. A number of modifications of this circuit are made by arranging the pieces of apparatus (transmitter, receiver, local battery, induction coil, generator, and bell) in different relations to each other, and some- , times the ground is resorted to as a circuit through which the substation bell may be rung. But all such modifications include the fundamental principle of so locating the apparatus that the talking circuit is cleared during conversation and the signaling circuit subsequently restored. Common lattery apparatus. — In common battery, or, as they are frequently called, central energy systems, a large battery placed at the central office is utilized as the common source of supply of current to the trans- mitters of all subscribers connected with that exchange. It is also possible to utilize this source of electricity as the means of signaling. This is done by permanently connecting the battery to each subscriber's line at the central office. So long as the receiver is on the hook switch, the line is opened at the substation and hence no battery current trav erses it. When the receiver is removed, the hook switch closes the circuit and current from the battery commences to flow. If a relay is interposed in the cir- cuit, the current from the battery excites it, and it attracts the relay armature, which can be arranged to actuate any form of signal, although a small incandes- cent lamp is the one usually adopted. Hence the mere removal of the receiver is sufficient to signal the exchange. Therefore a common battery station differs from a magneto station in the omission of the ringing generator and the local battery; consequently the sub- station outfit may be correspondingly smaller and cheaper. A subscriber set for use with central battery is shown in Fig. 2 of plate facing page 26. Substation receivers. — One type of telephone receiver is shown in Fig. 2 of plate facing page 28. The illus- tration facing page 30 is another type of the receiver (Fig. 1) with a partial section (Fig. 2) and a dissected instrument (Fig. 3). While the instrument is called a receiver, it can also be used in a limited way as a transmitter. In a case made of hard rubber or similar material, and resem- bling a butter stamp, a magnet is inserted. This mag- net consists of a U-shaped permanent magnet of hard steel, on the ends of which are two pole pieces of soft iron, which carry coils of fine insulated wire. The ter- minals of the coils run to conductors contained, in a flexible cord extending through a hole in the rear of the case. Directly in front of the pole pieces is the diaphragm, a circular disk of iron, usually ferrotype metal, about two inches in diameter and from one one-hundredth to one-fiftieth of an inch in thickness. The diaphragm rests upon the face of the case and is secured thereto by means of a hard rubber ear piece or cap, threaded upon the end of the case, which locks the diaphragm in place as close to the pole pieces as possible without touching them. The magneto receiver is, as noted above, a reversi- ble telephone. When sound waves impinge upon the diaphragm, it vibrates; this motion causes changes in the magnetic field created by the permanent magnet, these changes resulting in electrical impulses in the pole piece coils that produce a current in the attached line. If these impulses reach another receiver at the other end of the line, they produce exactly correspond- ing changes in its magnetic field, and so cause its dia- phragm to vibrate, reproducing at the distant end a series of sound waves precisely similar to, though some- what less in amplitude and in volume than, the origi- nating ones. Telephonic communication, therefore, can be carried on simply by means of a line and a pair of magneto telephones, but the action of the magneto instrument is too feeble to be commercially effective. Therefore an instrument that could produce more powerful results became necessary and the battery transmitter was invented. Substation transmitters. — ^It is common to find the telephone transmitter mounted on a swinging arm fastened to the woodwork of the substation set. 18407—06- 38 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. A transmitter head is shown in illustration (Fig. 1) facing page 34, and a cabinet set transmitter, in Fig. 1 facing page 28. Another prevalent type is the desk set, in which the transmitter is supported on a small metal pedestal which carries the hook switch supporting the receiver. See illustration (Fig. 4) facing page 30. In theory the battery transmitter operates as a kind of electric valve, whereby power derived either from a local battery or a central office battery is used in trans- mission, the office of the transmitter being simply to deliver this energy intermittently to the line in undu- latory impulses corresponding to the. sound waves that impinge upon its diaphragm. The working parts of the transmitter are usually inclosed in a cup-shaped receptacle of spun brass, which is covered by a substantial face plate, into which the mouthpiece opens, the whole being sup- ported upon the pedestal or arm. Figures 2 and 3 on plate facing page 34 show a sectional view of the working parts, and the assembled transmitter with the protecting brass cup removed. From the sectional view it will be seen that the work- ing parts consist of a substantial brass piece, h, known as the bridge, which, according to Fig. 3 is clamped firmly to the face plate. The bridge supports a brass cup, to the bottom of which a carbon electrode, r, is attached. As the bridge forms a substantial sup- port for the cup and its inclosed electrode, this type of transmitter is known as the solid back. Over the face of the cup is placed a mica diaphragm, a, which is held in place by a brass ring screwed to the face of the cup. This mica diaphragm carries a second carbon electrode secured to a stud running through the mica diaphragm and attached to the main diaphragm, d, by means of a nut. The space between the two carbon electrodes is filled with fine granular carbon. The mouthpiece, m, is directly in front of the diaphragm, which is pressed against the face plate by means of two springs. Sound waves entering the mouthpiece impinge upon the diaphragm, causing it to vibrate. As the elec- trode, /, is flexibly connected to it, the motion is transmitted to this electrode and causes the pressure that it exerts upon the carbon granules to vary. One pole of the local battery is connected to the rear electrode and the other to the front electrode. In some manner, as yet but imperfectly compre- hended, the changes in the pressure upon the carbon granules cause a considerable variation in electrical resistance, and hence this mechanism causes pulsa- tions of current from the battery to flow through the circuit, and, as these pulsations are far greater in intensity than those produced by the magnetic tele- phone, the battery transmitter talks correspondingly louder and more clearly. The induction coil. — The effect upon the receiver depends not upon the total current flow, but rather upon the magnitude of the fluctuations. If a trans- mitter, receiver, battery, and line be connected in series, the magnitude of any particular fluctuation will depend solely on the ratio of the change in the resistance created in the transmitter to the total resistance. If the transmitter be placed in a local circuit, and a small transformer be used to impart the transmitter impulses in the local line to the main circuit, then it is easy to make the transmitter resistance form a very large part of the total in the local circuit and the impulses become correspondingly accentuated and effective. Such is the function of the induction coil. Further, by the transformer action of the induction coil, a low voltage and large current in the local circuit are transformed into a high voltage and small current in the transmitting circuit, and hence better transmis- sion of speech may be secured. The induction coil usually consists of a core of soft iron wire, upon which is placed a primary winding of silk-covered copper wire, surrounded by an appropriate thinner secondary wind- ing, the whole being inclosed to prevent injury. Signaling apparatus. — Magnetic signaling apparatus consists of two parts — a generator to produce the neces- sary alternating current and a magneto bell to be operated thereby. Figures 4 and 5 on plate facing page 36 show a common type of generator and the various parts of the mechanism. The generator consists of from two to eight U-shaped permanent magnets, bolted to an iron frame that carries a shaft, to which a gear wheel and crank are attached. The gear wheel meshes into a pinion placed upon the shaft of a shuttle-wound armature that rotates between the poles of the magnets. Therefore, when the crank is turned, the armature is revolved rapidly and an alternating current is produced. Thus this machine is merely a magneto dynamo on a suffi- ciently small scale to be easily actuated by hand. A magneto bell is shown in Fig. 3 on plate facing page 36. This bell consists of a frame which supports a pair of gongs, a pair of magnet spools, a U-shaped permanent magnet, and an armature pivoted in front of the poles of the electro-magnets, carrying a clapper so arranged that when the armature swings, the clapper will strike against the edges of the gongs. The magneto call possesses the advantage that it contains no contacts to corrode and requires no bat- tery maintenance, while the generators can be easily built to give sufficient pressure or voltage of current to operate the longest line. Protection, of substation. — The telephone line often is accidentally crossed with other conductors carrying dangerous potentials or large currents and the aerial circuit is sometimes struck by lightning. Either con- tingency may damage the substation, expose the FIQ. 1.— AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH, CENTRAL STATION. FIG. 2.— AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DESK SET, SUBSCRIBER'S STATION. FIG. 3.— AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE WALL SET, SUBSCRIBER'S STATION. FIQ. 4 —AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE, WALL SET SHOWING PARTY CALLING. APPARATUS OF THE SUBSTATION. 39 building to fire, or inflict upon the user a disagreeable or dangerous shock. Hence it is customary to equip substations with devices whose object is to isolate the substation before damage can be done. Such con- trivances are usually termed protectors. Lines that are entirely underground are virtually free from danger from lightning, and, when inclosed in conduits, con- tact between them and other circuits is so rare that present practice inclines to the omission of protect- ive devices altogether. Such -devices are applied, however, to the portions of the line upon poles. Abnormal currents are either of excessive potential or of excessive quantity. No single device has been found sufficient to guard against both forms of abnor- mal current, so that the present protector embraces one contrivance to protect against high potential dis- charges and another to guarantee against sneak cur- rents. The common form of the high potential portion, often termed a lightning arrester, is a spark gap, which consists of a pair of carbon plates, one of which is grounded while the other is connected to the line, the plates being separated by a thin perforated ?mica washer from one two-hundredth to one one-hun- dredth of an inch in thickness. See illustration (Fig. 1) facing page 36. Usually a protector is placed upon the backboard of the substation ■ set, although it would afford better protection to the building if it were located on the out- side of the house wall. Frequently a small cavity is excavated in one of the lightning arrester carbon plates, in which a button of easily fusible metal is placed. The heat of a discharge between the plates dead- grounds the line and protects the station from further injury. The spark gap as thus constructed has proved itself efficient to protect apparatus from high potential dis- charge, but, in order not to interfere with the normal operation of the telephone line, the spark gap must present an air space of at least one two-hundredth of an inch, or the normal ringing current will jump the gap and short circuit the line. Consequently the spark gap does not afford protection from currents of less than two hundred or three hundred volts. To prevent injury from sneak currents, the protector must be further equipped with some device which shall open the circuit in case current values exceed a dan- gerous amount. This is usually a fuse or heat coil. The fuse is of the simplest form and is frequently a strip of mica about one inch in length, supplied with copper terminals connected by a bit of fine copper or German silver wire, either stretched straight between the terminals or wound in a helix around the mica. A combined double-pole lightning arrester and fuse is shown in illustration (Fig. 2) facing page 36. As fuses are somewhat uncertain devices, the so- called heat coil is also provided as being more reliable. This consists of a coil of fine wire wound upon a core placed in series with the line, the core consisting of a movable pin that normally is soldered in its place by easily fusible metal. The heat coil is held in a pair of springs in such a manner that the pin is insulated. If an abnormal current enters, the heat developed in the coil is sufficient to melt the solder and allow the pin to fall upon a grounded plate. Further, the device is usually so contrived that the pin may open the portion of the line inside of the building, while it grounds the external conductor. Between the heat coil and the line it is customary to insert a fuse formed of a lead wire four or five inches in length, inclosed in a fiber tube. When the heat coil operates and grounds the line, it removes the resistance of all apparatus beyond it. Then, usually, sufficient current traverses the line to melt the lead fuse and this opens a gap long enough to break the circuit completely. Automatic stations. — Among the more recent forms of telephone substation are those known as automatic. These depend upon central offices where the lines are interconnected by devices that dispense with the service of an operator at the switchboard. Views of this apparatus are given in plate facing page 38. Desk and wall sets are shown, and the action of the subscriber is illustrated when setting the signal dial at his station on the numerals of the desired line, so that the mechanism at the central office will receive the call automatically and select the circuit wanted, as well aa call up the subscriber there. OHAPTEE YIT. THE WIRE PLANT. Governing conditions. — ^The wire plant of a telephone systena forms the connecting link between the sub- station and the central ofHce. In the construction of the first telephone lines the practice that had been established by the telegraph companies was closely followed. Iron wire, supported upon wooden poles, as well as small glass insulators, cross arms, pins, and other line accessories of the types that telegraph prac- tice had sanctioned, were used. As in telegraphy, the earth was employed as one side of the telephone circuits. Because of its rapid adoption the telephone soon . demanded, particularly in urban districts, so large a number of wires as to cause the pole to become an intolerable nuisance; while the simultaneous de- velopment of other electrical industries — particularly the street railway — that also utilized the earth for completing the circuit, caused grounded lines to become so noisy as to render speech transmission uncommercial and often impossible. From an elec- tro-magnetic standpoint iron wire is objectionable, and its ability to withstand corrosion from atmos- pheric influences is much less than that of copper. Therefore the present tendency is in the direction of abandoning the earth as a return and using a com- plete copper metallic circuit of wires inclosed in cables, either laid in underground conduits in urban centers or supported upon poles in the less densely settled districts, the open-wire line being relegated to short distribution, to sparsely settled rural localities, or to toll and long distance lines, where the greater elec- trostatic capacity of the cable renders its use objec- tionable. Statistics of wire circuits. — In the outlying districts, as shown in Table 3, there were 5,518 miles of wire, or 1.909 miles per telephone, while in continental United States, as shown in Table 4, the total quantity of telephone line wire reported as in use by all systems, including independent rural lines, was 4,900,451 miles, or 2.067 miles per telephone. The commercial sys- tems employed 97.5 per cent of the total mileage; the mutual systems, 1.5 per cent; and the independent rural lines, 1 per cent. Table 5 shows that the com- mercial telephones used 2.147 miles of wire per tele- phone and the mutual systems, 0.794 of a mile. The Bell companies, as shown in Table 6, operated 3,387,- 924 miles, or 69.8 per cent of the total, having 2.572 miles of wire per telephone. The independent com- panies returned 30.2 per cent of the wire mileage, (40) showing 1.465 miles per telephone. The wire mileage of the Bell companies is greater than that shown by the independent companies, because the former con- trol considerably greater mileage of toll lines and because the Bell exchanges of each system are con- nected by trunk lines. It is rare for an independent local exchange or system to have more than one office. Wire mileage hy geographic divisions. — The distri- bution of wire mileage by geographic divisions is shown in Table 8 for all systems, in Table 9 for the commercial systems, in Table 11 for the mutual sys- tems, and in Table 38 for the rural lines. The North Central division had the greatest mileage for all sys- tems and for each class of systems. The fact that the mutual lines in this division utilized 81.6 per cent of the total mileage for mutual systems is worthy of note. Wire mileage of rural lines. — Table 38 contains a complete analysis of wire mileage for rural lines. The total length of wire was 269,306 miles, or an average length of about twelve miles per line. The correspond- ing averages for commercial rural and for independent rural lines were about nine and ten miles, respectively. The length of wire per telephone for commercial rural lines was 1.136 miles, and for independent rural, about nine-tenths of a mile. From Table 39, which shows the rank of the five states containing the bulk of the rural lines, it is seen that Illinois had the greatest wire mileage, 47,463 miles, or 0.96 of a mile of wire, per telephone. Underground, overhead, and submarine wires. — ^Table 46 contains the detailed statistics concerning wire mileage and shows data relating to underground lines, . aerial lines, and submarine cables. Of the 4,850,486 miles of wire reported, 3,150,444, or 64.9 per cent, con- sisted of wire above ground, and 1,690,502, or 34.9 per cent, of wire underground. The remaining 9,540 miles consisted of wire in submarine cables. There were on the average 231.9 miles of wire in each mile of under- ground cable, making an average of 116 pairs of wires per cable. The largest amount of underground con- struction was in New York state, which reported 2,130 miles of duct, 1,571.7 miles of cable, and 392,973 miles of single wire; but Pennsylvania had more duct than New York by 1,988.4 miles. In underground wire mileage Pennsylvania was second, with 249,246 miles; Ohio third, with 153,677 miles; and Massa- chusetts fourth, with 148,707 miles. There were eight THE WIRE PLANT. 41 states and territories which did not report any under- ground construction. Of the overhead wire mileage 2,369,914 miles, or 75.2 per cent, consisted of wire on pole or roof lines, and 780,530 miles, or 24.8 percent, of overhead cable. The total length of overhead cable was 8,104.5 miles, so that the average wire mileage per mile of cable was 96.3 miles, making an average of 48 pairs of wires per cable. In miles of wire in overhead cable Ohio ranked first, with 114,473 miles; New York second, with 82,967 miles; Pennsylvania third, with 73,670 miles; and Illinois fourth, with 71,251 miles. The total wire mileage in submarine cables was 9,540. Of this amount, 3,267 miles, or 34.2 per cent? was reported from New York state; 1,034 miles, or 10.8 per cent, from Michigan ; and 996 miles, or 10.4 per cent, from New Jersey. Miles of wire per system and station. — Tables 29 and 30 show, for states and territories, the average number of miles of wire per system and per station. It appears that for continental United States the com- mercial systems averaged 1,514 miles per system and 2.15 miles per station. The mutual systems showed 71 miles per system and 0.79 of a mile per station. Massachusetts showed the greatest commercial mile- age per system, 25,746, but the station mileage was 2.67. California showed the greatest mutual mileage per system, 154, but its station mileage was third. Texas stood first in mutual station mileage, with 2.91, and Colorado second, with 2.50. Kind of poles used. — ^The pole is the foundation of the open line. In states of the North Atlantic and North Central divisions chestnut is largely used, and in those of the South Atlantic and South Central divisions juniper, cypress, cedar, and sometimes southern pine are employed, although the pine and the cypress rot so rapidly as to make the maintenance of such poles an expensive item. In states of the Western division the various kinds of pine and fir, imported from the North Pacific coast, prevail. The following tabular statement shows the usual size of poles : Table of pole sizes. CIECUMFEE- CIRCUMFEE- ENCE (INCHES). Approx- imate average weight ENCE (INCHES). Approx- Length (feet). Length (feet). imate average weight f 6 feet 6 feet At top. from butt. (pounds). At top. from butt. (pounds). 20 m 24 100 40 22 40 625 20 16 25 130 40 26 43 800 25 12§ 24 160 45 22 43 835 26 16 25 200 45 26 46' 1,000 26 17i 26 250 50 22 46 1,035 25 19 27 350 60 25 50 1,250 25 22 30 350 56 22 50 ■1,600 25 25 34 375 66 25 54 1,650 30 19 30 275 60 22 54 2,000 30 22 34 350 60 25 58 2,000 30 25 37 450 66 22 58 2,700 35 22 37 450 70 22 64 3,400 35 25 40 600 Cross arms are usually made of yellow pine. The following tabular statement shows the accepted dimensions of cross arms: Table of cross arms. PIN SPACING (INCHES). Approx- Length (feet). Number of pins. imate weight Ends. Sides. Centers. (pounds). 3 4 2 4 4 4 28 16 10 14 12 5 4 4 15 22 17 6 4 4 21 22 21 6 6 4 12 16 21 8 6 4 16J 22 28 8 8 4 12 16 28 8i 10 3 10 16 295 10 8 4 16 22 35 10 10 4 12 16 35 10 12 4 9t 16 36 In the top of the pole a series of gains is cut of such size as to receive the squared center of the arm which is bolted to the pole, sometimes by a five-eighth or three-quarter inch machine bolt and sometimes by a lag screw. In this way the arm is supported. To stay each cross arm, two cross arm braces are used. These are of iron, 28 inches long, one and one- fourth inches wide, and one-fourth of an inch thick. Each brace has a hole drilled at either end, one end being secured to the cross arm about ten inches from the center by means of a carriage bolt four and one- half inches long and three-eighths of an inch in diam- eter, and the other being attached to the pole by means of a lag bolt five inches long and one-half of an inch in diameter. The insulator pins, which are usually of locust, are driven into the cross arms, and secured by wire nails. There is said to be an increas- ing tendency toward the use of iron pins, which as a rule are composed of shanks of mUd steel or iron, from one-half to five-eighths of an inch in diameter. These pins support threaded wooden plugs cut to re- ceive the insulators, or else the insulators are set upon the ends of the iron pins and secured by plaster of Paris. The so-called pony insulators, made of bottle green glass, are almost universally used for the line wire. Porcelain insulators have been tried, but, as they are more expensive and have proved but slightly more efiicient, they have not been used extensively. The line wire is usually secured to the insulator by a tie wire of the same size and material as the line wire. The length of the tie wire varies from 16 to 22 inches, depending on the size of the line wire. Line wire is of hard drawn copper or of iron. Short lines are usually of No. 10 or No. 12 B. & S. wire, while for toll and long distance work No. 8, or occasionally No. 6, wire is employed. It is customary to secure the line to the insulator by placing the wire in the groove of the insulator and wrapping around it a piece of tie wire. Iron wire is usually spliced by the familiar Western Union joint, made by wrapping the ends of the wire for three or 42 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. four inches and then twisting them together. Hard- drawn copper wire can not be so treated, because a twisted joint ruptures the hard skin, in the integrity of which hes its strength. The copper wire is sphced by the Mclntire joint. Tliis consists of two parallel copper tubes, of the proper size to fit the wire. The end of one wire is inserted into one tube, and the end of the other wire into the other tube, then the tubes are twisted tightly, making a joint whose strength is nearly equal to that of the wire itself. Transmission over long telephone lines is likely to be affected by the inductive action, either of the neighboring telephone wires or of other electrical circuits. As a preventive, it is customary to so transpose the various wires that they may twist around each other and occupy different positions with reference to neighboring lines. Transpositions are usually made with a special insulator, whereby each line to be transposed is terminated, and then by means of a cross wire changed from one insulator to the other. Telephone cables. — The invention of the so-called paper cable has completely revolutionized the build- ing of telephone lines, by providing a method whereby, at small cost, a large number of conductors can be compressed into a small space and yet preserve requisite insulation without objectionable increase of electrostatic capacity. To make paper cables, soft drawn copper wire of 18, 19, 20, or 22 gauge is insulated by covering it with a double wrap of tissue paper. Each metallic circuit consists of two such wires twisted together in a strand havinjg a lay of from 4 to 6 inches. The proper number of such strands to form the desired cable are then cabled by using one pair for the center and laying up around the central pair layer after layer of circuits, each being cabled in a direction reverse to the other. Finally the whole mass of wire thus arranged is inclosed in a lead pipe, which hermetically seals the conductors in an absolutely moisture-proof sheath. By the spiral arrangement the inductive effects of adjacent circuits are nullified, for, as each pair of wires is twisted with a lay of about six inches, each side of each circuit is mutually transposed twice in every foot, and, as the different layers are spiraled in reverse order with a lay of about twenty-four inches, each circuit as a whole is frequently transposed with reference to all others. In the use of a loose wrap- ping of paper an insulating material is secured, which possesses, so long as it is kept dry, an exceed- ingly high insulation resistance, combined with great lightness and flexibility and low specific inductive capacity. Thus the paper cable secures an almost ideal arrangement for telephonic circuits, but its permanence depends on the integrity of the lead sheath, its only protection from moisture, which would imme- diately ruin all the circuits. Paper cables are made to contain from four or five pairs of wires for distribution to six or seven hundred pairs for main line work. Three varieties, differing chiefly in the size, are in common use. Subscribers' cables are those employed for the shortest lines, where a relatively high conductor resistance and electro- static capacity are of minor importance. Trunk line cables use a larger gauge wire and have a lower capacity, and toll line cables have the least con- ductor resistance and the lowest capacity. From a mechanical standpoint the paper cable has httle strength. The lead of the sheath is intrinsically weak and the copper wires, that with their paper wrappings form the core possess little mechanical strength. Hence telephone cables must be carefully supported and not allowed to sustain their own weight over long spans. When cables are to be used upon pole lines, it is customary to run a ^teel wire rope, termed a messenger wire, from pole to pole, and hang the cable thereto by means of clips. Upon each pole the messenger wire is supported by means of either a special angle iron cross arm, or an iron bracket. As it is impractical to manufacture paper cables of more than from four to five hundred feet in length, frequent splices are necessary. The cable is prepared by stripping the lead about twenty-four inches at each end. A lead sleeve, about eighteen inches long and with a diameter from one inch to one and one-half inches greater than that of the cable, is sUpped over the ends. Then the paper wrapping is removed from the wires and over each a paper sleeve is placed; the ends are twisted together and the paper sleeve is slipped over the bare portion. To remove any absorbed moisture the cable joint is boiled in paraffin. Then a wrapping of tape is bound firmly over the generators. The lead sleeve is slipped over the sphce, the ends are dressed down, and the sleeve is soldered to the respective sheaths. Telephone cables terminate usually either at a central office or upon an open wire distributing pole. At the end of the cable the conductors must be brought out. There are two devices for accomplishing this, the cable head and the pot head. The former con- sists of a rectangular iron box, having at one end a brass pipe to which the sheath of the cable is soldered and through which the conductors pass to the inside of the head. The sides of the head are provided with binding posts, which project, air tight, through the sides. After each conductor is run to its appropriate binding post and soldered, the head cover is screwed down upon a rubber gasket, sealing the cable. The pot head is the cheaper device. It is made by splic- ing a short handmade cable to the cable in the man- ner already described. To prevent moisture from entering the cable, the sleeve is made somewhat longer, the pot head is set on end and heated to TELEPHONE CONDUITS NEAR STREET RAILWAY TRACK. GROUP OF 24 DUCTS IN TELEPHONE CONDUIT SHOWING STANDARD PRACTICE. THE WIRE PLANT. 43 about 300° P. and the sleeve is filled with melted chatterton or other cable compound, which unites with the rubber covei'ing of the leading out wires. Telephone conduits. — A telephone conduit is a long longitudinal passageway which is built beneath a highway and in which one or more cables may be placed. In the first efforts to build underground lines the simple plan was adopted of burying a cable either directly in the ground or in a trench or box filled with sand. But this means that the cable is inaccessible unless the pavement is lifted, hence such built-in sys- tems were found to be impractical. For the so-called drawing-in systems pipe-like passageways are built in the streets so that they open at intervals of from 200 to 400 feet into vaults or chambers which afford access to the ducts. Thus the conduit and the cable are entirely distinct, and cables may at any time be introduced or removed with no interference to the street surface. Many feet of conduit have been built of wrought iron pipe embedded in concrete, with the idea that the iron pipe would form a convenient receptacle for the cable, and that, if it should rust away, an equally useful hole in the concrete would remain. A formid- able objection was the expense of the iron pipe. To cheapen conduit construction some unknown person employed a terra cotta drainpipe, and upon this simple and apparently obvious expedient the whole modern system of terra cotta conduit building is based. Two forms of clay ducts are now in use — the single duct, or hollow brick, and the multiple duct. The single duct is made of pieces of rectangular clay pipe about 18 inches in length and 5 inches in diameter over the fiat sides and has a longitudinal hole about 3 inches in diameter. In the street a trench is excavated of sufficient size to accommodate the desired number of ducts. Upon the bottom of this trench a layer of concrete from 3 to 5 inches in thickness furnishes a surface with adequate foundation and a proper grade for drainage and venti- lation. The conduits are built by laying the tiles in brick-wall fashion. Each duct is embedded in a layer of cement mortar, and, in order that the successive ducts may be properly aligned, they are laid on a man- drel, which is a round stick about 5 feet in length placed in each duct and drawn along as fast as a new brick is laid, so that the successive pieces are centered by means of the rods on which they rest. As these hollow bricks are short, the laying requires consider- able labor; moreover, the trade unions have held that the use of a trowel brings the construction of the con- duit within the definition of masonry, and hence they apply to it the wage rate of skilled masons. The so-called cement lined pipe has been extensively used, and many believe that its use is advantageous. The duct material is composed of cement pipe, made by molding cement around a mandrel placed inside a thin iron tube about 5 feet in length, the reason for the use of the iron casing being the protection of the cement while it is hardening. Conduits of cement lined pipe are built as already described, the space between the tubes being filled with mortar, while alignment is secured by providing the successive pieces of duct material with male and female ends. The multiple duct is a recent development. The difference between it and the single hollow brick is that in the multiple duct from two to twelve ducts are combined in one piece, and therefore the labor of handling and laying is reduced. Thus a 16-duct sub- way can be composed of four pieces of 4-duct tile. The duct material is laid upon a concrete bed. Con- secutive pieces are aligned by means of dowel pins, which are inserted into holes in the partitions between the ducts, while joints are formed by wrapping the ends of the successive lengths with burlap coated with asphalt or cement mortar. In order that cables may be introduced into the conduit it is customary to provide chambers which are called manholes or vaults. These must be placed where the conduit makps a marked change in direc- tion, as it is inexpedient to pull cables around corners. As the street corner forms a convenient location for the manhole, these chambers are usually placed from 200 to 400 feet apart. The manhole is made either of brick or of concrete and is provided with one of the many different designs of iron covers now in use, so that the continuity of the street level may be preserved and access to the chamber afforded. In building conduit manholes a concrete bottom from 6 to 8 inches in thickntess is usually made at the lowest part of the necessarj^ excavation, and in this a sewer trap is placed to serve as an outlet for any sur- face water that may enter. Upon the concrete bot- tom the manhole itself is constructed. When con- crete is employed it is customary to make a collapsible mold, nearly filling the excavation, and to ram the concrete on top of the mold and between it and the surrounding earth, thus making a thick monolithic chamber. The concrete manholes cost about three- fourths as much as the brick manholes, and are con- siderably stronger after the concrete is thoroughly set and much more efficient in resisting the predatory pick of the street paver. OHAPTEE Till. CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE. Definition of central office. — The Bureau of the Cen- sus employs the terms "pubHc exchange" and "central office" to designate the place where the larger switch- boards are located for the purpose of interconnecting subscribers' telephones. It is the function of the central office to place the subscribers in talking relations with each other and to disconnect their lines when conversation is completed, in readiness for new calls from other persons. All its apparatus and all the energy of its operators must be bent toward performing the necessary functions with the utmost celerity and economy. Many systems have a main exchange and a number of public branch exchanges, or branch central offices; all of those hav- ing switchboards were considered and counted as public switchboards and public centrals. The 10,361 public exchanges shown in Table 46 therefore repre- sent the entire number of offices which were used for the purpose of interconnecting subscribers' substa- tions. The 4,985 independent rural lines from which reports were received did not operate any central office. Telephone switchboards. — The switchboard is the .chief and most important feature of the central office, because the success of the system as a whole- depends upon its proper operation. For continental United States the total number of switchboards of all kinds was 10,896. This exceeds the number of public exchanges by 535. This differ- ence is due partly to the fact that toll boards and local boards were returned separately for the exchanges in which there were separate installations for these two forms of service. In general, switchboards may be classed as manual or automatic. An automatic switchboard is one that does not de- pend upon the service of an operator, but is worked by the subscriber himself from his substation. Auto- matic switchboard substations are provided with some form of mechanism which the subscriber sets to the number of the correspondent whom he desires. This mechanism then transmits to the central office a series of electrical impulses, that actuate an electro- magnetic mechanism in the switchboard, usually upon the step by step plan, whereby the subscriber's line is automatically connected to that of the desired (44) correspondent. While the problem of the automatic exchange has been under process of solution for a number of years, there were only 54 switchboards of this type in practical operation in 1902, which shows that they were then comparatively unimportant, although the number appears to be increasing very rapidly. The manual switchboard is so called because con- nections between subscribers are made manually by operators, who connect the lines of different subscribers by means of plugs joined by flexible conductors, all connections being made in accordance with the oral instructions of the calling subscribers. According to Table 5, there were 10,842 manual boards, which were divided into common battery and magneto boards. Common battery boards may be defined as those that use a central office battery to supply the energy for the transmitters and for signaling to all of the sub- stations attached. Magneto boards are those that serve systems in which each substation has a local battery to energize its transmitter, and uses a magneto generator to signal the central office. There were 837 common battery boards, or 7.7 per cent of the total number of switchboards, while the magneto boards aggregated 10,005, or 91.8 per cent; but the common battery boards, notwithstanding they were numerically much fewer than the magneto, are of greater impor- tance. Common battery boards are used almost entirely in the larger cities, and hence are utilized by the bulk of the subscribers in the United States. Statistics of switchhoard equipment. — Tables 3, 5, and 6 contain statistics as to switchboard equipment. In the outlying districts there was a total of 14 boards, of which 12 were magneto and 2 were common battery. These systems had an average of 207 telephones per switchboard. For continental United States the number of switchboards reported as belonging to commercial systems was 9,954, or 91.4 per cent of the total number, while the mutual systems had 942 boards, or 8.6 per cent. All the private branch exchange boards, 7,883, were reported for the com- mercial systems. When a comparison is made regarding the switch- board equipment of the Bell and the independent companies, as given in Table 6, it is seen that the Bell boards numbered 3,820, and formed only 35.1 per CENTRAL AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, 6,000 LINE FULL AUTOMATIC. MAIN EXCHANGE PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, BEFORE OCCUPANCY BY OPERATORS. CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE. 45 cent of the total number of boards; but there were 345 telephones per switchboard for the Bell com- panies, while the average for boards of independent companies was 141. The Bell system showed 7,266 private branch exchange boards, or 92.2 per cent, out of the total of 7,883, while on the independent lines there -^ere only 617 such exchanges. In the Bell exchanges there were 356 common battery boards, or 9.3 per cent of the switchboard equipment of those exchanges. The independent common battery boards numbered 481, being 6.8 per cent of the total equip- ment of 7,076. Of the 54 automatic boards, the Bell companies operated only 1. Geographic distriiution of exchanges and switch- hoards. — Tables 8, 9, and 11 show the distribution of exchanges and switchboards by main geographic divisions. The North Central had the most exchanges, 5,212 for all systems — 4,442 for the commercial and 770 for the mutual. The switchboards for this divi- sion were slightly in excess of the exchanges, num- bering 5,500 for all systems — 4,730 for the commercial and 770 for the mutual. Tables 46 and 47 give a detailed analysis, by states and territories, of the physical equipment of the 10,361 public exchanges. In Tables 29 and 30 there is an analysis for states and territories, showing the average number of sta- tions per switchboard for the commercial and mutual systems. As shown in Table 47, the greatest number of com- mon battery or central energy switchboards were in use in Pennsylvania, for which state 118, or 14.1 per cent of all boards of this class, were reported. The largest number of automatic switchboards was re- turned from Kansas, where 16, or 29.6 per cent of all automatic boards, were in use. Table 40 shows, by states and territories, the distri- bution of the exchanges of the Bell and the independ- ent companies. Table 40. — Number of public exchxinges, Bell and independent sys- tems, by states and territories : 1902. STATE OK TEKEITOEY. United States. Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Idatio Illinois Indian Territory Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Total. 10, 361 30 123 376 44 21 5 38 113 33 912 50 621 710 259 203 60 112 3,753 31 12 19 362 28 177 Inde- pendent. 18 104 14 16 i 16 30 •5 736 60 530 642 236 107 16 32 Table 40. — Number of public exchanges, Bell and independent sys- tems, by states and territories: 190$ — Continued. STATE OR TEEEITOKY. Total. Bell. Inde- pendent. Massachu.^etts 233 511 246 95 482 32 220 11 87 246 12 713 125 49 757 62 118 772 20 82. 103 158 334 22 ' 103 139 140 180 342 14 221 185 ■ 23 64 41 19 77 8 76 176 2 408 7 4 158 4 99 363 18 15 9 95 118 22 39 14 135 27 88 13 12 Michigan 326 223 Mississippi. . . 31 Missouri 441 13 Nebraska 143 3 New Hampshire . 12 71 New Mexico 10 306 North ■Carolina . 118 North Dakota 45 Ohio . . . . 699 Oklahoma Oregon 48 19 Pennsylvania 409 2 South Carolina. . 67 South Dakota 94 63 Texas 216 Utah Vermont 64 125 Washington West Virginia 5 153 Wisconsin 254 1 Indian Territory was the only civil division that had no Bell exchange and the District of Columbia and Utah were the only ones not represented among the independent exchanges. The largest number of the Bell exchanges, 408, was reported for New York state. The greatest number of exchanges of independent companies was shown for Illinois, which had 735 such exchanges. Capacity of exchange and switchhoard. — The total capacity of the switchboards was 2,447,403 lines, or an average of 225 for each board, as compared with an average of 200 subscribers, 212 telephones, and 445 miles of wire. The capacity of the switchboard is generally in excess of the actual demands of the service, but there is no essential relation between the capacity and the number of subscribers or telephones. There are many party lines and private branch exchanges having but one connection with the central switchboard, and in some sections of the country there are extensive toll lines operated without switchboards. On the other hand, in some states provision is made for accommodating independent farmer or rural lines, and the statistics for the stations of such lines are not included in the reports of the system to which they are connected. Miscellaneous central office equipment. — The magneto office, rarely containing more than a few hundred sub- scribers, has little equipment beyond the distributing board, the switchboard with its primary cells for work- ing the operators' transmitters, a ringing generator, and sometimes a prime mover to drive the generator and thus save labor on the part of the operators; but 46 TELEPHONES AND TELEGEAPHS. the modern common battery office of large size must contain a complicated and elaborate equipment con- sisting of a storage battery for supplying, it may be, many thousands of transmitters, a charging dynamo plant to replenish constantly the storage batteries, the necessary prime movers to actuate the dynamos, and a power switchboard, which for complexity some- times rivals that of an electric light station, to handle the multiplicity of circuits that are needed for charging and operating the storage batteries. Moreover, proper relays and other racks are necessary to hold the auxiliary apparatus required by the common battery circuit. Table 47 shows, by states and territories, the statis- tics relating to the equipment of the central offices. This table indicates that there was a total of 110,648 primary cells and 19,001 storage cells in use. Numer- ically the primary cells were much more important than the storage cells, since they corresponded to a larger number of magneto switchboards, but rated by the output of energy the storage cells far exceeded them. There were 196 engines, aggregating 2,750.5 horsepower, and 1,359 dynamos, aggregating 5,459.1 horsepower. The electric motors numbered 1,414, developing 4,209.8 horsepower. The greatest number of common battery boards which would utilize such power resources were found in Pennsylvania, where they numbered 118, while Ohio followed with 108. California, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington showed no common battery boards, but there was no state or territory that did not possess some magneto outfits. The largest number of boards, 861, was in Illinois, and the least, 11, in Nevada and New Mexico. Method of central office connection. — The subscribers' circuits run either upon poles or in conduits to the cen- tral office and terminate there in a switchboard in a contrivance called a jack. Each jack consists of a set of springs to which the line wires are attached. These springs are supported on a strip of rubber hollowed out to receive and protect them. In front of each set a hole is drilled, the object of which is to guide a brass plug of proper shape to fit into the springs and cause it to make contact with them. By means of such a plug and the proper conductor attached thereto any subscriber's line may be extended outside of the jack. In addition to the jack each subscriber's line is pro- vided with a signal, whereby he can attract the atten- tion of the operator. In magneto switchboards this signal is called a drop, and consists of an electro- magnet provided with a shutter normally held vertically by a catch attached to the armature. When the sub- scriber turns the crank of his magneto, the current over the line to the switchboard excites the drop, lifts the catch, and allows the shutter to fall, exposing the number. The jacks and drops are often associated in a single strip, so arranged that when the plug is inserted in the jack, it automatically restores the shutter to its first position. If the drop be permanently connected to the line, its presence impairs transmission, so that the springs of the jack are arranged in such a manner that the entrance of the plug cuts out the drop. The plug consists of a slender brass rod about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter inserted in an insulating handle. The flexible cord is composed of a pair of stranded conductors carefully insulated from each other. The ends are inserted into the hollow handle of the plug and connected to its metallic parts. In addition there are three key switches, or three way switches. By means of one switch the operator can connect the telephone she wears upon her ear with the cord, and so receive the subscribers' orders. By the other switches the operator can ring the subscribers' bells. A common form of switchboard key consists of a brass plate forming an escutcheon, which supports the key upon the shelf. Underneath there is an L-shaped piece of brass, to which are secured sets of springs that are attached to the line wires. The escutcheon plate carries a cam provided with a suitable handle and furnished with a rubber roller, which, when the handle is rotating, impinges upon the springs in such a manner as to lift one set of springs from the con- tacts which they normally make and moves them in such a manner as to make a new pair of contacts. This is a ringing key, which, when the operator releases the handle, springs back to its normal position and cuts off the ringing current. There is also a combined ringing and listening key arranged to ring when the handle is operated toward the right, and to switch the operator's telephone set onto the line when the handle is pressed toward the left. This key is automatic when used for ringing, but re- mains set when in the listening position. That the subscriber may notify the operator when conver- sation has been completed, a clearing-out signal, a high resistance drop, is bridged across the cord circuit. The essential features of the switchboard are the sub- scriber's terminal (jack and drop) and the cord circuit. The complete switchioard. — A complete switchboard is formed by assembling as many sets of the apparatus described as may be necessary for the exchange. These are placed in a cabinet, shaped essentially as in Fig. 1 on plate facing page 46, and containing a vertical panel, in the upper part of which drops are placed. The lower section of the panel contains the jacks. Next comes the cord shelf with its cords and keys, the whole cabinet being so arranged that the shelf is of conven- ient height for the operator when in a sitting position with the drops and jacks arranged in front of her in such a manner as to be within the easiest possible reach. This illustration further shows the method of connecting lines by inserting a pair of plugs and cords into the jacks. The cords pass through holes cut in the shelf and are furnished with pulley weights whose FIG. 1.— SMALL MAGNETO SWITCHBOARD. FIG. 2.— REAR VIEW OF MAGNETO SWITCHBOARD. EARLV TELEPHONE EXCHANGE IN NEW YORK CITY. CENTRAL OFFICE OR EXCHANGE. 47 function is to draw the cord back to its place as soon as the operator has removed it from the jack and thus keep the cord shelf free. A rear view, showing the apparatus contained, is given in Fig. 2 on plate facing page 46. An operator can usually attend to about one hundred lines, and magneto boards are as a rule built in sec- tions accommodating this number. As the number of subscribers increases, succeeding sections may be set up in proximity to each other, and, so long as the exchange is limited to three operators, each can reach the jacks of all subscribers, and hence can connect with all. When more than three operators are needed, it is impracticable for each operator to reach all the jacks. There are two solutions : One, the so-called trans- fer system, in which, if a subscriber calls for a party whose jack is out of the operator's reach, she may transfer the call to some other operator before whom the jack of the desired subscriber appears, by means of a local trunk line extending from her position to that of the other operator. The other method is known as the multiple switchboard. This involves equipping each subscriber's line with more than one jack, a sufficient number being provided so that a jack upon every line may be placed within the reach of every operator. As the operators are usually grouped in threes, this method requires at least one jack upon every line for every three operators. Then to complete a connection it is only necessary for the operator to find the jack of the subscriber to be called, insert the plug, and ring. There is a limit to this system, for, notwithstanding the expenditure of a vast amount of ingenuity, it has been found impracticable to make each of the jacks occupy less than one-fourth of an inch square, or even three-sixteenths, and, as the space available in front of the operator is limited by the length of her arms, it is impracticable to place more than 12,000 jacks in front of any three operators. A large mul- tiple switchboard is presented in the illustration facing page 44. Lamp signal switchboards. — As a signal the visual drop is found inefficient, because the operator often fails to notice the falling shutter, and also undesirable, because it occupies much space. It has now largely been replaced by the lamp signal, which consists of a miniature incandescent lamp, comprising a glass tube about one-fourth of an inch in diameter, shod with a wooden plug, carrying two brass strips that form the terminals. To hold the lamps in the switchboard, they are placed in a bank of jacks, resembling the subscribers' jacks, except that each lamp is furnished with a brass cap, upon which the number may be painted. The subscriber's line is furnished with a relay. The armature carries a platinum contact inserted in the circuit of the lamp. When the sub- scriber removes the receiver from the hook switch, current from the central office battery flows over the line, excites the relay, closes the lamp contact, and illuminates the lamp. The relays are mounted upon strips supported by a proper rack. As subscribers signal involuntarily by the removal of the receiver, and as the signals are operated by relays, the modern switchboard is variously called a common battery board, an automatic signal board, a lamp switchboard, a relay board, or a central energy board. Lamp sig- nals are found equally efficacious as disconnect signals. For this purpose two lamps are used, one associated with each plug and placed in the cord shelf directly in line with the plugs. The circuit is such that each subscriber controls the lamp attached to the plug inserted in his j ack. Plence each subscriber can always secure the attention of the operator. The distributing board. — Before the subscribers' lines reach the switchboard it is customary to carry them through the distributing board or distributing frame. This is an iron framework, upon one side of which the subscribers' lines are terminated, and fur- nished with lightning protectors similar to those used at the substations. On the other side of the distrib- uting board the switchboard cables end. The ter- minals on both sides of the distributing board are permanent, and the short connections between the sides are in the nature of temporary wires called jumpers. The object of this piece of apparatus is to provide for removals, and also to permit of equalizing the distribution of the " load" or work. A subscriber may change his location and yet desire to retain his telephone number. If the distributing board did not exist, it would be necessary to tear the switchboard cabling to pieces in order to run a new line to the old jack; but by means of the distributing frame a simple change with a jumper, which can be made in a few moments, suffices. The common battery equipment. — Of all the apparatus of the common battery offices the storage battery is the most vital, for upon its integrity and continuity of service depends the success of every telephone in the entire exchange. The majority of common battery installations are operated at a potential of 24 volts, requiring a battery of 12 cells. In some cases a poten- tial of 20 volts is used, and in a few others 36 or 40 volts. In some instances a duplicate battery is pro- vided, while in others the office is so designed that the batteries may. be charged concurrently without inter- rupting the regular services which they supply to the exchange. Usually the batteries are installed in a sep- arate room, which is supplied with a concrete floor to avoid injury by acid and has an appropriate ventilating apparatus to dispose of the sulphuric acid fumes gen- erated. The charging apparatus is of two classes. Where a commercial circuit is available, an electric motor is used to drive a dynamo which supplies the proper quantity and voltage of current to charge the storage batteries. In case no commercial circuit is available, some other prime mover — sometimes a steam engine, but more frequently a gas engine — is used tc 48 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. drive the dynamo. In addition, large offices must be supplied with power-driven ringing machines. Common hattery switchboard circuits. — The circuits employed in common battery switchboards are much more complex than those used in magneto installa- tions. From time to time a great variety of such circuits have been produced, to describe which would require reference to numerous diagrams and would transcend both the space and the scope of the Census investigation into telephony. There are, however, certain basic functions which every such circuit must perform and which may be briefly indicated as ger- mane to the general subject. Every common battery circuit aims to secure six results: First. To make the calling and disconnect signals automatic and dependent solely on the position of the receiver at the substation; that is to say, the removal of the receiver transmits the calling signal, and its replacement the disconnect signal. As, without sensible error, it may be stated that common battery circuits are entirely metallic, the substation is so arranged that when the receiver is on the switch hook the circuit is open to the battery current, usually by means of a condenser, sometimes by arranging the calling circuit so that the exchange rings the sub- scriber overground; by this means, so long as the receiver is on the switch hook the subscriber may be called by means of an alternating generator cur- rent, but no battery current can flow. Second. The provision at the central office of a common supply of electricity for all substation trans- mitters. This is usually accomplished by installing a single large storage battery. Some circuits, how- ever, use two batteries so arranged that one becomes common to all calling subscribers and the other to all called subscribers. Third. Such an arrangement of apparatus at the battery as shall cause each subscriber's line to be supplied with its proper quantity of current for talking, irrespective of differing resistances in the lines which may be coupled together; and further, such an arrangement of apparatus as will prevent the common battery from shunting or short circuiting telephone conversation. This is usually accomplished either by introducing a repeating coil between the coupled lines, or by joining the lines by means of a condenser and interposing between the battery and each cord conductor an impedance coil. Fourth. Such an arrangement of signaling appa- ratus as provides a calling signal that is automatically removed by the insertion of the answering plug. This is accomplished either by the use of a cut-off relay that is actuated by the insertion of this plug, or else the plug shunts the line relay, or in some cases the use of jacks with multiple springs so arranged that the insertion of the plug opens the calling signal circuit. Fifth. The provision of appropriate disconnect sig- nals so arranged as to be inconspicuous during con- versation, but becoming visible at the termination thereof. In some circuits this is accomplished by a relay which shunts the disconnect signal so long as the receiver is off the hook; in others, a relay makes a positive contact completing the disconnect signal circuit when the replacement of the receiver opens the subscriber's line. Sixth. The provision of some method whereby a test shall be provided for all busy fines. This is accomplished in some circuits by means of a third wire which puts the battery upon the rings of all the jacks; in others, by a special relay, which when excited by the closure of the subscriber's line similarly charges the jack rings; and in others by such a com- bination of battery circuits as grounds the jack rings when the line is idle and insulates them and connects them with the battery when the lines are in use. To a skilled electrician it is evident that combinations for producing these results are numberless, and hence new ones are constantly arising. Toll line switcTiboards. — A toll line switchboard does not differ materially from the local switchboards described, excepting so far as it may be necessary to adapt it particularly to the transaction of long dis- tance work. The general course of toll business in important exchanges is somewhat as follows : For out- going toll calls, a, subscriber signals the operator in the usual manner; when the operator replies, the subscriber calls for the toll board, and the operator connects him with a so-called recording operator, who takes his order and makes a ticket memorandum of his name and number and the city and address of the party he desires to reach. The recording operator tells the calling subscriber that he will be called as soon as the party can be secured. The recording op- erator then passes the ticket to the proper toll line operator, who secures a toll line to the town specified and calls the party to the telephone. The toll line operator, by a trunk line, connects the toll line to a special operator at the switchboard, to whom the handling of toll work is delegated. This operator calls the original subscriber and connects him to the trunk line extending to the toll board. An incoming toll call is simpler, as it is unnecessary to make a ticket. When an incoming call reaches the toll operator, she connects herself, by means of an order wire, with the special toll operator at the local board and instructs this toll operator to obtain the desired subscriber and to connect him by a trunk line with the waiting toll party. CHAPTEE IX. EMPLOYEES, SALARIES, AND WAGES. General statistics. — The rapid growth of the tele- phone industry between the years 1880 and 1902 is nowhere better exemplified than in the increase in the number of employees connected with it, although, as a matter of fact, the number per exchange in 1902 would indicate a falling off in the ratio for each plant. In 1880 the number of employees was returned as 3,338, whereas in 1902 the number of salaried officials, clerks, etc., and wage-earners was 78,752, or almost twenty-four times as great. But while at the begin- ning of real development, in 1880, the number of em- ployees per exchange was about ten, it had fallen in 1902 to between seven and eight, due to the great improvement in apparatus. These conditions were due undoubtedly to the springing up of. independent systems during recent years, calling into existence a large number of small exchanges in places of minor population. In view of the rapid rate at which the industry is still developing, it might be assumed that as the exchanges grow in number of subscribers and conversations they will need more operators, restoring the old ratio and going beyond it, especially as the multiple switchboards have apparently reached the limit to which connecting devices can be concentrated in front of any one operator or group of operators. Offsetting this, however, is the recent development of the automatic exchanges, some of which are planned on a scale of great magnitude, and tend to minimize the use of human hands and eyes in establishing connection and furnishing service. While women have found a limited employment in telegraphy, the art in this country has remained prac- tically in the hands of men. On the other hand, te- lephony, with its simpler, narrower range of work to be performed at the central office, has provided op- portunity for a large number of young girls at a low rate of pay, comparing in this respect with the factory system. The duties performed in a telephone ex- change are, however, much more varied than those connected with watching mere machinery, as behind each telephone instrument lies the varying personality of the subscribers, and in addition to this the large ex- changes, by their short hours and agreeable surround- ings, have made the employment inviting to many young women of education whom the wages would not otherwise attract. Moreover, opportunities of pre- ferment are offered not only in the exchange, but outside, owing to the evolution during late years of the private branch exchange, which serves as a means of intercommunication in large offices and other places, while connecting also with the exterior public through a miniature multiple switchboard. Positions in these private exchanges at advanced wages have become so numerous that in New York city at the time of this report there were more operators thus employed than were to be found in all the great exchanges of the local telephone company. These private exchange operators are not brought to account in the present statistics, because they are not carried on the pay rolls of the telephone exchange systems from which they might be said to graduate. But they are obviously a part of the great army of telephone employees, en- abling the art to be carried on, and in any statistics of operation they would naturally and properly be enu- merated as telephone employees. It might be inci- dentally noted that in a similar manner the private telegraph operators, a numerous body, were not in- cluded in Table 1 of Part II, and that in some instances a male operator will be found serving both at the key and at the telephone switchboard. All such private exchange switchboards are, however, attended to by the inspectors, linemen, troublemen, etc., enumerated in Table 45, the upkeep of such boards being a small part of the annual contract between the subscriber and the local telephone company. Statistics of employees and wages for all systems.' — Table 45 presents, by states and territories, detailed statistics of employees and wages for all systems. The aim of the inquiry concerning the number of wage-earners was to ascertain the number required, under normal conditions, to carry on the work of the different systems, including all branches of the service. Accordingly the average number employed during the entire year was called for, but a number of the com- mercial companies reported that some wage-earners were engaged for only a portion of the time each daj-. The average number reported for all commercial and mutual systems, including the salaried officials, super- intendents, clerks, operators, and wage-earners re- quired on the line, and other equipment, was 78,752. Practically all of these were employed by the com- mercial companies, as shown also in Table 9. A large number of the mutual companies reported that the service was not sufficient to give constant (49) 50 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. employment to anyone, practically all of the repair work being done by the patrons. Of the total number, 14,124, or 17.9 per cent, were salaried officials, general superintendents, and clerks, and 64,628, or 82.1 per cent, were wage-earners. The salaries and wages paid during the entire year amounted to $36,255,621, of which the salaries formed $9,885,886, or 27.3 per cent, and the wages, $26,369,735, or 72.7 per cent. In naany instances one employee — reported some- times as an exchange manager, sometimes as a line- man — was engaged at a specified annual compensation to care for an entire exchange, keep the line in repair, and perform all duties incident to its operation. In such cases no operators were reported, as members of the family of the employee attended to the switch- board. This practice was followed in many mutual systems, and was in use also in some small commercial companies. In the smaller systems the same em- ployee performed the duties of a foreman, inspector, lineman, wireman, batteryman, and troubleman — in fact, attended to the entire plant; therefore the segre- gation of employees by classes presented in Table 45 can not be accepted as showing the exact average number required for each class. It should also be noted that of the operators no fewer than 37,333 were women and only 2,525 were men, the former receiving $10,035,432 in wages and the latter $729,666. It is evident, therefore, that these women operators in the exchanges constituted more than half the total average number of wage-earners in the whole industry. The moderate rate of their pay can be inferred from the total sum credited to them as wages. A slight difference as to income is shown in favor of men operators, but this might well be due to the fact that in many exchanges the night work, justifying a higher rate, is performed by the men. 'Statistics for principal states. — A study of the sta- tistics by states and territories shows that the number of employees and their salaries and wages follow in due proportion the figures as to income and expenses and also throws light on the size of the exchange systems. Thus the 4,151 systems reporting had 14,124 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 64,628 wage-earners, an average of 3.4 and 15.6, respectively. From these averages there were wide variations. Thus Massa- chusetts, with 10 systems, reported 1,155 officials, or an average of 115.5, and 3,524 wage-earners, or an- average of 352.4. In Iowa, however, the 411 systems had only 341 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 1,909 wage-earners, revealing the presence of a number of very small systems in which the operator would suffice for most executive functions. New York state had the largest telephone force, namely, 2,318 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 7,765 wage-earners, attached to 267 systems, or, respectively, about 9 and 29 per system. Next came Pennsylvania, with 1,475 and 6,682, closely followed by Illinois, with 1,415 and 6,066. While Pennsylvania had only 97 sys- tems, Illinois had no fewer than 381, and thus showed much less concentration of executive duties. Ohio, with 285 systems, had 809 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 5,469 wage-earners, showing that much stiir re- mained to be done with regard to unification or cen- tralization of management. The same is true of Indiana, with 366 systems, 476 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 2,860 wage-earners. Such figures as those for Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana, centers of the independent movement, bring out clearly the extent to which exchanges still stood sepa- rate and alone, and this condition is brought out even more clearly by reference to Table 6, which sum- marizes the statistics of the Bell and the independent systems. For the vast Bell network there were only 44 systems, with 10,341 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 46,064 wage-earners, or 235 and 1,047, respec- tively, per system. As compared with this, the 4,107 independent systems had 3,783 salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 18,564 wage-earners, or an average per system of less than 1 official and 4.5 wage- earners. Statistics of commercial systems. — The 3,157 com- mercial systems reported the great majority of salaried officials, clerks, etc., and wage-earners, employing of the former class, as shown in Table 9, no fewer than 13,958 out of the 14,124 and of the latter 63,630 out of a total of 64,628. To these employees $9,871,596 was paid in salaries and $26,206,065 in wages. The distri- bution of these numbers and amounts followed so closely that for all systems as to need no further analysis or discussion. Statistics of mutual systems. — There were reported 994 mutual systems. Such systems are not,' in prin- ciple, operated for revenue, and as a general thing require very few paid officials or wage-earners of any kind. It appears, however, that in 1902 the 994 sys- tems enumerated had 166 salaried officials, clerks, etc., drawing $14,290 in salaries, and 998 wage-earners, receiving $163,670. In only 30 states and territories were the figures large enough to be tabulated sepa- rately, and over half of the systems were reported from 4 states — Iowa, with 170; Illinois, with 138; Indiana, with 105; and Missouri, with 90. These 4 states had 92 of the salaried officials, clerks, etc., and 648 of the wage- earners. The largest number of wage-earners in any state (184) was in Iowa, but that state had only 9 of the salaried officials, clerks, etc. The welfare of telepTione operators. — For many years it has been recognized that operators' work in tele- phone exchanges attracts a superior class of women. It has been demonstrated beyond all doubt that the work of operating is better handled by women than by EMPLOYEES, SALARIES, AND WAGES. 61 men or boys and that trained and well-bred women operators perform the most satisfactory service. This has resulted in gathering into the exchanges throughout the country young women above the aver- age in ability and ambition. From an early day the telephone companies in the United States have been alive to the importance of securing and retaining this quality of labor, and have appreciated the desirability of providing something more than the required salaries in the way of generally looking out for the welfare of their operators. As long as twenty years ago it was generally the practice in exchanges in large cities to provide com- fortable rest and retiring rooms, and some portions of a luncheon, properly supervised by a matron in charge. Latterly, in many exchanges, the companies have undertaken to furnish the entire lunch and to sell it at cost to the operators, while in at least two of the larger cities the companies have for several years been furnishing the lunch entirely at their own cost. The effect on a large working force of providing ample cloak- room facilities, with well-ventilated lockers, good rest and reading rooms, and a hearty meal has been apparent in the better health of the operators employed. Some three or four years ago, and continuing since, in one large local system an eifort was made to go some- what beyond these matters of physical comfort and to endeavor to secure the interest of the operators throughout the force, not only in their work in hand, but in some one or more matters of interest outside of the actual work they perform for the company. In this exchange a lecturer was at one time employed to deliver addresses on accuracy and on the general development of accurate methods. This was followed by furnishing scrapbooks, in addition to the other reading matter regularly furnished, containing material having a special bearing on accuracy and general improvement. Then opportunity was given in each exchange for operators to make up scrapbooks them- selves, and upon a competitive basis the best two were to receive appropriate prizes. The books thus compiled were of unusual interest and indicated no inconsiderable talent throughout the force. When the prizes, which were money, were awarded, it was determined by a vote of the operators of the respective exchanges that the sums be invested in books and that libraries be established. The company responded by furnishing accommodations for libraries, and by an offer not only thus to provide for the two exchanges in question but to duplicate in other exchanges any amounts which might be subscribed for library pur- poses. The result has been to establish excelleiit circu- lating libraries in eleven of the fourteen city exchanges, so arranged that each of the three remaining exchanges is a branch of the public library in the city, where books are regularly delivered. , In a number of exchanges reading clubs have been established. In others, where opportunity offers, each year a garden is established and maintained and interest is shown by the operators in assisting to plant and care not only for the flower garden but in one or two instances for vegetable gardens, the crops of which are enjoyed throughout the summer season. In one local system a scheme of rating has been estab- lished, based upon a number of service tests which are made each month, and from which is determined the relative standing of each of the fourteen offices. Each month those ranking first and second in the list are given prizes, usually in the form of pictures, each of which is duly inscribed as a prize for the work, and at the same time some book or pamphlet giving informa- tion concerning the painting or artist is distributed. In one exchange support has been given to a women's athletic club in the neighborhood, and classes for even- ing instruction in the gymnasium have been joined by a considerable number of the operators. Recently a plan has been carried out whereby the force of operators is recruited by the efforts of those already in the company's employ, and a premium in money is given for each applicant recommended who remains in the operating training school a period of two weeks. An additional sum is paid when the applicant has graduated and has remained on the oper- ating force for a period of three months. The general desire has been to give to the operator who may be so inclined an opportunity to join in the work of self- betterment and to think and work along the lines fol- lowed by operators who may be about her. The results seem to show that such a community of interest may be established and maintained with desirable results. In the training schools for operators applicants are examined with care to determine whether they are likely to develop the high standard of efficiency required throughout the force, part of the examination being made by a qualified physician. To an intelligent person there are few branches of work that are of more continued interest than tele- phone operating. The handling of each call presents something new in itself. It may almost be said that no two operations are exactly alike, and the guiding hand that m_akes possible the thousands or even mil- lions of combinations of lines has a most interesting task to perform. This continual feature of interest relieves the work from all drudgery and attracts to it a high grade of intelligence. Welfare work among such a class of employees, therefore, is not only a grateful task but one that is appreciated to an unusual extent. CHAPTER X. DEVELOPMENT OF THE MESSAGE RATE PLAN IN NEW YORK CITY.' Although Alexander Graham Bell's invention, the speaking telephone, was introduced to the world at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, it was not until 1878 that a telephone exchange was established and opened to the public for general serv- ice. It has been well said by one identified closely from the very beginning with the remarkable develop- ment of the telephone in all its varied applications and uses that "while it is the telephone that has made the telephone exchange possible, it is the exchange that has made the telephone indispensable." To gain a true idea of what is meant by telephone service in a great city, it should be borne in mind that such service involves the use of a complex physical plant made up of numerous and expensive parts dis- tributed over a wide area, and the performance of labor by an army of people, each highly skilled in some particular branch of the work. From time to time radical changes in conditions have taken place, and these have controlled the evolu- tion of the rate plan. In considering the rates in force at any given time the then existing conditions must be clearly borne in mind. In the early days it was the custom to charge a fixed annual rental per telephone, regardless of the amount of service to be rendered the subscriber; that is, regardless of the additional labor and of the additional plant which might be required in other parts of the system, growing out of the increasing use which the subscriber might make of his telephone. This method of charging is now known as the "flat rate" system. That it should have been adopted by the pioneers in the telephone industry is not surprising, for during the first stages of development the telephone exchange served but a small number of subscribers in a restricted area, the vast and complicated and expensive provi- sion of lines and equipment which are to-day necessary to handle the traffic of a great city was not then required, and within reasonable limits there was sub- stantial uniformity in the use of the service by the various subscribers. Even to-day, where the tele- phone exchange consists of one central office and where the stations to be served are numbered by hundreds rather than thousands, the- flat rate method of charging is found to apply with few exceptions. To meet the conditions surrounding the operation of the first telephone exchange in great cities, the flat rate may be said to have been reasonable and best calcu- lated to develop the industry. Early service and rates. — For several years following 1878, when the work of conducting a telephone ex- change as a commercial undertaking was begun in New York city, the telephone exchange system was confined to the lower end of Manhattan Island. The area actually covered was small. The limited num- ber of correspondents which it was possible for one to reach restricted the use of the telephone, and, more- over, measured by later standards, the service was slow and performed cheaply. At the beginning, and for some sixteen years after, the fiat rate system was the only method of charging for the service, but the rates were not wholly without classification. Lower rates were available at resi- dences than at business places; the charge was higher to a subscriber who required the exclusive use of the wire which connected his telephone to the central office than to one who shared the use of the wire with one or more other subscribers; subscribers re- mote from the central office paid extra charges, vary- ing with the length of wire required, and when a double wire, or "metallic circuit," was required, an additional charge was imposed. Thus there was a scale of graduated charges, varying with the char- acter of the facilities provided, the length of line required, and the amount of service rendered, so far as that was determined, so to speak, by the poten- tiality of the telephone; that is, whether it was at a residence or a place of business. With an expanding area over which exchange tele- phone service must be rendered, and a consequent increase in the average length of line, affecting both investment and working expense, and with an increas- ing volume of traffic per station, due to the constantly enlarging potentiality of each telephone through the addition of new subscribers, the costs per telephone were found to increase. In consequence the rate for a business telephone on a direct or individual line, which at the outset was $60 per year, was advanced until it reached $150 per year. The residence rate was two-thirds of the business rate, and a discount ' Prepared from data supplied by Mr. U. N. Bethell, vice president and general manager of the New York Telephone Company. (52) MESSAGE RATE PLAN IN NEW YOEK CITY. 53 of 25 per cent was allowed to the subscriber having telephones at both his place of business and his residence. Metallic circuit introduced. — In 1887 the New York Telephone Company, or more properly the Metro- politan Telephone and Telegraph Company, the com- pany then operating the system in New York city, began to introduce the "metallic circuit" system. This marked an epoch in the development of the 'telephone in America. Prior to this time, and fol- lowing the practice of the telegraph companies, the telephone line, whether extending between two tele- phone offices or from the telephone office to the sub- scriber's station, consisted of one wire which, after passing through the instrument at each end, con- nected with the ground, which served the purpose of a return circuit. It was found that when a number of these single wires were strung together upon poles for any substantial distance, and even though sepa- rated by distances as great as a foot or more, con- versation taking place upon one wire could plainly be heard upon those in the neighborhood. This was found to be true even if the wires were insulated in the highest degree known to the art. Also the opera- tion of electric railroad and' electric light circuits produced in the single wire telephone system buzzing noises, which at times rendered conversation well-nigh impossible. After years of experimentation and the expenditure of large sums of money, it was found that these diffi- culties could not be overcome without the use of a second wire for each circuit. It was also found that this second wire must be run in a special relation to the first wire, and that both of the wires constituting a given circuit must be placed in predetermined relation to the neighboring circuits. The introduction of the metallic circuit system meant not only the complete reconstruction of the entire line plant, both overhead and underground, but also the replacement of all the central office switch- boards with apparatus designed to meet the new con- ditions as well as the substitution of the now well- known "long distance" telephone in place of the old type at all subscribers' premises. In June, 1889, when this work was in progress, there were about 8,000 telephone stations in the old New York city, served by five central offices, located, respectively, in Cortlandt street, Spring street, Eighteenth street. Thirty-eighth street, and One hundred and twenty- fifth street. All of these offices were in the present borough of Manhattan. There was then no central office in the whole of the great area now known as the borough of the Bronx. The population of New York, which at that time included that portion of the metropolitan territory now known as Manhattan and 18407—06 5 most of the present borough of the Bronx, was about 1,200,000, and the ratio of stations to population about 1 to 150. During the following five years prac- tically the entire system was changed to the metallic circuit basis, and there was a moderate increase in the number of telephones, making the total on June 1, 1894, 11,054, or about 1 to every 136 of the popula- tion, then approximately 1,500,000. During these five years four additional central offices were opened in Manhattan — at Broad street, Franklin street, Columbus avenue, and Seventy-ninth street — and a very small office known as Tremont was opened in the district now known as the Bronx. Prior to the opening of the Tremont office telephones located in the Bronx were connected with the Harlem exchange on One hundred and twenty-fifth street. The greater investment and the greater cost of maintaining the new and greatly improved system necessitated a readjustment of rates. The fiat rate principle was adhered to and rates were fixed as follows : Business, direct line $240 per year. Business, two-party line 150 per year. Residence, direct line 180 per year. Residence, two-party line. . 125 per year. First message rates. — By 1894 the reconstruction on a metallic circuit basis was practically completed ; 76 per cent of the subscribers had taken the improved serv- ice and it was felt that the changing of the remainder was only a matter of time. The plant being in excel- lent condition and the facilities greatly increased, attention was directed to extending the use of the service by securing new subscribers. It was evident that in order to accomplish this a new rate schedule must be adopted involving new methods of charging for the service. A plan by which the number of mes- sages to be sent should be taken as the basis of the rate was seriously considered. As early as 1888 a commission of the legislature of the state of New York, commonly known as the Ainsworth committee, • after investigating telephone conditions throughout the state, commended the message rate plan as fair and equitable and as having many marked advan- tages to both customer and company over the flat rate. In the early eighties a message rate system Was introduced in Buffalo, where it is still in force, and in one or two other localities early experiments were made with message rates, but New York was of such size and physical conformation that the experience of these other places furnished no adequate basis upon which to deal with the complexities of the problem. Finally, after the most careful consideration, it was decided to introduce the message rate plan tenta- tively in the endeavor to bring telephone service within the reach of the small user, and also to give 54 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. relief to subscribers who, although their use was small, were paying the same rate as that at which service was furnished to large users. The first message rate schedule was put into effect on June 1, 1894. Under this schedule the minimum rate for direct line service was $150 for 1,000 local messages. The rate for 1,200 messages was $166 and for 2,400 messages, $240. For an extension station located on the premises where the original station was installed the charge was made $24, as against $36 under the flat rate schedule, all messages to be con- sidered as though sent from the main station. For a party line service the new schedule provided a mini- mum rate of $100 for not more than 700 local mes- sages. In this first Manhattan schedule a "local message" was a message to any point on Manhattan Island south of One hundred and tenth street. This was soon modified to include the present local area, that is, the whole of Manhattan Island, constituting, as it does, the entire borough of that name. The old flat rate of $240, with a rate of $36 for an extension station, was continued for those who preferred it to the message rate plan, but as a matter of fact a great many subscribers gave up their old contracts when they found that they could get their service at less cost under the new schedule. The five years from June 1, 1894, to June 1, 1899, constituted what might be called the experimental period for the message rate, as during these years the message rate plan was given its first real test in a large city. Theoretically the message rate principle seemed sound and the idea of charging according to use fair and reasonable, but it had never been , applied to an extent which would form any prece- dent for New York, and it was necessary to feel the way, changing and modifying the schedules as warranted by experience. Features of message rate plan. — At this point it may be well to mention a few of the features ol the message rate plan in New York city that have persisted with slight changes, through the various schedules, from those first adopted up to the present time. The rates are based on a sliding scale, according to the number of messages which the subscriber estimates he will send in a year. Provision is made in all contracts for a refund to the subscriber when the number of mes- sages sent by him in the year has been less than the number for which he has paid. The adjustment is made by charging the subscriber at the schedule rate for the actual number used, not less in any case than the minimum rate for the class of service involved, and rebating the difference between that amount and the amount which he has already paid. In several schedules slightly lower rates at certain points in the schedule were offered the subscriber on his agreeing to waive any rebate for unused messages, but this special plan never became popular and was soon abandoned. Early schedules provided for quarterly payments in advance, but this plan was ultimately superseded by one providing for monthly payments. The yearly settlement idea has always been followed — that is to say, adjustments with subscribers have been based on the number of messages sent during the contract year, without regard to the distribution of the usage between the several months. Reductions in message rate schedules. — It was for the benefit of the small user that the June 1,. 1894, schedule was adopted. In .the following November a direct line rate of $120 for 700 local messages was introduced, with a party line rate of $80 for 500 mes- sages. In March, 1895, the number of messages at the $120 rate was increased from 700 to 1,000, the rate for 1,200 messages decreased from $166 to $132, and the rate for 2,400 messages from $240 to $195. On May 1, 1895, rates of $90 for 600 local messages on a direct line and $75 for 600 local messages on a two-party line were adopted. Following the adoption of these schedules the number of stations increased rapidly. On July 1, 1897, further changes were made at various points in the schedule, but the minimum rate for direct line service stood at $90 until April 20, 1899. On that date new business schedules were adopted, beginning at $75 for 600 messages and ending at $228 for 4,500 messages on a direct line; and beginning at $60 for 600 messages and ending at $135 for 1,800 messages on a two-party line. Under these schedules the rate for an extension station was reduced from $24 to $12 per year, both on business and residence lines. No extension stations, however, were installed in connection with party lines. These schedules re- mained in force until May 1, 1905. During the first five years of the message rate period — that is to say, from June 1, 1894, to June 1, 1899 — the number of stations in Manhattan and the Bronx, which territory is practically identical with the old New York, had increased to 31,241, a gain for the period of 21,176. The population in the mean- time had increased to about 2,000,000, making the ratio of telephones to population 1 to 64, as against 1 to 136 at the time the message rate was introduced. There was a gain of nearly 200 per cent in the num- ber of telephone stations during the first five years after the message rate plan was adopted, and at the end of that time only 10 per cent of the total number of telephones in service were on a fiat rate basis. The growth of the system since 1899 has been even more rapid, as will be seen by tables on page 60, and the percentage of flat rate stations has continuously decreased, until now it is quite insignificant. Rates in local areas — borough of the Bronx. — In working out the problem of adapting the charges for telephone service, and the service itself, to the means and requirements of the various users in particular MESSAGE RATE PLAN IN NEW YORK CITY. 55 localities, it was early recognized that a community which has a fairly self-contained business and social life can best be served by a local rate covering service within the locality, even though the community politically be part of a larger civic organization. With this in view, a separate local schedule, for the territory north of One hundred and thirty-eighth street was adopted in June, 1895. By this schedule local rates of $65 for 500 messages over a direct line, $50 for 500 messages over a two-party line, and $40 for 500 messages over a three-party line, were introduced. When Greater New York was formed, on January 1, 1898, and the territory north of the Harlem river was made the borough of the Bronx, a schedule of local Bronx rates was put in force, beginning at $50 for 500 messages on a direct line, and $40 for 500 messages on a two-party line. Later, on May 1 , 1 899, these rates were changed to $48 for 500 messages over a direct line, and to $39 for 500 messages over a two-party line. For the benefit of those who desired service over both boroughs^ — Manhattan and the Bronx — a two-borough rate was offered of $90 for 600 messages over a direct line. There was very little demand for this service, however, and it was subsequently withdrawn. With the development of the Bronx borough, other rates were adopted, one being $30 per year for 400 messages to any part of the Bronx. With the rapid growth of this territory and its division into 5 central office districts, rates were offered for local service within each of the exchange districts. Residence rates. — At the outset all message rate schedules applied alike to business places and resi- dences. In November, 1901, a separate schedule was adopted for service at residences, physicians' and nurses' offices, and private stables. The schedule began with the minimum rate of $66 for 600 messages on a direct line, or $9 less than the business rate, and $48 for 500 messages on a party line. It was felt that the more general distribution of the traffic from residence stations throughout the twenty-four hours, and the comparative freedom of this class of traffic from the liability to the violent fluctuations in vol- ume characteristic of the service in purely business districts, justified this concession. This principle was adhered to in formulating later schedules. Private iranch exchange service and rates. — The growth of the telephone system in New York city has been due largely to the development of "private branch exchanges." Such an exchange consists of a central office switchboard located on the subscriber's premises, into which are brought the lines from the central oflBice of the telephone company, as well as those connected to telephones in the various offices and departments of the establishment. The telephone user abhors the "busy" line, but before the perfection of the private branch exchange this was the chronic condition of the line, or lines, of many large users. Under the flat rate system, when a subscriber was convinced that one line was not suf- ficient to handle his traffic, a second line was put in, and in some instances a third, but a mere multiplica- tion of lines offered only a partial remedy. If a large concern had three lines, they were apt to be distributed among different departments and in locations on the premises widely separated. If the manager was wanted, and his line on the first floor was "busy," a call was sent over one of the other lines and that, of course, necessitated the sending of a mes- senger for the person called, who in responding was required to make a trip to another part of the build- ing. This system was clumsy, dilatory, and unsat- isfactory. It squandered the time of the subscriber and of his employee, and it was equally wasteful of the time of the employees of the telephone company. The need for a method of telephone service by which incoming and outgoing messages could be handled simultaneously in large numbers, and by which at the same time the various departments or rooms of large establishments could be given an intercommunicating telephone service, brought about the development of the private branch exchange telephone systerh. In recent years the private branch exchange has come into such general use that it needs no extended description. At first confined to the large offices downtown, as time went on its utility in any large establishment became so apparent that it has grown to be the standard method of furnishing telephone service where the amount of telephone traffic to be handled is beyond the capacity of a single circuit. At the time of the introduction of the message rate plan in New York city, private branch exchange serv- ice was also passing through its experimental period, and on July 1, 1894, this service was offered to the public on a message rate basis. The schedule began at a minimum rate of $333, which included the instal- lation of a local switchboard, two central office lines, two telephones, and 4,000 messages in a year. Addi- tional lines to the central office were at the rate of $36 a year each, and additional telephones connected to the subscriber's switchboard, $24 a year each. Local messages above the first 4,000, if contracted for in advance, were charged for at the rate of 3 cents each; if not contracted for in advance, the rate was 5 cents each. On May 1, 1898, the rate for telephones connected to the subscriber's switchboard was reduced to $12 per annum. On May 1, 1901, the minimum rate was reduced to $240, covering, as before, the equipment of a switchboard, two lines, and two telephones, but with a reduction in the minimum number of messages from 4,000 to 3,600. The rate per message over 56 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. the 3,600, when contracted for in advance, remained at 3 cents, but the 5-cent rate for messages not con- tracted for in advance was reduced to 4 cents. On June 1, 1905, there were in use 6,637 private branch exchanges in Manhattan and the Bronx alone, with 17,704 central office lines, furnishing service for 67,076 stations. Since that date the number of tele- phones served by private branch exchanges has grown to over 70,000. The installations vary from the small switchboard, with two lines to the central office and two telephones on the subscriber's premises, to large systems, such as that of the Waldorf-Astoria, with its 1,200 telephones, which would be a fair installation for- many a small city. Large concerns having offices in various parts of the city have unified their systems by connecting, by means of "tie lines," the switch- boards located in each of their various establishments. Without the message rate schedule this private branch exchange development would have been im- possible. Private branch exchanges are installed under different conditions in nearly every instance. In one system, where the service is used more for in- terior intercommunicating purposes than for general exchange purposes, there may be a demand for a large amount of equipment with a proportionately small amount of traffic. In another instance, although the equipment may be limited, the number of messages actually sent and received may run into the hundreds of thousands. It is readily seen that a flat rate plan would not be flexible enough to cover adequately the widely fluc- tuating conditions which obtain in the application of the private branch exchange service that has con- tributed so largely to the rapid and great development of the telephone business in New York city. Pay stations. — With the adoption of the message rate schedule, in 1894, and the effort to place its service within the reach of everyone desiring to use it, pro- vision was made for the convenience of the casual user. "Pay stations," as they are commonly called, were installed in great numbers, the object being to cover the field in an adequate manner. No guarantee was required on the part of the subscriber other than that the receipts, less a commission, be remitted monthly to the company. Message rate subscribers were also encouraged to allow a public use of their telephones, and pay station signs were furnished to these subscribers. There are now in service in Manhattan and the Bronx over 13,000 public stations displaying pay station signs. So thickly are they dotted over Manhattan Island that wher- ever one finds himself it is only necessary to take a few steps in order to reach a public telephone. It is needless to say that this service has been of the utmost benefit to the public at large, and it is one of the features of the telephone system of New York which is very generally appreciated. At the railroad stations and hotels and in the cor- ridors of large office buildings where the managers or proprietors do not arrange for sufficient telephone equipment to cater satisfactorily to the public at large the service has been supplied by the company itself in a very liberal way. Space has been rented, and the latest and best equipment, with small switch- boards, sound-proof booths, etc., has been installed, and competent attendants are placed in charge. In the early days the charge for a local message within the borough of Manhattan at a pay station was 15 cents, but in June, 1898, the rate was reduced to 10 cents. Rates in BrooJclyn, Queens, and RicJimond boroughs. — Preceding paragraphs have dealt with the rates and con- ditions in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, the territory operated by the New York Telephone Company. The telephone systems of the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond, which comprise the territory brought into New York city, or Greater New York, by the consolidation on January 1, 1898, have always been and still are operated by the New York and New Jersey Telephone Company. In the urban portion of the borough of Brooklyn (the old city of Brooklyn) the introduction of the message rate came at the same time as in the boroughs, of Manhattan and the Bronx, and the subsequent development of the rates has been practically iden- tical with that in old New York. The borough of Richmond and certain portions of other boroughs (hffer widely in character from the areas in which message rates were introduced. Although a part of Greater New York, certain sections are far removed from the active business center and development has been principally of a residential nature. Before the territory came into Greater New York each of the small communities scattered throughout the city had its own political as well as social life. In these small places local flat rates were in force. Although these communities have grown in population and importance and have become paxt of a larger political organiza- tion, their interests remain largely local. As these communities are not large, -as the telephone develop- ment has been principally in the direction of residence service, and as in each of them a small exchange is able to handle the traffic adequately, the fiat rates have persisted, and with a few exceptions are in force to-day. The rates in these communities vary with the local conditions, and although based on the flat rate principle, they are adjusted as. far as possible to meet the requirements of the user, separate schedules being in force for residence and for business service, and' party line service being furnished at a considera- bly lower rate than that charged for a direct line service. In ten years the telephone development in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond has MESSAGE RATE PLAN IN NEW YORK CITY. 57 increased over 600 per cent, the greater part of this growth occurring in the urban territory of Brooklyn. Under the present message rate, service is furnished in this borough at $54 a year for direct hne business service and $42 for party line business service. Resi- dence service is furnished at $51 for a direct line, with a party line rate of $36, the number of messages at the minimum rate in each instance being 600. In this borough flat rates for residence service are also offered. The flat rates already mentioned as in effect in the small localities are in most cases $48 for direct line business service, $36 for direct lirie residence service, $36 for business party line service, and $24 for resi- dence party line service. Present conditions and growth since adoption of mes- sage rate. — When, on June 1, 1894, the message rate was introduced, the New York Telephone Company had in its territory, which is practically identical with what is now known as Manhattan and the Bronx, 11,054 telephone stations in operation. The New York and New Jersey Telephone Company at that time was operating about 6,000 stations in the territory now comprised by the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond. On June 1, 1905, eleven years later, there were in service and under contract in Manhattan and the Bronx 164,396 stations. The population of these two boroughs was estimated at this time at 2,400,000, making the ratio of telephones to population 1 to 14, as against 1 to 136 at the beginning of the message rate period. The number of stations in -service and under contract in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond on June 1, 1905, was over 50,000. Therefore the total number of stations for the five boroughs, the estimated population of which was 4,000,000, was over 214,000, and the ratio of telephones to population throughout Greater New York was 1 to every 18 persons. On June 1, 1905, 90 per cent of the telephones in the borough of Brooklyn were on the message rate basis. In the borough of Manhattan, where, as has been seen, the number of telephones had increased in the eleven years since the introduction of the message rate from about 11,000 to nearly 160,000, only one-half of 1 per cent were on the old flat rate basis. To be exact, on June 1, 1905, only 858 stations remained under the old type of unlimited service, or flat rate contract. In the development of the telephone service in New York city many difficult problems have been encoun- tered. The problem of making rates has been one of great complexity. The aim has been to make the service broadly comprehensive, and to accomplish this the conditions prevailing in each of the various parts of the city and the relations between these various parts have been taken into account. It will be seen by the following tables that a large variety of rates are offered, and that while in certain sections flat rates for service in a local area are alone proper, the message rate plan has proved itself the only possible solution of the problem for the great, densely populated bor- oughs. Present rates in New York city are as follows: BOEOUGH OF MANHATTAN. Business rates, direct line only. Number of Number of local mes- Annual Additional local mes- Annual Additional sages to be local mes- sages to be local mes- sent in sages. sent in sages. one year. one year. Dollars. , Cents. Dollars. Cents. 600 60 6 3,000 159 5 800 69 6 3,300 168 5 1,000 78 6 3,600 177 5 1,200 87 6 3,900 186 6 1,500 99 6 4,200 195 5 1,800 ♦ 111 6 4,600 204 6 2,100 123 6 4,800 213 6 2,400 135 6 5,100 222 6 2,700 147 6 5,400 231 5 Residence rates. Number of local mes- sages to be sent in one year. Direct line, an- nual rate. Party line, annual rate. Additional local mes- sages. 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,600 1,800 2,100 2,400 2,700 3,000 Dollars. 64 63 72 81 93 106 117 129 141 150 Dollars. 45 54 63 72 Cents. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 Private branch exchange rates. Minimum equipment, consisting of switchboard with operating tele- phone,two lines to central office, two telephone stations,and the right to send 3,600 local messages in one year , Additional lines, each Additional stations: First 20, each r Above 20, each Stations off the premises will be charged for at above rates, plus a charge for mileage based on the actual length of circuit required. Additional messages when contracted for in advance in lots of 400, $3 per hundred. Excess m.essages, 4 cents each. Annual rate. $216 24 BOROUGH OF THE BRONX. Business message rates. Number of local mes- sages to be sent in one year. Direct line, an- nual rate. Party line, annual rate. Additional local mes- sages. 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,500 1,800 2,100 2,400 2,700 3,000 3,300 3,600 3,900 4,200 4,600 4,800 6,100 6,400 Dollars. 48 67 66 75 84 93 102 111 120 129 138 147 156 166 174 183 192 201 Dollars. 39 48 57 66 76 Cents. 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 i 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 58 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. "Residence message rates. Number oi local mes- sages to be sent in Direct line, an- nual rate. Party line, annual rate. Additional local mes- sages. one year. 500 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000 2,200 2,400 2,600 2,800 3,000 Dollars. •39 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 Dollars. 30 33 39 45 51 Cents. 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Flat rates— for service in one exchange only. (Business.) In Kingsb ridge, WilUamsbridge,Westchester, or City Island. Direct line. S4S Party line. $36 XKesidence.) Direct line. Two- ^fnt^ Four- ^fn-:.^ $48 36 839 30 S30 In other districts 24 ( Toll service.) Tbe rate for messages from a station covered by a contract at any of the rates named above to a station connected with, another exchange in the Bronx, 5 cents each. (Melrose-Tremont to be considered as one exchange.) C Manhattan service for a station located in the Melrose district. ) Any subscriber who has a listed ' ' Melrose ' ' station may contract for a station to be connected with the nearest Manhattan exchange at the regular Manhattan schedule, plus a mileage charge of S18 per annum. When there is no listed ' ' Mel- rose" station, the subscriber may contract for Manhattan service under this rule, but in that case the Manhattan station will not be listed. A station auxiliary to such a station will be furnished at the Manhattan aux- liary line rate, plus $18 per annum. Private branch exchange rates. Annual rate. Minimum equipment, consisting of switchboard with operating tele- phone, two lines to central ofB.ce, two telephone stations, and the right to send 2,400 local messages in one year Additional luies, each Additional stations, each Additional messages, when contracted for in advance in lots of 400, S3 per hundred. Excess messages, 4 cents each. BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN. [Local service within the territory comprising the following central office distncts: Main, Bay Ridge, Bedford, Bushwick, East New York, Flatbush, GreenpoiDt, Hamilton, Prospect, South, and Williamsburg.] f Business message rates. Number ol local mes- Direct line. Two-party Additional sages to be annual line, an-, local mes- sent in one rate. nualrate. sages. year. Dollars. Dollars. Cents. 600 54 42 5 800 63 51 5 1,000 72 60 5 1,200 81 69 5 1,400 90 78 5 1,600 99 87 5 Additional messages are sold in lots at 83 per hundred. Single messages, 5 cents each. Residence flat rates. Direct line, annual rate Two-party line, annual rate. $60 48 Residence message rates. Number ol local mes- sages to be sent in one year. Four-party line, annua] rate. Additional local mes- , sages. 600 800 Dollars. 36 39 Cents. 5 5 SMALL AREAS WITHIN NEW YORK CITY LIMITS. [Local service within eacli of the following central office districts : Bath Beach, Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay, Barren Island, Astoria, Newto'wn, Flushing, Richmond Hill, Jamaica, Queens, Hammels, Far Rockaway, New Dorp, and TottenvHIe.l Business. Residence. Flat rate. Direct. Party. S43 S36 Flat rate. Direct. Party. S36 $24 For local service within the following central office district: TOMPKINSVILLE— WEST NEW BRIGHTON. Business. Direct Ime SlOO Residence. Direct line $48 Two-party line 39 Four-party line 30 MESSAGE RATE PLAN IN NEW YORK CITY. 59 Message rates. Number ot local mes- sages to be sent in one year. Direct line. Two-party line. Additional local mes- sages Four-party line. 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,600 1,800 2,100 Dollars. 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 Dollars. 39 48 64 60 Cents. 5 5 5 5 6 1 Guarantee S2.50 per month in local messages, 5 cents each. Principal toll rates within New York city from subscribers' stations. Brooklyn Bath Beach Astoria Newtown Flushing Coney Island Sheepshead Bay Barren Island Far Kockaway H^mmels Lawrence Richmond Hill Jamaica Queens Tompkinsville West New Brighton New Dorp Tottenville From Manhat- tan. From the Bronx. Cents. Pay station rates, 5 cents additional in each case. A comprehensive readjustment of telephone rates in New York city, made in 1905, affected practically all of the schedules throughout the city. This readjust- ment, so far as the rates in Manhattan and the Bronx were involved, w'as made in connection with an "In- quiry into the Telephone Service and Rates in New York City" by the Merchants' Association of that city, acting through a special committee consisting of offi- cers of the association and other representative busi- ness men. After a thorough and exhaustive inquiry the Merchants' Association published the results of its work in a report dated June, 1905. The following quotations from that report showed the views of the association with respect to the general principles em- bodied in the various rate schedules in force in New York city: A system which exacts an average uniform charge for widely varying degrees of service is obviously inequitable to the public. The flat rate is also harmful to the public in another way. Such a rate, comprehending all classes of business users and based upon the average of wide extremes, of necessity compels small users to pay a relatively higher rate than they would pay under a graded rate based upon the cost of the service used by them, and is therefore highly burdensome to such users, and presents a formidable obstacle to the development of the telephone system. This con- dition is of course detrimental to a telephone company as well as to its patrons. Moreover, the effect of a flat rate is to increase the individual use of the telephone equipment and the individual demand upon the operating force, thereby increasing operating expenses without provid- ing additional income. Under a flat rate system with a definitely restricted income it is imperative that the tendency of operating ex- penses to increase disproportionately by reason of unlimited calls be counteracted. The necessary economy can only be effected at the expense of efficiency. It is the opinion of this committee, therefore, that in large cities the flat rate with unlimited service is based upon a fallacy, that it is ex- tremely unjust to small users, favors large users unduly, impedes expan- sion of the telephone business, tends to ineflicient service, and that as a financial proposition it is unsound. The flat rate system, however, is quite suitable for small places. In a small system the conditions are fairly equal for all subacribera. The amount of plant used and the anjount ot operating labor required by the various subscribers show no extreme variations, and a flat rate meets the circumstances quite fairly, while it avoids the extra work of registering the messages. * * * A telephone station and collateral equipment represent a definite capital outlay, and a continuous outlay for the maintenance of an operat- ing staff in readiness, irrespective of the number of calls made. The message rate must provide for this fixed charge . If the calls are few, the message rate should be relatively high. If the calls are many, the rate should be relatively low. It is obvious, also, that a great volume of calls further greatly reduces the pro rata operating expense, and therefore warrants a gradually decreasing rate of charge. Hence the general principle of a graded scale, beginning with a rela- tively high maximum rate for small users, declining to a relatively low minimum rate for large users. The New York Telephone Company's scale of charges is based upon this equitable principle. Each subscriber pays only for the service actually used by him, at a rate bearing a definite and just relation to the cost of serving him. The equity of this system is obvious. * * * In a large area embracing widely differing locahties, in various stages of development, whether or not they are in the same municipality, the public interest, in the opinion of this committee, is best served by the application of various rates to the various localities, in such manner as to meet the peculiar requirements of each section or locality, with an appropriate rate or plan of rates. This method of treat- ment has been followed in Greater New York. Within New York there aie many local districts where most of the traffic is local and, therefore, does not involve general intercommunication with distant parts of the city. Excluding such distant connections and considering only local interchange, local service is on a basis of local cost and a moderate charge is possible. Some of these localities are of such character, and the variation in use among the various subscribers is so small that flat rates for unlimited local service are proper and most advantageous to the locality. In practice local rates are in use in each of the districts of New York city, the rates varying with the conditions in the various districts; in the outlying districts they are very materially less than are charged for the wider service supplied in the central districts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. In addition to the rates for local service an extra or toll rate is charged for connection with other districts, thereby imposing an extra rate only upon those who make use of the extra service. The principle upon which this system of charging is based seems sound and reasonable. In its application, however, there are inevitable inequalities and some hardships to be borne by individual users, but these are inherent in any zone system. Without most careful considera- tion of the whole question of telephone rates as worked out and applied in each section of the city, these extra charges for distant connections may be considered irksome and unnecessary, but after mature considera- tion, it is the opinion of this committee that while these charges should always be moderate, the principle of imposing them should be main- tained, as it is believed to be sound and reasonable and in the best interests of the telephone using public as a whole. The figures given on page 60 show the growth in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx and in Greater New York. These figures and the two illustrations following show the division of the city into central office districts and the number of telephones in each dis- trict at the introduction of the message rate and at the present time. 60 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Numher of telephones in service. JANUARY 1— In the bor- oughs ol Manhattan and the Bronx. In New York city (Greater NewYork). 1881 2,973 7,454 11,218 23,046 28,423 40,437 54,650 72, 182 96,359 121,935 144,353 1889 1894 1898 31,474 1899 38,316 52 590 1900 1901 70, 263 1902 91 096 1903 .' . , 120, 491 1904 151,848 1905 . 180,801 Central offices and number of telephones in Greater New York, January 1, 189 i. Dis- trict No.i CENTRAL OFFICE. Number ol tele- phones. Dis- "triot No. I CENTRAL OFFICE. Number ot tele- phones. BOROUGHS OF MAN- HATTAN AND THE BRONX. Broad . .. 1,035 3,623 1,386 1,073 1,288 320 384 488 10 20 15... 16... 17... 18... 19... 20... 21... BOROUGH OF BROOK- LYN — continued. South 306 Flatbush East New York Total 2.... Cortlandt 68 3.... Spring 169 4.... Eighteenth street Thirty-eighth street. . Columbus 4,509 BOROUGH OF QUEENS. Astoria 6 7.... 8.... Seventy-ninth street . Tremont Flushing Westchester Total. . . Total 9,627 126 BOROUGH OF RICH- MOND. Tompkins ville West New Brighton.. Total 11.... BOROUGH OF BROOK- LYN. 1,847 299 1,185 635 143 12 123 13.... 14 Williamsburg Bedford 266 ^ See illustration on page 61. Central offices and numher of telephones in Greater New York, January 1, 1906. Dis- trict No. I 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. CENTRAL OFFICE. BOROUGH OF MAN- HATTAN. Broad Cortlandt John Franldin Orchard Spring Chelsea Gramercy Madison Square Thirty-eighth street. Columbus Plaza Seventy-ninth street Riverside Morningside Harlem Highbridge Total BOROUGH OF BRONX. THE Melrose Tremont Westchester City Island Kingsbridge Williamsbridge Total BOROUGH OF BROOK- LYN. Main Greenpoint Williamsburg Hamilton Prospect Bedford Bushwick South Number of tele- phones. 11,418 14,707 9,297 7,974 3,383 7,874 3,630 10,516 9,748 15,203 8,556 7,172 4,806 9,352 8,251 4,127 343 136,357 2,407 1,086 281 49 194 187 7,030 ■ 1,990 3,939 1,137 4,700 4,063 2,135 1,939 Dis- trict No.i 50... CENTRAL OFFICE. BOROUGH OF BROOK- LYN — continued. Bay Ridge Flatbush East New York Bath Beach Sheepshead Bay Coney Island Barren Island Total BOROUGH OF QUEENS. Astoria Newtown Flushing Richmond Hill ^ Jamaica Queens Hammels Far Rockaway Total BOROUGH OF RICH- MOND. Tompkinsville West New Brighton.. New Dorp Tottenville Total exchange stations, 5 boroughs Private line tel- ephones, 5 boroughs Total Number of tele- phones. 1,140 1,684 1,273 339 125 285 6 ,31,775 287 271 674 356 424 29 201 230 1,081 90 128 1,992 176,900 3,901 180,801 ' See illustration on page 62. TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICES AND CENTRAL OFFICE DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK CITY JANUARY 1, 1894; 21 CENTRAL OFFICES AND 14,528 TELEPHONES TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICES AND CENTRAL OFFICE DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK CITY JANUARY 1, 1905; BO CENTRAL OFFICES AND 180,801 TELEPHONES. OHAPTEE XL HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONY. Early development. — The history of the telephone, like that of the telegraph, as indeed of any other great invention, is full of conflicting claims as to priority of discovery. But it is a fact beyond dispute that in 1876, at the moment of Bell's invention of his speaking telephone, there was not a single operative telephone in the hands of the public anywhere in the world. The whole art and industry of which this re- port makes record dates from 1876-77. As early as 1837 Page discovered that an iron bar when magnet- ized and demagnetized at short intervals of time emits sounds, due to the molecular disturbances of the mass. Reis, in Germany, utilized this fundamental principle and constructed apparatus for the trans- mission of sound to a distance by electrical means. Prior to that the idea of telephony had been defined by a young French soldier in Algeria, Joseph Bourseul, who in 1848 had attracted the attention of the au- thorities by mathematical instruction which he gave to his fellow soldiers in the garrison. The journal " L'lllustration de Paris," August 26, 1854, under the title of "Electrical Telephonj-," described his appa- ratus, or the idea embodied, as follows: No further machinery and knowledge except a galvanic pile (bat- tery), two vibrating plates, and a metallic wire needle. Without other preparation one would only have to talk against one of the metallic plates, and another would have to hold his ear against the other plate. In this way they could converse with each other. This is a brief, lucid description of the telephonic principle, but so far as can be ascertained it was never elaborated in practical work, and if any one ever saw Bourseul's telephones there is certainly none in ex- istence to-day. Reis, however, went further and actually built apparatus which could be made to transmit not' merely sound, it is claimed, but human speech. In his biographical notes, written in 1868, Professor Reis says: Incited thereto by my lessons in physics, in the year 1860 I attacked a work, begun much earlier, concerning the organs of hearing, and soon had the joy of seeing my pains rewarded with success, since I succeeded in inventing an apparatus by which it is possible to make clear and " evident the functions of organs of hearing, and with which, also, one can reproduce tones of all kinds at any desired distance by means of the galvanic current. I named the instrument telephon. The recognition 'of me on so many sides which has taken place in consequence of this invention, especially at the Naturahsts' Association at Gnesen, has continually helped to quicken my ardor for study that I may show myself worthy of the luck that has befallen me. A number of exhibitions of his apparatus were given by Reis in the period 1861-1864, and duplicates of the apparatus were sent to various parts of the world, Professor Clifton making a demonstration with it before the Manchester Literary and Physical Societies of England in 1865. A discussion by Reis in the Yearbook of the Physical Society of Frankfort for 1860-61 points to the fact that every tone or com- bination of tones entering the human ear causes its membrane or eardrum to vibrate. The motion of these vibrations produces the sense of sound, and every change in the motion must necessarily be ac- companied by a change in the sensation. Hence it would be possible to transmit such sounds electric- ally, set up vibrations or curves like those of any given tone or combination of tones, and receive the same impression as the tone itself would have pro- duced. This idea he elaborated into an apparatus built upon the principle of the human ear, to which the earliest forms had a rough but striking resemblance. The first apparatus thus made, for example, embodied a small cone, covered at its lesser end with an animal membrane, upon which a small platinum strip or wire was fastened by means of sealing wax. The receiver consisted of a violin, upon which a knitting needle having a coil wound around it was fastened. When the sound waves made the membrane vibrate, the cir- cuit was closed as they impinged and the strip of platinum beat against a tip of metal, the degree of con- tact being altered with each vibration. The sound waves threw the electric current at the point of varia- able contact into pulsations of varying strength, and corresponding effects were produced at the receiving end. There were twelve novel and ingenious forms of the Reis apparatus worked out, all embodying in some way the idea of the human ear, with its auditory tube, tympanum, etc. The first form of apparatus used by Reis as a receiver consisted of a steel knitting needle, around which was wound a spiral coil of silk-covered copper wire. As it was soon found that the sounds produced by rapid magnetization and demagnetiza- tion could be improved by the addition of a sound- ing box the needle was mounted upon the sounding board of a violin. A cigar box was tried, also, and (63) 64 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. the final form of the knitting needle receiver adopted by Reis was essentially of this box type; the needle and its helix lay on a rectangular sounding box of thin pine wood, and the coil of wire was mounted upon a light wooden bobbin instead of being twisted around the needle itself. Two wooden bridges or sup- ports held the ends of the needle, and over the needle was thrown a hinged box lid. As originally con- structed, this lid when closed pressed tightly upon the steel needle; and Reis's own instructions were to press the lid firmly against the needle in order that the sound might be intensified, as was done unconsciously by the listeners with their ears against the lid in order to hear more distinctly. At the end of the sounding box was a little telegraph key, used to interrupt the circuit and to telegraph signals back to the transmit- ting end. There is a variety of testimony alleging that not only musical sounds but words and phrases were actu- ally transmitted, as they can be to-day in modern models of this apparatus; but since the invention rested upon the make-and-break principle, the circuit having to be made and broken every time a sound impulse was transmitted, it was so extremely delicate that it was impossible to maintain it in adjustment for more than the shortest space of time. As Reis him- self said to Herr Gamier, to whom he disposed of his instrument and tools, he had shown the world the way to a great invention which must be left to others to develop. A warm appreciation of the work of Reis has been shown in this country and Europe, and in 1878 a monument was erected to his memory at Frankfort, an inscription on which styled him "the inventor of the telephone." One of the American judges, in deciding an early litigation over the invention of the telephone, said epigrammatically that however ingenious this pioneer work may have been, a hundred years of Reis would never have given the world the telephonic art for public use as it exists to-day. Many attempts were made to apply in practical apparatus the make-and- break principle of Reis, both before and after the invention of the Bell telephone, and some of the workers in this field devised transmitters approaching the modern microphone now so essential. But, as has already been stated, the telephone up to 1876 was utterly unknown to the public, and the scientific appa- ratus for laboratories and schools, formerly bearing the name, remains even to this day virtually incapable of improvement that would bring it within the sphere of public utility. TJie worJc of Bell. — The art of speaking telephony had to find its future and perfection in some other direction than the make-and-break method and pulsa- tory currents of Reis, suggestive and helpful as such work must necessarily have been to all who were familiar with it. In 1876 the attention of the world was arrested by the issue on March 7 of Alexander Graham Bell's original patent. The application for this patent which, when granted, bore the number 174465, was filed on February 14 of the same year at the conclusion of considerable experiment and investi- gation. In 1875 Bell, who as a student and teacher of vocal physiology had unusual qualifications, for determining feasible methods of speech transmission, constructed his first pair of magneto telephones. Each of these consisted of an electro-magnet, a U-shaped iron bar around one limb of which a coil of wire was wound, while a thin iron plate, or armature, was hinged to the other, extending also over the wire- surrounded core. A membrane diaphragm stretched across the tube served as a mouthpiece, being mounted in a frame having its center immediately opposite the active pole of the magnet to which the iron armature was attached. Throughout 1875 Bell experimented with apparatus of this character, varying the propor- tions and arrangements of the coil, the magnets, the armature, etc., and virtually such apparatus was figured and described in the patent specifications, with the addition of hollow cones or small speaking trump- ets attached to the armature membranes in order to concentrate the voice at the transmitting end and assist the ear at the receiving end. The first published account of the speaking telephone was a paper read by Bell before the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Boston on May 10, 1876, and in the summer of that year the crude mechanism was exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadel- phia and elicited the enthusiastic admiration of the world's leading physicists. During the same year Bell experimented with the substitution of a perma- nent magnet for the electro-magnet, and toward the end of the year he generally employed the permanent magnet, omitting the battery. Over short distances virtually identical results are obtainable with the per- manent magnet and with the electro-magnet ; but it was early found that the magneto telephone had very definite limitations as to distance of operation and clearness of utterance. For both kinds of apparatus the great step that Bell made was to devise a mechan- ism that produces undulations of the electric current in the circuit, corresponding to the sonorous vibrations of the voice, thus rendering practicable the continuous and intelligible transmission of human speech. The principle thus discovered and embodied in practical apparatus was defined as follows in the specifications of the Bell patent : Electrical undulations induced by the vibration of a battery can be represented graphically withput error by the same sinusoidal curve which expresses the vibrations of the inducing battery itself and the effect of its vibration upon the air; for, as above stated, the rate of acceleration in the electrical current corresponds to the rate of vibration of the inducing body, that is, to the pressure of sounds produced. The HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONY. 65 intensity of the current varies with the amplitude of the vibrations, that is, with the loudness of the sound; and the polarity of the current corresponds to the direction of the vibrating battery, that is, to the condensation and rarefaction of the air produced by the vibration. This principle is summed up in claim 5 of the patent, as follows: The method of an apparatus for transmitting vocal air into sounds telegraphically, as herein described, by causing electrical undulations similar in form to the vibrations of the air accompanying the said vocal air into sound substitutes as set forth. The apparatus shown at the Centennial Exhibition was improved very rapidly and the receiving part of the magneto telephone soon assumed the shape which has long been familiar. The iron plate armature and the connected diaphragm soon became one member, and a single sheet iron diaphragm, or disk, such as is used in modern practice, was adopted. The coil of wire around the magnet was shortened until it became the flat bobbin, or spool, that is now a characteristic feature of the receivers, placed at the end of the magnet nearest the diaphragm, and the speaking trumpet, or cone, of the resonating space was flattened until it became the shallow cup which enables one to rest the ear directly upon the telephone. In August, 1876, Mr. Bell experimented on a five-mile telegraph circuit in Canada, and on the evening of October 9 the first long conversation ever carried on telephonically was exchanged upon a telegraph line extending from the office of the Walworth Manufacturing Company in Boston to their factory in Cambridge, Mass. Every word of this conversation was recorded at both ends. In November of the same year a telephone was used over 200 miles of circuit between Boston and Salem, Mass., by way of North Conway, N. H., and a little later a conversation was carried on by Mr. Bell between Boston and New York over a Western Union telegraph circuit. The apparatus in all these demonstrations was the magneto telephone as distinguished from the battery type. About this time capital began to be interested, and a circular was issued to invite the sup- port of the public for the new means of communication, which ran as follows: The proprietors of the telephone, the invention of Alexander Graham Bell, for which patents have been issued by the United States and Great Britain, are now prepared to furnish telephones for the transmission of articulate speech through instruments not more than twenty miles apart. Conversation can easily be carried on after slight practice and with the occasional repetition of a word or sentence. On first hstening to the telephone, although the sound is perfectly audible, the articulation seems to be indistinct; but after a few trials the ear becomes accustomed to the peculiar sound and finds little difficulty in understanding the words. The telephone should be set in a quiet place, where there is no noise which would interrupt ordinary conversation. The advantages of the telephone over the telegraph for local business are: 1st. That no skilled operator is required, but direct communication may be had by speech without the intervention of a third person. 2d. That the communication is much more rapid, the average number of words transmitted in a minute by the Morse sounder being from fifteen to twenty, by telephone from one to two hundred. 3d. That no expense is required, either for its operation, maintenance, or repair. It needs no battery and has no complicated machinery. It is unsurpassed for economy and simplicity. The terms for leasing two telephones for social purposes, connecting a dwelling house with any other building, will be $20 a year; for business purposes $40 a year, payable semiannually in advance, with the cost of expressage from Boston, JSfew York, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, or San Francisco. The instruments will be kept in good working order by the lessors, free of expense, except for injuries resulting from great care- Several telephones can be placed on the same line at an additional rental of $10 for each instrument, but the use of more than two on the same line where privacy is required is not advised. Any person within ordinary hearing distance can hear the voice calling through the tele- phone. If a louder call is required, one can be furnished for $5. Telegraph lines will be constructed by the proprietors if desired. The price will vary from $100 to $150 a mile; any good mechanic can con- struct a Une. No. 9 wire costs SJ cents a pound, 320 pounds to the mile; 34 insulators at 25 cents each; the price of poles and setting varies in every locality; stringing wire, $5 per mile; sundries, $10 per mile. Parties leasing the telephones incur no expense beyond the annual rental and the repair of the line wire. On the following pages are extracts from the press and other sources relating to the telephone. Cambridge, Mass., May, 1877. So far the telephone had not been developed beyond the connection of two stations by a single line, but it had been a conception of Bell from an early date that there should be a central office having the function of making connection whenever desired between the lines of the several subscribers. In lectures given in the spring of 1877 in Connecticut and New York by Mr. Bell and his associates this idea was plainly set forth, outlining in a broad way both the exchange sys- tem and the long distance telephone. First commercial telepTiony. — On April 4, 1877, the first line ever built specially for telephone uses was put in operation between the factory of Charles Williams, jr., of Boston, and his home at Somerville, Mass., and shortly afterwards a number of other lines of this char- acter were erected. To many persons the telephone • seemed only a toy, and difficulty was found in inter- esting investors. When people began to recognize the utility of the invention, Mr. Bell and his associates saw the need of an organization for dealing with the com- mercial features of the enterprise; hence in 1877 an informal, unincorporated association, known as the Bell Telephone Association, was formed. This associa- tion had no capital and few members, and its objects were to assist Gardiner G. Hubbard, to whom, as trus- tee, the Bell patents had been assigned, and to devise the best means for the general commercial introduction of telephones. The exchange idea was first carried into effect in a crude way in Boston, in May, 1877, in connection with the protective circuits of the Holmes Burglar Alarm Company. The various lines communi- cating with financial establishments were brought to a 66 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. small switchboard at the Holmes central station, and the circuits were repeatedly interconnected at this board. As a matter of historical fact, however, the first telephone central office system was that estab- lished at New Haven, Conn., and opened for business on January 25, 1878, this being the first fully equipped commercial telephone exchange ever established for public or general service. The advantages of the tele- phone exchange were instantly seen, so that by March, 1881, or three years later, there were in the United States only nine cities of more than 10,000 inhabitants and only one of more than 15,000, in which a telephone exchange had not been established. This rapid growth soon made evident the need of a more formal organization of the business, and in February, 1878, the New England Telephone Company was organized, with a capital of $200,000. This com- pany was given exclusive rights and license to use and to manufacture telephones in New England. In July, 1878, the Bell Telephone Company was formed, with a capital of $450,000, with exclusive rights for the remain- der of the United States. In March, 1879, these two companies were consolidated into the National Bell Telephone Company, with a capital of $850,000. By this time the commercial success of the business had become assured, and in March, 1880, as the National Bell Telephone Company was not broad enough in its business scope to meet the demands of the situation, the American Bell Telephone Company, with a capital of $10,000,000, was formed. This com- pany displayed great ability in developing, through subsidiary companies, the telephone business of the country on a territorial license basis and continued to operate until 1899, when it was absorbed by the Ameri- can Telephone and Telegraph Company, which had been created originally for the purpose of handling the long distance business of the American Bell Telephone Company. The original circular of the Bell Telephone Associa- tion stated that the effective limit of speech was 20 miles, but this limit did not long remain fixed. By the beginning of 1881 the work of connecting cities and towns by telephone circuits was well under way. Bos- ton was connected with 75 cities and towns, the lines reaching as far as Springfield. In 1884 the success of the experimental long distance line between Boston and New York convinced everyone that conversation over distances of from 200 to 300 miles was practicable, but owing to the difficulties experienced in securing terminal facilities, it was 1887 before the longer lines were opened to commercial use. Extensions of these lines were pushed steadily and on October 18, 1902, the line between New York and Chicago was opened, while in the following February the Boston-Chicago line was put in service. The maps of the lines as they existed in 1895 and as they were in 1904 show plainly the immense growth of the long distance system and indicate, to a large degree, the cause for the rapid rise in the use of the telephone. The whole country is now being connected so that all may talk from one end of it to the other. Early telepTione competition. — Part of the early devel- opment was not due to the Bell Telephone Company, but to its active competitor, the Western Union Tele- graph Company, which in 1877, seeing in the telephone a dangerous rival to the telegraph, began to develop a telephonic system and network of its own, based upon the work of Elisha Gray, T. A. Edison, and others. By one of the most extraordinary coincidences in the his- tory of invention, Elisha Gray had filed in the Patent Office at Washington a caveat for "a new art of trans- mitting vocal sounds telegraphically" on February 14, 1876, the same day on which Bell had filed.his applica- tion. The Gray apparatus differed, however, from that of Bell. In the Gray caveat was described a liquid transmitter so utilized that the vibrations of the plunger, a rod attached to the membrane, would cause variations in resistance, and consequently modify the current passing through the circuit to the receiver. A pencil drawing illustrating this ingenious idea was made by Gray ia February, 1876, but the liquid trans- mitters brought out from time to time by Gray and others have never played any part in the art. Edison, however, who was then in the service of the Western Union Company, succeeded in producing an excellent carbon transmitter, a device in which the variations of resistance due to change of pressure in a mass of carbon effected the necessary variations in the electrical cur- rent carrying the impulse vibrations, and this miicro- phonic principle is a feature of all the successful speech- transmitting apparatus of the present day. In the meantime Emil Berliner and Francis Blake had devel- oped excellent battery or carbon transmitters for the Bell system. Through the agency of the American Speaking Telephone Company the Western Union Tele- graph Company pushed its telephone system vigor- ously throughout the country, until it had a large number of exchanges in operation. Patent litigation between the rivals began in September, 1878, where- upon, conceding the priority of the Bell invention, the Western Union Company effected a famous agree- ment under which, by agreeing to pay 20 per cent of its income to the Western Union Company dur- ing the life of the contract, seventeen years, the Bell Company obtained complete possession of the field, acquiring all the telephonic inventions, apparatus, and exchanges of the Western Union system. The result of this combination was not alone to unify the com- HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONY. 67 mercial telephonic systems of the whole country, but to harmonize and standardize the apparatus, and thus to permit industrial and scientific development. The Bell telephone system was at the start imme- diately introduced in Europe, but there, as here, the Bell patents throughout the entire term of their exist- ence, although frequently sustained wholly or in part, were subject to tremendous patent and legal attack and competition in all forms, and the telephonic art has enjoyed the benefit of the labor of many promi- nent inventors invited by the opportunities and rewards offered in this field. It was necessary to develop not only the apparatus used at each end of the circuit but the apparatus at the exchange, which at first was very crude. The central offices were equipped with switchboards similar in construction and operation to those employed in telegraph offices, but these were very rapidly outgrown. Other chap- ters of this report treat more specifically of the appa- ratus at the central station, as well as of that employed at the subscriber's substation. The changes wrought since the American Bell Tele- phone Company assumed charge of the business are summed up admirably in the following paragraph from the Boston Electrical Handbook of 1904, issued under the auspices of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers: In the twenty-four years which have elapsed since that time, reliable low capacity poly-conductor cables, mainly employing air as an insulat- ing medium, have been devised and their employment has become uni- versal; underground construction has become the rule instead of the exception; beginning with the year 1883, a metallic circuit system of long distance lines has been built of hard drawn copper wire and has overspread the country; the average excellency of these long lines, terminating as they do in switchboards at exchange central stations, has resulted in correspondingly improved construction in exchanges every- where, including the substitution of copper for iron as a material for line wire, and the metallic circuit for the ground return single conductor line; the operating companies now have their own buildings specially designed to accommodate the central station operating rooms, and affording facilities for the ingress of the subterranean cables; an elaborate system of protection has been provided for both ends of each telephone line, and where such lines pass through cables, at the cable ends also, to take care of trespassing currents strong enough to be destructive; and lastly, but by no means of least importance, the old and well-known hand operated magneto machine for years the most approved call- sending apparatus, and the multitudinous batteries of which one was provided with the transmitter of each user to furnish current for its operation, have both been superseded in the modern wellrappornted exchange, by a single central station battery which supplies not only the electric current for all the transmitters of the outlying stations, but also for the ttansmitters of a central station, and for the switchboard call and supervisory signals. By this change a few cells of battery are enabled to take the place and do the work of many, and the establishment of the few retained cells at the central station where they may always be under skilled supervision is provided for. Independent development. — During the first half of the term of the Bell patents a number of rival systems were brought into existence by competitors, that of the Western Union Company, already noted, being the most formidable and extensive. After the consolida- tion none appeared able to sustain the burden of the struggle, and a period of some years succeeded during which the telephone industry remained a virtual monopoly in the United States. As the term of the fundamental patents drew to a close, however, compe- tition raised its head again and independent exchanges were started in various parts of the country. At first these made their appearance only in places that under the exclusive Bell regime had not enjoyed the benefit of telephonic service, but the independent movement soon assumed formidable proportions and its pro- motors invaded the larger cities, so that at the time of the present report independent exchanges are found in successful operation in such places as Chicago, Cleveland, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Indianapohs. The independent movement, however, was particxilarly fostered and pushed in rural districts, and there it still enjoys its best patronage, as is evidenced by the statis- tics presented elsewhere in this report. The independ- ent movement has not only created a vast network of exchanges and interconnecting lines, but has called into being a large number of manufacturers and a great variety of apparatus,, so that, while a few years ago the telephonic art in the United States had attained a high degree of standardization, it is once more marked in some degree by the confusion and heterogeneity that characterized its earlier years. Such conditions are always associated with rapid growth, and in the field of telephony they constitute at the present time a remarkably interesting problem with many sociological, industrial, and mechanical aspects. OHAPTEE XII. TELEPHONY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. General data. — The introduction of the telephone in the United States was followed almost immediately by its adoption in all the countries of Europe and more slowly in other parts of the world. But while in the United States its development has remained exclu- sively in private hands and has been developed by corporations, in Europe the telephone and telegraph lines have remained almost exclusivelj' subject to Government control. In only two foreign countries — Great Britain and Sweden — has there been any notable exception to this rule, and while this report has been in preparation the British Government has completed with the National Telephone Company, which has controlled the Bell telephone system for many years past, a long series of negotiations by which in a few years the Postal Telegraph service wUl take over the entire network of telephone lines in Great Britain. The tremendous rate of development of the tele- phone in the United States compares very strikingly with the slow rate of development in Europe, and the facts connected with this contrast would constitute, if taken by themselves, a notable argument in favor of private enterprise, but there are necessarily many other conditions involved in the situation. The textual statements with regard to European development embody statistics dating generally up to the end of 1902, thus bringing them in fair comparison with those upon which the present report is based. But a tabular survey of the situation at the close of 1904 is also given. This presents a comparative study of the telephone industry in the United States and in Europe, furnishing the latest authentic figures available. These figures are massed into two tables which are presented herewith. Table 41 gives the telephone statistics as of January 1, 1905, for the United States, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, the German Empire, the United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium, France, Austria-Hungary, Spain, Italy, and Russia. Table 42 presents figures relating to telephonic development in the following larger cities of the Old World and the New: Stockholm, New York, Chris- tiania, Copenhagen, Zurich, Berlin, London, Paris, Brussels, Vienna, Amsterdam, Rome, Budapest, Lis- bon, St. Petersburg, and Madrid. The population is stated in round numbers in these two tables. (68) Table 41. — TeUfhone development, United States and Europe. [January 1, i905.] United States AU Europe Sweden Denmark Switzerland Norway German Empire. . . United Kingdom . . Holland Belgium France Austria-Hungary . Spaia Italy Russia Population. 76,000,000 6,250,000 2,500,000 3,300,000 3,000,000 58,000,000 42,000,000 5,300,000 7,000,000 39,000,000 48,000,000 18, 600, 000 32,000,000 135,000,000 Tele- phones. 3,400, 1,485, 112 41 : 52, 41, 518, 366, 29, 24, 122, 74: 16; 27: 60, Inhabit- ants per telephone. Telephones per 1,000 in- habitants. 22.2 60.0 62.7 72.2 112.0 115.0 180.0 284.0 320.0 644.0 1,160.0 1,180.0 2,250.0 44.1 21.4 16.7 15.9 13.8 8.9 8.7 6.6 3.5 3.2 1.6 0.9 0.8 . 0.4 Table 43. — Telephone development in large cities. [January 1, 1905.] , CITY. Population. Tele- phones. Inhabit- ants per telephone. Telephones per 100 in- habitants. Stockholm (two systems) Stockholm (company system 312,000 312,000 2,100,000 230,000 476,000 153,000 1,931,000 4,614,000 2,660,000 576,000 1,762,000 643,000 600, 000 800,000 370,000 1,334,000 550,000 42,685 31,685 144,363 12,513 23,000 7,275 66,744 93,598 49, 444 7,829 21,723 6,081 5,000 7,500 1,740 6,000 2,400 7.3 9.8 14.6 18.3 20.6 21.0 29.0 49.5 64.0 73.7 83.0 89.6 100.0 106.5 212.0 223.0 229.0 13.7 10.2 New York 6.9 Christiania 5.4 4.8 Zurich 4.8 Berlin .. 3.4 2.0 1.8 Brussels . 1.4 1.2 1.1 Rome 1.0 Budapest 0.9 0.5 St. Petersburg 0.4 Madrid 0.4 With regard to the general table, for the countries, it will be observed that the United States had, at the end of 1904, 3,400,000 telephones, or more than twice as many as all Europe, the total for England and the Continent being 1,485,784. The figures for one or two minor countries not included might possibly raise the European total to 1,500,000. The fact is also brought out that owing to the rapid development of the Bell telephone system, as well as the active competition of independent companies, the proportion of telephones4 to population in the United States has been raised from 1 telephone to 34 inhabitants in 1902 to 1 telephone tat 22.2 inhabitants in 1905. It will also be seen that at the later date there were in the United States 44.8 telephones per 1,000 inhabitants, which was more than TELEPHONY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 69 twice as great as the highest rate in Europe, namely, that of Sweden, with 21.4. Some of the European countries exhibited a very small utilization of the telephone. The second most active commercial and industrial countries, namely, the German Empire and the United Kingdom, showed only 8.9 and 8.7 tele- phones, respectively, per 1,000 inhabitants, this figure falling off to 3.2 in France and to 1.6 in Austria- Hungary. In the great empire of Russia there were, at the date named, only 60,000 telephones, or less than in the borough of Brooklyn, New York city. The table of telephone development in large cities is also very instructive .and interesting. In this table New York heads the list, with the exception of the city of Stockholm, where unusual activity has been dis- played for some years past through the competition of the Government and a private system, with the result that each has virtually duplicated the other's service at low and unprofitable rates, giving what may fairly be characterized as an undue or abnormal development without intrinsic benefit to the community. The Swedish figures are discussed in greater detail below. Admitting, however, that the percentage in New York, as in all other great cities, is destined to rise until a much higher point than the present has been attained, it is to be noticed that in the city of Christiania, which from many points of view might be compared with Stockholm, the proportion of telephones per 100 inhab- itants is slightly less than in New York, being 5.4, as compared with 6.9 in the American city. The great cities of Europe which should justly be compared with New York, namely, London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, show a comparatively small patronage of the telephone, the figures being, London, 2 telephones per 100 inhab- itants; Paris, 1.8; Berlin, 3.4; and Vienna, 1.2. It should be mentioned in passing that London has two telephone systems, a private and a Government one. The figures include both systems. The population of London, in comparative statistics, is more usually given as 6,580,000, the use of which would bring the figures for the use of the telephone much nearer the low average for Paris and Vienna, and still further below that for Berlin. But the figures here employed (4,614,000) are those which are considered to govern more specifically the telephone area. With regard to these figures and those which might be presented for American cities other than New York, the remark of John Hesketh, telephone engineer for the Australian Government, may be quoted as follows : "In American cities the telephone development has already reached a point which seems hardly to be realized as within the bounds of possibility in most European countries." Subjoined will be found a, few specific statistics with regard to the telephonic traffic in the leading countries of Europe for the year 1902-3, the period being the one most closely corresponding to that covered by the 18407—06^ — 6 statistics for the United States. The statistics in question are those compiled by and published in the Journal Telegraphique, issued in Berne, Switzerland, by the official international bureau of telegraphic administration. This bureau receives the reports of the various governments of Europe, and being in direct touch and constant communication with them is enabled to present authentic data that otherwise is not easy to obtain. Germany. — For the period under consideration the statistics for Germany, not including the German pro- tectorates in China and Africa, show 4,192 "reseaux" or exchange systems, 71,052 kilometers (44,150 miles) of pole line in the cities, and 2,399 kilometers (1,491 miles) of underground line. This gave a total length of wire circuit overhead and underground of 1,383,814 kilometers (859,923 miles). There were also 8,675 interurban circuits, with 248,376 kilometers (154,396 miles) of wire circuit. It is noted in the return that most of this circuit hitherto had been that of earth return, but that the metallic circuit, such as now pre- vails so uniformly in America, was in process of intro- duction. The system included in 1902-3, 470,365 stations, of which 444,720 were those of subscribers, 21,438 were public pay stations, and 4,207 were central stations. The total number of conversations or uses of the service within urban limits was 799,009,646, of which 793,582,447 were ordinary subscribers' talks. Of the remainder, 2,423,256 were ordinary pay station talks. In addition to the above" the other urban or toll line conversations numbered 128,268,985. The total receipts of the system were 72,867,441 francs ($14,063,416), of which 53,026,074 francs (110,234,032) came from subscribers in city limits. Austria. — The figures for Austria and Hungary are reported separately by the bureau. There were in Austria 429 exchanges with 10,086 kilometers (6,267 miles) of line, of which 264 kilometers (164 miles) were underground, and a total wire circuit of 255,725 kilo- meters (152,686 miles). The interurban circuits num- bered 134, with 21,404 kilometers (13,300 miles) of wire. The substations numbered 43,742, of which 42,641 were those of subscribers and 767 were pay stations. In Germany the number of telephone employees was not given, the same functionaries in most instances operating the telegraphs also, but in Austria 2,813 em- ployees are mentioned as engaged specifically in tele- phonic service. The number of conversations was 132,977,492, with an additional 2,640,557 over inter- urban toll lines. The receipts were set down at 7,713,030 francs (|l,488,615),of which 3,401,552 francs (1656,500) came from exchange subscribers. In Hun- gary the whole telephonic exploitation is practically by the State, but 1 private exchange with 39 subscribers and 29,200 conversations being included. The Gov- ernment installations included 76 exchanges with 70 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. 3,013 kilometers (1,872 miles) of line, of which 292 kilometers (181 miles) were underground, and a total wire circuit of 89,299 kilometers (55,488 miles) . There were 23,330 substations, of which 21,617 were those of subscribers, and 932 were pay stations. The number of conversations was 53,999,989, with an additional 641,835 interurban conversations. The total receipts reported were 3,846,287 francs ($742,333), of which 2,928,599 francs (1565,220) came from regular ex- change operations and the rest from toll line work. Belgium. — In Belgium the telephonic service is entirely in the hands of the State. Seventeen ex- changes were reported, with a total length of circuit connected of 87,635 kilometers (54,454 miles). There were 138 interurban circuits, with 18,396 kilometers (11,437 miles) of wire. The number of substations was 21,984, of which 21,741 were subscribers' and 110 were pay stations. The total number of em- ployees reported specifically for the telephone sys- tems was 593, of whom 241 were linemen, etc., and 258 telephonists. The total number of telephonic conversations was 44,013,205, and of interurban talks 875,089. The total receipts were 5,504,721 francs ($1,062,411), of which 4,385,270 francs ($846,357) were from telephone subscribers. The direct expenses of the current year were set down at 4,520,740 francs ($872,502), of which 1,727,000 francs ($333,311) were for personnel and 2,793,740 francs ($539,191) for material. Up to the year 1903 telephone stamps were employed by the administra- tion for the franking of communications between the public offices, but their use was discontinued in that year. There has been considerable development in the use of combination telegraphic and telephonic circuits, based upon the Van Rysselberghe system, which originated in Belgium, a,nd which, with modi- fications or elaborations, has been somewhat exten- sively used in the United States. There has also been considerable use made of a combined telephone and telegraph service. Holland. — In Holland, as in Great Britain, the de- velopment of the telephone has been carried on by three methods — namely,- private enterprise, exploita- tion by the State, and municipal ownership. The development by the State is relatively small, and dur- ing the year under report included only 315 stations on 175 interurban circuits, with 22,437 kilometers (13,941 miles) of wire, and no regular separate ex- changes, although 260 employees are specifically re- ported for the telephonic administration. The num- ber of conversations over the Government lines, wholly interurban, was 1,227,784. There were 38 exchanges carried on by private companies. These, like the municipal networks, have a concession from the State for an area limited within a given circle, having a radius of 5 kilometers (3 miles), the limitations in each case being imposed by Government authority. These 38 exchange systems, whose mileage of circuit was not reported, included 10,250 substations, of which 93 were pay stations and the others subscribers' . Over this network 11,243,541 conversations were exchanged. The systems under municipal ownership were re- ported as numbering 22, with 48,826 kilometers (30,339 miles) of circuit distributed over 1,107 kilo- meters (688 miles) of line. Of the 16,005 substa- tions thus connected, 15,895 were subscribers' and 110 pay stations. The staff included 480 individuals, of whom 409 were .wage-earners, the corresponding total figures for the private plants being 273 em- ployees, of whom 227 were wage-earners. The munici- pal system was utilized for 33,020,423 conversations. As neither the private companies nor the municipal exchanges reported any interurban or territorial work, and as the Government system reported no urban work and 1,227,784 interurban conversations, the division of the service is clearly marked, the Gov- ernment evidently limiting itself to work which in the United States is generally spoken of as "long dis- tance" or "toll line" business. No figures of earn- ings or expenses were reported by the companies or municipalities, but the Government reported re- ceipts of 892,356 francs ($172,225) and expenses of 1,264,067 francs ($243,965). Denmark. — In Denmark the division of service cor- responds somewhat to that observed in Holland. The 80 exchanges reported were all conducted by companies. These companies operated 10,886 kilo- meters (6,764 miles) of city line, with 103,124 kilo- meters (64,078 miles) of wire circuit, and also 459 inter- urban circuits, with 26,339 kilometers (16,366 miles) of wire. Of the 42,594 substations reported, 41,194 were subscribers' and 960, including 473 described as automatic, pay stations. The administration in- cluded 1,920 persons, of whom 1,321 were telephonists and 445, linemen, etc. During the year 75,406,000 conversations were exchanged, with an additional 5,048,000 interurban talks. The income was 4,775,390 francs ($921,650), and the expenses 1,501,776 francs ($289,843). The expense aM construction account up to the year was 19,922,038 francs ($3,844,953), but the construction account for the year under re- port was not given. The Government service, which embraced 32 interurban and long distance circuits, with 6,515 kilometers (4,048 miles) of wire and 646 stations, reported 377,649 telephone-telegrams and 567,000 interurban or long distance talks. The re- ceipts were given as 544,247 francs ($105,040), but no expense account was attached. Spain. — In Spain part of the telephonic traffic was under the direct control of the Government, which reported 14 exchanges, with 389 stations connected, 683 kilometers (424 miles) of line, and 3,015 kilometers TELEPHONY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 71 (1,873 miles) of circuit, and 12 interurban circuits, with 680 kilometers (423 miles) of wire. The only- business reported over this system was 2,703 long distance messages, but at the same time the total re- ceipts returned were 883,498 francs ($170,515). This amount, however, included royalty accepted by the State from private companies and from individuals operating private lines. The most important of the private exchanges in Spain were naturally those in the large cities, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao, and the total number of systems in this class was returned as 46, with 54 exchanges and 15,018 subscribers; but no detailed figures were forthcoming as to the number of conversations, receipts, or ex- penses. It will be observed in Table 41 that the total number of subscribers in Spain at the end of 1904 was 16,000, but as the number for the year 1902-3 was 15,433 the service was apparently at a standstill. The royalty paid to the State included 751,066 francs ($144,956) from the urban companies. The- sepa- rate or individual circuits reported as existing be- tween cities and factories, farms, cattle ranches, etc. numbered 1,096, with 7,672 kilometers (4,767 miles) of wire and 2,138 telephones, and paid 48,360 francs ($9,333) into the treasury of the State. The Govern- ment had constructed and was operating several long distance circuits,' more particularly for its own uses, as between Madrid and the summer residence of the court at San Sebastian. Italy. — The development of the telephone in Italy has been almost wholly in the hands of private com- panies, which reported 88 exchange systems, 5,478 kilometers (3,404 miles) of line, and 47,567 kilometers (29,613 miles) of wire circuit. Of the 23,331 substa- tions also reported, 22,961 were subscribers' and 282 pay stations. The personnel of the system included 1,373- employees, of whom 489 were linemen, etc., and 648 telephonists. The number of conversations was 65,359,073, to which should be added 412,530 long distance messages. The total receipts were 3,428,732 francs ($661,745), of which 3,205,854 francs ($618,730) were from subscriptions. The expense account shows a total of 1,367,346 francs ($263,898), of which 628,562 francs ($127,598) were for material, and 738,784 francs ($142,585) for salaries, wages, etc. No item is given as to fixed charges, dividends, etc. The State tele- phone service was apparently a neghgible quantity, including only 1,263 miles of long distance line, with 8 stations, over which 154,920 long distance messages were exchanged. The income of the State from teleph- ony was 152,753 francs ($29,481), derived entirely from royalty in the shape of taxes des conversations. Russia. — Telephony in Eussia is operated both by the State and by private enterprise. The Government system preponderates. There were reported 93 Gov- ernment exchanges, with 7,232 kilometers (4,494 miles) of line and 56,053 kilometers (34,830 miles) of wire circuit, supplemented by 29 interurban circuits, with 24,974 kilometers (15,518 miles) of wire. These exchanges had 24,974 substations, of which 24,706 were subscribers' and 112 pay stations. The admin- istration included 1,368 employees, of whom 493 were linemen, etc., and 724 were telephonists. Over this system a business of 121,279,887 conversations and 1,609,073 interurban talks was exchanged. The total receipts were 8,279,128 francs ($1,597,872), of which 6,806,856 francs ($1,313,723) were from subscriptions. The itena of miscellaneous receipts included 1,389,584 francs ($268,190), in which may possibly be included hcense royalties paid by the private companies to the State. The expenses are set down as 3,114,736 francs ($601,144), of which 1,020,380 francs ($196,933) were for material and 2,094,356 francs ($404,211) for sal- aries, wages, etc. The total expenses of the system prior to the year of the report was placed at 15,086,094. francs ($2,911,616), but no allowance was made in the expenses for interest on such investment. The pri- vate development of the telephone in Russia included 11 exchanges, with 1,060 kilometers (659 miles) of line and 69,063 kilometers (42,914 miles) of circuit. There were connected 23,802 substations and 7 pubhc pay stations. The business done over the systems included 49,726,185 telephonic conversations. No report was made of receipts or expenditures. France. — The returns for France were entirely the figures of the Government and included 3,221 exchange systems. These had 24,948 kilometers (15,502 miles) of line, of which 18,839 kilometers (11,706 miles) were overhead and 6,109 kilometers (3,796 miles) under- ground. This included 427,527 kilometers (265,652 miles) of wire circuit, of which a very large propor- tion — 328,404 kilometers (204,060 miles) — was under- ground, one-third being held in reserve and two-thirds being in active service. In addition there were 5,172 interurban circuits, with 210,052 kilometers (130,520 miles) of wire. The number of substations connected was 117,302, of which 108,946 were subscribers', 5,129 public pay stations, and 3,227 telephones at central exchanges. The personnel of the system included 6,056 employees, of whom 1,569 were linemen, etc., and 3,741, telephonists. During the year the business done amounted to 191,315,764 conversations within urban limits and 11,768,453 interurban conversations. No figures of expenses are given, as these are included with those of the posts and telegraphs under the administration of the one officer of the State. Most of the receipts— 20,779,055 francs ($4,010,358)— came from subscriptions, while the miscellaneous receipts were massed as 7,157,174 francs ($1,381,335). Switzerland. — In Switzerland the telephone service is in the hands of the Federal Government, and is inti- mately associated with the telegraphic administration. TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. The number of exchange systems in 1 902-3 was reported as 340, with 15,328 kilometers (9,524 miles) of line and 184,596 kilometers (114,702 miles) of wire circuit in city service, supplemented by 698 kilometers (434 miles) in interurban service, with 20,058 kilometers (12,463 miles) of wire. In the cities 140,995 kilo- meters (87,610 miles), or 75.9 per cent, of the total wire length in service was underground. This dis- proportion was due apparently, however, to the fact that the metallic or double circuits were counted twice. The same statement applies also to a large part of the interurban service. Connected with the lines were 49,731 stations, of which 48,408 were those of subscribers, 983 were public pay stations, and 340 telephones at central offices. The public pay stations included 867 "communal stations." The personnel of the service was given as 1,279 employees, of whom 496 were linemen, etc., and 467 were telephonists. The number of telephonists did not include 601 oper- ators who were reported as exercising also some other "profession." The administrative staff included 90 chiefs of staff, etc., in addition to whom there were 42 functionaries of the telegraph system whose duties also included responsibility for the telephonic work. Besides these no higher officials were reported as in charge of the telephone system. The service done over the system amounted to 25,503,421 conversa- tions within the city limits, and 5,518,419 interurban conversations, with which were included also 73,806 international conversations, as with France, Italy, and Germany. The receipts of the service were returned as 6,385,651 francs (11,232,431), of which 2,739,180 francs ($528,862) were directly from subscriptions and 1,257,620 francs ($242,721) from pay station and other service. The receipts from interurban work appear to have been very high, the taxes des conver- sations under this head being set down as 2,024,789 francs ($390,784). The expenses were returned as 7,651,202 francs ($1,476,682), of which 5,657,832 francs ($1,091,962) were for material and 1,993,370 francs ($384,720) for the personnel. The large outlay in construction is explained by the fact that it embraced over 3,000,000 francs ($599,000) for interest and sink- ing fund and the cost of creating the system up to the year in question. With regard to the receipts, it would appear that part of such earnings by the tele- phone goes into the telegraph account as the earnings of the telephone-telegraph system. Norway. — The figures for the exploitation of the telephone in Norway are not all for the same periods, and those relative to the work of the State belong to the budget year 1903-4. The service is carried on in part by the State and very largely by private com- panies. The State administration of the telephone is intimately associated with that of the telegraph, and it is difficult, therefore, to separate clearly all the telephonic figures. The number of the State systems was returned as 25, some of which were established by the Government and others acquired from private parties. The length of line was 631 kilometers (392 miles), with 51,000 kilometers (31,690 miles) of wire circuit in city limits. In addition to this 233 interur- ban circuits were reported, with a line length of 8,069 kilometers (5,014 miles), and 29,269 kilometers (18,187 miles) of wire circuit, almost entirely overhead. Con- nected by the system were 16,846 stations, of which 15,580 were those of subscribers, 990 public pay sta- tions, and 276 located at central exchanges; 243 of these latter stations were also telegraphic offices. The public pay stations were also of a telegraphic character, it being possible to communicate telegranas from. 749 of them, while 147 were equipped with telegraphic apparatus. Subject to the reservation already noted, the personnel of the telfephone system included appar- ently 25 chiefs of staff, 5 engineers, 20 superintendents of equipment, 141 linemen, etc., and 218 telephonists. The business done over the systems amounted to 42,661,560 conversations within city limits and 2,081,000 interurban talks, the limit of time being 3 minutes, as compared with the limit of 5 minutes generally imposed by the Norwegian private com- panies. No separate figures of receipts or expenses were furnished by the State, for the reason that the telephone service is considered an integral part of the telegraph administration. Private enterprise in Nor- way was credited with the creation of 200 telephone exchange networks, with 8,127 kilometers (5,050 miles) of line and 36,260 kilometers (22,531 miles) of wire cir- cuit. The number of interurban circuits is not reported, but the length of line is given as 12,189 kilometers (7,574 miles) and the length of wire circuit as 21,449 kilometers (13,328 miles). There were reported 22,901 stations, of which 20,976 were subscribers', 1,366 public pay stations, and 559 central office tele- phones. The personnel of the service included' 207 chiefs of staff, 8 engineers, 205 superintendents of con- struction, linemen, etc., 234 laborers, and 776 telephon- ists. The number of conversations carried on over the systems in city limits was 43,714,342, of which 42,821,674 were subscribers' talks. The number of interurban conversations was 2,597,517. The receipts of the systems were returned as 1,370,773 francs ($264,559), of which 1,114,628 francs ($215,123) were for subscriptions, and 165-,685 francs ($31,977) from pay' station service. The expenses were returned as 1,225,376 francs ($236,498), 676,695 francs ($130,602) being for material and 548,681 francs ($105,895) for personnel. The item for material was divided into TELEPHONY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 73 about two-thirds for maintenance and one-third for construction, etc. The total cost of the service up to theyearof the report was7, 117,935 francs ($1,373,761). Sweden. — The telephone in Sweden is largely in the hands of the State, but is also operated by private stock companies and by cooperative organizations {societes mutuelles des Tiahitants), which are closely analogous to the mutual cooperative systems in the United States enumerated elsewhere in this report. The figures are of more than usual interest on account of the extraordinary development in one or two of the larger cities. The service of the State included 152 exchanges or exchange systems, with 75,558 kilometers (46,949 miles) of wire circuit sup- plemented by 1,402 interurban lines, with a line length of 21,222 kilometers (13,187 miles) and a wire length of 63,698 kilometers (39,580 miles). In the wire lengths the metallic circuits are apparently given twice over. There were 68,970 telephonic stations, including 954 public pay stations, and the business transactions over this system included 171,392,644 messages within urban limits, and 6,470,298 inter- urban or long distance talks of a duration of three minutes each. The personnel of the system included 84 officials at the head of the department, with 200 superintendents of exchanges and assistants, 27 engi- neers, 300 superintendents and foremen of construc- tion, 900 linemen, etc., and 2,200 telephonists. Most of the telephonists are women. With regard to the remainder of the pfersonnel, the telegraphic and tele- phonic services are so closely united that it is difficult to distinguish between the two sets of employees. This difficulty also applies with regard to other data. The total of receipts was not given, but an amount of 4,665,549 francs ($900,451) from subscrip- tions to city exchanges and 2,807,504 francs ($541,848) as taxes des conversations was reported. This included also fees for local use of pay stations, so that the amount for interurban conversations was not reported separately. No expenses were set down for the sep- arate operation of the telephone, but it was reported that the investment or expenses up to the current year had amounted to the gross sum of 37,223,150 francs ($7,184,068). The exploitation by private companies included only 5 exchanges, 2 of which were in cities. These were virtually the systems of the Stockholm General Telephone Company, that reported 35,165 telephones, of which all but 199 were those of subscrib- ers. The system included 46,810 kilometers (29,086 miles) of wire circuit in city limits and 15,208 kilo- meters (9,450 miles) of interurban circuits. No figures were reported as to personnel, traffic done, receipts, expenses, or total investment. The mutual systems numbered 23, with 3,327 kilometers (2,067 miles) of wire circuit in the urban networks and 491 kilometers (305 miles) of interurban circuits. Con- nected with these lines were 1,106 stations, of which 1,069 were those of subscribers. No figures were reported as to the other items of investment, income or expenses, personnel, or traffic. During the parliamentary investigation in Canada during 1904 it was stated by Mr. H. L. Webb, the English expert, that in Stockholm and the surrounding districts the State systems had 11,000 stations, and the company's system 34,000 or 35,000, and that he doubted whether, out of the 11,000, there were more than 2,000 or 3,000 that were on the State systems only, the remainder being duplicates of the company's installations. Great Britain and Ireland. — The official statistics for Great Britain and Ireland were all returned as of the financial year 1903-4, and represent exploitation by the State. No figures were given for the vastly larger systems operated by the National Telephone Company under its license from the Government. The figures included in the Berne statistics were those taken from the report of the Postmaster-General as the official in charge of the operation of the service. The number of Government telephone stations reported was 23,672, of which 22,506 were those of subscribers, 655 were public pay stations, and 511 were in central offices. The sub- scribers' stations were very largely grouped in London, 15,632 being in that city and only 6,874 in other cities and towns. The telephone trunk lines constituted the basis of Government service and included for 1903-4 1,418 circuits, with 102,799 miles of wire, over which 13,467,975 calls or conversations were exchanged. The revenue from this service was £325,525 ($1,584,167), and the capital expended £2,200,024 ($10,706,417) . These trunk lines have been gradually taken over by the Government from the National Telephone Company, the original transfer beginning about 1892 and ending in 1896. The National Tele- phone Exchange Company, which has an exchange system in practically every community of any size in Great Britain and Ireland, is to be credited with the bulk of the telephone development there, the excep- tion being that included in a few municipal exchanges. The British Postmaster-General during the present year has come to an agreement with the National Telephone Company to take over its business and buy its plant as from December 31, 1911. The entire telephonic system of the country will therefore be under direct State control. The price to be paid for the business is to be settled by arbitration, and all that is to be paid is the fair market value of the plant and works of the company. The purchase is to be determined on what are known in England as "tramway terms," that is to 74 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. say, no payment is to be made in respect to compulsory purchase, good will, or past or future profits. Excep- tions are made with regard to the private wire business of the company, which can be carried on without the Postmaster-General's license, and a very few cases where the company's license has, for reasons of benefit to the pubhc, been extended beyond 1911. Three- fourths of the whole purchase money may, at the option of the Government, be paid by way of annui- ties for a term not exceeding twenty years. The Postmaster-General is also clothed with power enabling him to object to the purchase of any plant unsuitable for the carrying on of business. In order to insure the efficiency of the service during the company's continuance in possession and opera- tion, it is bound by agreement to allow intercommuni- cation without additional charges between the systems of the Government and those of the company, and is forbidden to show any favor or preference as between subscribers. While the minimum and maxim^um rates that the company can charge are fixed, it is provided that, if on complaint and on full inquiry the company is shown to be giving inefficient service in any district or community, the Postmaster-General may take over the company's business there at once, without any payment or allowance for good will. The amount of money involved in this wholesale transaction can not be determined closely, but it may be stated that the company has a share capital of about $22,500,000, with debentures amounting to nearly $20,000,000 more. The company has been operating on a reason- ably profitable basis, paying an average of 5 per cent on the stock. Owing to the close association of the telegraph and telephone systems in England as oper- ated under Government control, it is difficult to determine the profit, if any, that is made by the sys- tems under State control. The deficit on the operation of the telegraph service as a whole in 1903 was £601,711 ($2,928,227), and in 1904 was £983,681 ($4,787,084). In the city of London, which has by far the largest system in England, and includes an area of 640 square miles, the National Telephone Company had over 60 exchanges, and the post office 17 or 18. Within that area at the end of 1904 there were 93,598 sub- scribers. On March 1, 1904, the Government service included 10 exchanges, with 15,632 subscribers. Of these, 10,541 were connected with the main office, called "central," and a second exchange of the same character having become necessary, one was under construction, with a maximum capacity of 18,000 lines. The length of the undergroimd pipe for cir- cuits laid in the London area was 1,146 miles and, including 32,248 miles allotted for the use of the National Telephone Company on rental terms pend- ing the transfer of the company's system to the post office, cables containing 125,717 miles of wire had been provided. The report of the Postmaster-General states that the sum represented as rentals of the post office pro- vincial telephone exchange circuits and of private subscribers' wires was £206,786 ($1,006,324), and it is also noted that the amount of royalty received during the year from the National Telephone Com- pany was £169,853 ($826,590), the amount received from other licensees being £3,266 ($15,894). An in- teresting part of the work of the Government service has consisted in connecting up post offices with the trunk line systems, thus giving telephone service to places which previously had none, and in establishing call office systems in rural districts with the aid of a public telegraph circuit, with a view to ascertaining what demand there is for telephonic facilities between market towns and the surrounding villages. Three places had been selected for this latter experiment — one each in England, Scotland, and Ireland — but up to the time of the report the system had been little used by the public and the receipts had not even covered the cost of attendance and maintenance. The report of the Postmaster-General states that of the sum of £3,000,000 ($14,599,500), authorized by a telegraph act of the year for the development of the telephone systems of the country, £1,300,000 ($6,326,450) would be required for the development of the wire systems and about £1,700,000 ($8,273,050) for the development of the exchange system in London and the provinces. The Government work connected with the trunk line system and the exchange system has been referred to above. In addition to this work, considerable outlay has been required in connection with communication between England and the con- tinent. For some years past England and France have been connected by submarine telephone cables, and the service was continued during 1904. Tele- phone communication was established between Lon- don and Brussels in 1903. The service was extended later to certain provincial centers in England and Belgium during the same year, and at the present time circuits are working satisfactorily between London and Holland. Owing to the greater distance and length of circuit, the results were such as to show that it was not yet entirely practicable to construct a cable line which would enable such direct telephonic communication to be permanently established and satisfactorily maintained. The remaining telephone development has been attempted by a few municipalities under a special Hcense from the Postmaster-General. When the law which authorized British municipalities to borrow money to establish local telephone systems was passed in August, 1899, it was supposed that a large number of local bodies would take licenses for such a TELEPHONY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 75 purpose. But up to the time of the report only six municipalities had established systems in the six years, and one of the exchanges — that at Tunbridge Wells — ^after an unprofitable life, had gone out of existence. The other places in which these exchanges existed were Glasgow, Portsmouth, Swansea, Brighton, and Hull — large and Important communities; but the general impression to be derived from the evi- dence and statements with regard to the subject would le"ad to the inference that such a development had ceased, and the Postmaster-General's report for 1903-4 showed that he had not granted any licenses during that year for the establishment of miuiicipal exchange systems. Aside from the uncertainty of the municipal results attained, the taking over of the , entire telephonic service by the Government in 1911 maj have operated strongly to check any move- ment in the direction of the establishment of such systems as part of the general scheme of municipal ownership of public utilities. It is stated that the 5 exchanges referred to include approximately 10,000 telephones not duplicated by the other systems, and that for the establishment of these systems a gross sum of £600,000 ($2,919,900\has been spent. With regard to the Glasgow system, which was based upon a method of operation abandoned some years ago in the United States as inadequate, Mr. Webb in his evidence before the Canadian parliamentary commit- tee testified as follows: They have a capital of something over £350,000 ($1,703,275) and a very large proportion of their assets are practically worthless. Accord- ing to the modern standard of telephony, practically the whole exchange equipment, the whole of the subscribers' station equipment, is obsolete, and if the systems were taken over by practical telephone people, it would have to be largely reconstructed. Therefore there is a capital account of £350,000 ($1,703,275), out of which you can wipe practically one-third right away. British India. — Telephone development in British India, which has been considerable, is largely in the hands of the State. Under State exploitation there were reported for the year 1903, 524 exchanges and exchange systems, with 1,617 stations, 1,802 kilo- meters (1,120 miles) of line, and 8,209 kilometers (5,101 miles) of circuit. The income reported was 313,107 francs (160,430). It is evident that these data are very incomplete. In addition to this there were the exchanges of the Bombay Telephone Com- pany, the Bengal Telephone Company, and the Oriental Telephone and Electric Company, all of which included apparently 3,229 stations and had an income of 823,171 francs ($158,872). Canada. — The development of the telephone in Canada has been almost entirely in the hands of private enterprise, as represented by the Bell Tele- phone Company of Canada, and in recent years by a few opposition systems. The Bell telephone sys- tems operated by the company included in 1904, 475 exchanges and 789 agencies, with 66,160 telephone stations. The gross revenue from all sources was reported as $2,988,990. The capitalization of the system was .'$9,916,960, of which $7,916,960 were common stock and $2,000,000 were bonds. Making a further subdivision, the total exchange capital was re- ported as $6,465,854, the total line capital, $2,166,176, and the total real estate capital, $1,284,930. The system included 32,218 miles of wire on the long dis- tance circuits, and the separate long distance revenue included in the above was $762,000. Japan. — Among the Oriental peoples the Japanese exemplify the readiest adoption of the telephone, and the system in their country is already well established and rapidly growing. For the year 1903-4 there were reported 27 exchange systems under State exploi- tation, of which 3 were in Korea. These included 2,800 kilometers (1,740 miles) of line, with 170,942 kilometers (106,218 miles) of circuity and 131 inter- urban circuits, with 12,033 kilometers (7,477 miles) of wire. With these lines there were connected 37,077 stations, of which 329 were public pay stations, 4 of which were in Korea; and of the 36,714 subscribers' stations included, 594 were in Korea. No separate figures were given for the personnel, owing to the common operation of the post, telegraphs, and tele- phones by the Government. The business transacted included 132,341,271 conversations on exchange sys- tems and 1,203,295 interurban talks. The receipts amounted to 6,692,247 francs ($1,291,604). No full report was made of expenses, but the separate charge to the system, almost entirely for materials, was reported as 671,389 francs ($129,578). The total expended on the establishment up to the time of the report was 32,633,101 francs ($6,298,188). Telephone rates. — Tabular statements, based upon those in the report of the evidence given before the Canadian parliamentary committee of inquiry into telephony, are furnished herewith, giving a synopsis of telephone rates in continental Europe, and in one instance the long distance rates in the United States and Canada. These statements summarize the gen- eral conditions, bilt require explanation and further data in regard to some features. 76 TELEPHONIES AND TELEGRAPHS. Telephone rates in continental Europe. Austria.. Bavaria- . Belgium . Bulgaria.. Denmark. Finland. . . France Germany. Entrance tee. Subscrip- tion. $20.28. $48.70. $48.70. $38.96. Cost of telephone $2.66 per -^ mile and cost of tele- phone. $20, 28 40.00 36.53 48. 2.5 38.60 32.81 28.95 38.96 29.22 40.56 f 9.41 \ 21.60 13.64 11.68 9.74 15.67 23.38 80.00 58.44 38.96 29.22 24.30 21.87 18.23 14.58 Hungary. , Holland. . , Italy.. $10.00. $10.00. 60.88 24.35 46.00 44.00 16.23 24.14 14.08 14.08 12.08 26.89 32.75 38.96 Annual subscrip- tion for second and sub- sequent connec- tions. $20.28 "is." 27' 32.46 45,00 40.00 Hemarks. Vienna. Brussels. Charleroi. Small towns, annual contract. Small towns, three years. First year. Second and subsequent years. Copenhagen covers the whole island of Zea- land, 80 miles by 60. Smaller towns. Helsingfors Coopera- tive Exchange. Abo. 33 cooperative ex- changes. Companies. Companies. Paris subscribers must also buy their tele- phones and pay for the cost of connec- tion. Lyon, Other towns over 25,000 inhabitants. Other towns under 2,500 Inhabitants. Over 20,000 lelephones. Under20,000 telephones. Under 5,000 telephones. Under 1,000 telephones, with following addi- tional charges: $4,86 first 500 messages; $3,65 per 500 up to 1,500 messages; $2,43 per 500 up to 5,000 messages; $2,43 for unlimited calls over 5,000. Berlin. Hamburg. Budapest. Other towns. Hotels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Business and residence, Rotterdam and Am- sterdam. The Hague. The Netherlands Bell Telephone Company operating 13 towns. 11 towns. The Zutphen and the Maastricht Tele- phone companies, 2 towns, Rome, cooperative ex- change. Rome Company's ex- change. Naples, Milan, Paler- mo, Genoa, Venice, and Turin. Italy. Luxemburg. , Monaco.. Norway. . Portugal. . . Roumania. Spain... Sweden. Switzerland. Wurtembijrg . Entrance fee. Subscrip- tion. $2.66 per ^ mile and cost of tele- phone. Cost of telephone. $12,18. $13.54 Cost of line and instruments. $29,22. $13,54. $13,54- $13,54. $2.71.. Cost of line and instruments.' $31. 18 31.18 38.96 27,27 35,05 29,22 13,64 23.38 15,67 12.18 13.54 10,74 12,08 17,57 16.23 13.34 18,31 8,09 12,08 16,23 8,09 6,84 13, 54 36,59 38,96 27,27 68,44 26.80 21.62 16,21 6,09 16,23 19.44 13,60 7,80 . 24.35 Annual subscrip- tion for second and sub- sequent connec- tions. $16,23 7.11 6.09 27.39 21.62 16.21 12,18 Remarks. Turinratef or residence, doctors, and drug- fists. orence, Bologna, Leghorn,'* Cessma, Padua, Bres- cia, erona, Bari, Parma, Vicenza. Other towns. Includes free intercom- munication between all points in the Grand Duchy, . 44 miles by 30. Christiania. Christiania, second tel- ephone on same line. Trondhjem municipal S3[stem. Christiansand. Christiansand,BUburbs. Christiansand. Fredrikstad, business. Fredrikstad,re8idences. Bergen. G r 1 m s t a d , one tele- phone. Grim St ad, two tele- phones. Grimstad, three tele- phones. "Horten. Other towns. Covers 1,000 calls; $3.90 per 100 afterwards, i .According to popula- tion. Hotels, clubs, railway stations, public places, etc., treble rates charged. Company's char^for a radius of 40 mnes. State charge for a radi- us of 40 miles. Company's charge per phone for 3 phones on same line in 40 miles radius. Company's charge for service limited to 40O calls per year; excess calls charged 2J cents each. Cooperative. First year, and 1 cent a message. Second year, and 1 cent a message. Third year, and subse- quent years, 1 cent a message; messages average 635 per sub- scriber per annum. TELEPHONY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 77 Long distamce rates in the United States, Canada, and European countries. counthy. DISTANCE IN .'!II.ES. 20 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 400 600 United States'..! Canada! j Great Britain -. . . SO. 12 0.C6 0.12 0.10 Free. Free. 0.02} 0.10 0.06 0.20 $0.24 0.12 0.20 0.10 0.20 Free. 0.02} 0.10 0.12 0.20 $0.48 0.24 0.28 0.24 0.20 0^20 0.24 80.72 0.36 0.40 0.24 0.20 0.40 0.06 0.20 0.24 SO. 96 0.48 0.40 0.24 0.20 b'.bb' 0.29 0,24 $1.20 0.60 0.40 0.24 0.58 '6."ii' 0.38 0.24 SI. 44 0.72 0.40 0.24 81.68 0.84 0.40 0.48 $2.40 1.20 0.60 $3.60 1.80 Denmark Finland '6."i3' 0.38 0.24 0. 53 0.15 0.48 0.24 0.63 0.66 0.36 Germany Holland 0.36 Luxemburg 3 Norway. 0.P7 0.26 0.13 Free. 0.06 0.10 0.07 0.26 0.13 Free. 0.10 0.10 0.07 0.48 0.24 0.08 0.15 0.10 6.07 0.48 0.24 0.08 0.16 0.10 6. is 0.66 0.34 0.13 0.15 0.10 0.13 0.86 0.43 0.13 0.15 0.13 0.86 0.43 0.13 0.15 0.13 1.04 0.53 0.13 0.84 0.44 Roumania 0.72 0.20 1.17 Sweden Switzerland Wurtemburg 0.27 1.68 1 HalJ rate at night, 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. 'Double period allowed lor day rate at night. 8 Local rate covers free intercommunication between all points. Tariff rates for the London area. I. — Ordinary message rate cervice: £ s, d. (a) Charges for connection with any exchange in the county of London within 2 miles of subscriber's premises. Annual subscription 5 ($24.33) Message tees- One penny lor each call to a subscriber on any exchange in the county ol London. Two pence for each call to a subscriber on any exchange outside the county ol London. (b) Charges lor connection with any exchange outside the county ol London within 2 miles ol the subscrib- er's premises. Annual subscription 4 ($19.47) Message lees — One penny for each call to a subscriber on the same exchange. Two pence for each call to a subscriber on any other exchange. The minimum yearly amount payable by each subscriber lor message lees is 1 10 ($7. 30) II. — Party line message rate service: Annual subscriptions— (a) For connection with any exchange except the Cen- tral Exchange by means of a line used by not more than two subscribers 3 ($14.60) (I)) For connection with any exchange outside the county of London by means of a line used by not more than two subscribers 2 ($9.73) Subscriptions at party line rates can not be ac- cepted Irom subscribers on the Central Exchange, or at the lower party line rate from subscribers on any exchange in the county of London. The above charges have reference to cases where the main circuit of a party line does not exceed 2 miles, and the spur circuit to each subscriber does not exceed 220 yards in length, otherwise there are additional charges mentioned under IV, below. Message fees for calls originated by party line sub- scribers will be the same as lor calls by subscrib- ers at the ordinary message rate, but the mini- mum yearly, amount payable lor message lees by each party line subseriberis 3 ($14.60) ni. — Unlimited service: Annual subscription lor connection with any ex- change within 2 miles ol the subscriber's prem- ises, together with an unlimited number of calls— (a) For the first line 17 ($82.73) (b) For each additional line connecting any prem- ises of the same subscriber with an exchange 14 ($68.13) IV. — Additional annual charges: (a) Where the premises of any subscriber at the ordinary message rate or at the unlimited service rate are more than 2 miles from the exchange, lor every ad- ditional quarter ol a mile or part thereol 15 ($6.08) (b) Where the main circuit of a party line exceeds 2 miles in length, lor each quarter ol a mile or part thereof in respect ol each subscriber whose spur circuit is- ' sues Irom the main circuit at a point more than 2 . miles irom the exchange 10 ($2.43) (c) Where the spur circuit ol a party line exceeds 220 yards in length, lor each additional quarter ol a mile or part thereol 1 5 ($6.08) V. — Extension lines: (a) For each extension line connecting two parts ol the same premises ol a subscriber, where the line is not more than 110 yards in length 1 10 ($7.30) (b) For each additional 110 yards of such a line 10 ($2.43) (0) For each extension line connecting separate premises of the same subscriber, and not more than a quarter of a mile in length 3 10 ($17.03 (d) For each additional quarter ol a mile ol such line... ISO (Sb.os) Extension lines are [not provided in connection with party lines. For each period ol three minutes' conversation 2 ($0.04) As will be seen, the statement of rates in conti- nental Europe is a digest of a great variety of rates, which it is almost impossible to reduce to uniformity. An exemplification of this fact is presented in the Government (post office) tariff for the city of Lon- don alone, in which three classes of service are dealt with. This statement does not exhaust the sub- ject, however, as there is another, but similar, scale for subscription to the service of the National Tele» phone Company, and the rates applying elsewhere in England, Scotland, or Ireland are not included. The post ofiice authorities have stated with regard to London that 90 per cent of their subscribers are on the message rate basis. This rate is, as is general throughout Europe, for a three minutes' use, whereas in the United States the five minute period, with consequent saving to the public, is universal. The reserve with which the European rates as to telephone service should be interpreted is illustrated in the case of Sweden, a country often cited for its cheap telephone service. In Sweden there is a flat rate of the General Company for "starred" subscribers, or those having against their names in the telephone directory an asterisk, which indicates that they may be called free by message rate subscribers. In other words, a message rate subscriber calling a "starred" subscriber is not charged the message fee for that call. Such "starred" subscribers pay 100 kroner, equal to $26.80. There is, in addition, for unstarred sub- scribers a flat rate of 80 kroner, and a party line rate of 60 kroner ($16.08), in each case an entrance fee of 50 kroner ($13.40) being paid. An inside extension station costs 34 kroner ($9. 11), and an outside extension line 40 kroner ($10.72) for the first 500 meters (about three-tenths of a mile), and in the same proportion for longer distances, with an additional installation fee of 10 kroner ($2.68). There is, moreover, a mes- sage rate for business purposes of 45 kroner ($12.06), with an installation charge, and a residence message rate subscription of 36 kroner ($9.65). As compared with the company rate in Stockholm, the maximum Government rate is 50 kroner ($13.40), but outside that city the Government charges higher rates. It should also be noted that in addition to the shorter time for a message — three minutes — the subscriber paying for 1,000 messages per quarter usually has that number allotted to him, and if he does not use them has no credit for the unused messages on the next quarter. The rate for extra messages is 2.7 cents above the 100 per quarter. Hence in view of the difference in the purchasing power of money in the United States and Sweden, the lower wages paid in Scandinavia, and other conditions bearing on the subject, the statements as to the great relative cheap- ness of telephony in Sweden do not appear to be justified. With regard to the table of long distance rates it may be explained that various differences in prac- tice exist which in certain ways modify the mere 78 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. figures presented. In Great Britain, for example, no user is permitted to retain a trunk line for more than two consecutive periods, or six minutes in all, after which he must give way and await his turn again. No such restriction applies in the United States, owing, probably, to the more liberal provision of circuits. As to the conditions in Europe, the testi- mony of Mr. H. L. Webb before the Canadian com- mittee may be quoted as follows: The service whichf is given is very much more complete in this country (United States) than it is anywhere in Europe. In Europe you have to call by number. On the long distance even you have to call by number. If you get the number, you pay whether you get the man you want to speak to or not. In this country it is the practice to call by name, and, unless you get the person you want to speak to, you do not pay. This of course is a very great accommodation to the public, and it is a large element in determining the value of the service — the price that it is worth. Then on the continent of Europe the same trouble exists — that delay. The rates are very cheap, but you can not get service. There are so few lines in comparison to the traffic that practically through the busy hours of the day, up to late in the afternoon, the hues are blocked, and if you want to get a man promptly you pay what is called the "urgent rate," which is triple the ordinary rate. A very large propor- tion of the messages that are sent are sent as "urgent" and the senders pay triple rates, so that the rate that is quoted does not at all represent the actual conditions. Telephonic telegrams. — A branch of telephonic work familiar in Europe, but not known to any extent in the United States, is that reported in the Berne sta- tistics under the head of "telegrammes-telepJiones," meaning, in general, messages transferred from the one set of wires to the other, so that a message can be telegraphed and then telephoned, or vice versa, from the receiving ofiice to the subscriber's business address or place of residence. A special form of service, also included under this head, is that of re- questing a correspondent to put himself in communi- cation telephonically with the sender of the message or notice or with a third person. The telephonic delivery of the telegraph message is usually free, but sometimes a small fee is collected, and in some instances, if requested, the messages are on receipt carried to the destination by messenger. In Nor- way a special subscription, based upon a sliding scale, is assessed for the transmission of telegrams by tele- phone. Arriving telegrams are transmitted free to all telephone subscribers, with the condition that the copy of the message will be forwarded as soon as possible, but at the convenience of the bureau. Subjoined are the figures reported from several coun- tries for "telegrams-telephones." Germany sent 1,836,139, received 1,155,853; Aus- tria sent 721,076, received 696,426; Belgium sent 931,897, received 660,529; Denmark sent 239,730, received 137,919; France sent 1,452,944, received 1,406,512; Great Britain, total 2,689,000; Hungary sent 83,604, received 81,320; Japan sent 204,353, received 83,228; Norway sent 184,114, received 150,399; Holland sent 287,755, received 184,190; Russia sent 41,549, received 33,225; Sweden sent 482,462, received 329,582; Switzerland sent 119,195, received 135,697. 80 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 43.— ALOL; TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— SUMMARY, STATE OR TERRITORY. United States. Alabama 1.. Arizona I... Arltansasi. Caiifornia.. Coiorado . . . Connecticut. Delaware 1... Florida' Georgia Idaho' Illinois Indian Territory. Indiana ' Iowa Kansas' Kentucky' Louisiana' Maine Maryland 3 Massachusetts . Michigan... Minnesota. . Mississippi ' Missouri... Montana'.. Nebraska Nevada' New Hampshire. New Jersey ' New Mexico' New York North Carolina ' . North Dakota'.. Ohio Oklahoma' Oregon' Pennsylvania South Carolina ' . South Dakota ' . . Tennessee , Texas Utah., . . . Vermont . Virginia ' . Washington ' West Virginia ' . . Wisconsin Another states'. Number ot systems. 4,151 47 11 76 18 13 6 3 25 78 7 381 37 366 411 172 119 15 27 20 10 110 151 35 317 16 28 12 267 83 32 285 24 21 97 42 54 43 ' 169 5 37 87 4 83 183 4 Miles of wire 4,860,486 32,659 3,872 24,190 144,392 52,115 56,181 10,690 16,503 63,689 6,314 420,665 5,227 209,599 135,112 52,349 154,586 49,368 25,435 97,137 257,461 196,520 136,356 29,453 167,288 8,517 52,711 1,394 18,390 136,617 3,283 622,908 24,680 9,532 514,634 16,186 29,493 501,418 18,621 10,785 86,195 140,483 9,866 16,363 44,672 43,027 56,384 109,636 37,630 Subscribers. 2,178,366 13,385 3,123 16,879 103,629 23,060 21,638 3,472 7,990 24,297 3,554 206,313 4,918 129,835 114,260 39,743 44,873 17,060 12,609 27,696 87,767 91,318 58,509 14,742 88,776 5,099 32,531 1,113 9,044 41,265 2,427 222,520 16,632 6,321 213,234 9,972 20,287 162,277 10,014 9,650 35,459 62,183 5,380 10,990 23,242 30,495 20,805 58,584 11,396 MESSAGES OR TALES DURING TEAR. Total. 5,070,554,553 46,158,943 5,072,727 36,716,883 178,284,400 60,258,533 35,933,102 8,962,892 18,906,002 96,192,066 6,451,762 541,161,932 8,337,969 294,657,565 193,054,738 58,699,143 143,101,664 68,083,915 21,923,915 62,019,081 183,115,320 237,695,112 113,124,262 60,414,961 242,309,227 11,352,976 73,227,030 1,409,134 16,987,012 56,171,223 4,297,920 360,098,123 36,485,398 14,106,733 558,707,801 23,329,668 35,777,238 493,617,718 ■23,893,914 17,919,604 128,274,719 167,079,014 11,755,130 19,075,847 65,494,626 64,623,982 41,605,891 101,594,728 23,033,120 Local. 4,949,849,709 45,666,699 5,004,894 35,941,937 175,856,160 58,726,904 34,417,525 8,786,328 18,740,316 95,613,168 6,222,416 535,744,349 8,114,1U 290,579,603 189,756,644 57,644,004 141,815,744 67,608,308 21,028,890 60,734,287 173,300,896 233,911,515 110,586,037 59,903,306 239,356,737 11,105,729 71,992,686 1,363,082 16,222,808 51,388,176 4,261,660 339,731,099 36,039,272 13,754,186 547,238,743 22,869,692 35,253,710 473,208,097 23,607,281 17,374,274 127,209,768 161,865,704 11,477,368 18,541,214 64,719,606 63,868,882 40,176,425 98,980,462 22,639,107 Long distance and toll. 120,704,844 492,244 67,833 774,946 2,428,240 1,531,629 1,515,577 176,564 165,686 578,898 229,346 5,417,583 223,848 4,078,062 3,298,094 1,055,139 1,285,820 475,607 895,025 1,284,794 9,814,424 3,783,597 2,538,225 511,655 2,952,490 247,247 1,234,344 46,052 764,204 4,783,047 36,260 20,367,024 446,126 352,547 11,469,058 459,976 523,528 20,409,621 386,633 545,330 1,064,951 6,213,310 277,762 534,633 775,020 755,100 1,429,466 2,614,266 394,013 ' Contains data lor system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. 2 Deficit. ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. 81 BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. SALARIED OFFICIALS, CLEEKS, WAGE-EAKNEES. Stations or telephones of all kinds. Number of public exchanges. Switch- boards of all kinds. Total revenue. Total expenses. Net surplus. Number. Salaries. Average number. Wages. 2,315,297 10,361 10,896 14,124 $9,885,886 64,628 $26,369,735 . 386,825,536 $80,147,490 $6,678,046 1 14,077 69 72 65 39,081 309 92,200 528,821 448,640 80,181 2 3,259 30 30 29 12,458 73 39,128 114,480 76,442 38,038 3 16,892 123 125 41 28,230 438 135,049 565,024 439,872 125,152 4 106,574 376 376 654 329,875 2,990 1,572,218 4,091,076 3,927,990 163,086 6 54,533 96 96 136 130,312 960 467,210 1,137,263 1,032,385 104,878 6 22,494 44 46 124 113,179 640 344,727 1,328,186 1,305,808 22,378 7 4,293 21 21 36 22,288 173 81,623 189,846 208,508 218,662 8 8,216 38 40 40 26,858 150 45,244 •212,099 185,183 26,916 9 25,490 113 120 275 182,887 564 166,545 863,033 761,817 101,216 10 3,862 33 34 65 22,311 170 100,656 178,282 181,597 !3,315 11 211,187 912 945 1,415 959,193 6,066 2,301,144 7,308,885 6,851,241 457,644 12 5,331 50 55 27 17,530. 139 43,905 164,142 103,888 60,254 13 132,489 621 650 476 230,339 2,860 858,711 2,816,509 2,411,573 404,936 14 120,017 710 729 341 178,792 1,909 610,039 1,962,362 1,551,669 410,803 15 40,972 259 266 141 73,687 820 227,552 877,783 627,779 250,004 16 46,266 203 204 250 154,229 1,483 462,433 1,377,441 1,228,675 148,766 17 17,509 60 62 88 64,564 601 214,004 803,399 • 718,644 84,855 18 14,045 112 112 55 31,730 357 173,986 597,204 568,821 28,383 19 32,090 93 95 291 214,766 1,328 629,351 1,517,102 1,444,055 73,047 20 96,512 233 235 1,155 1,182,216 3,524 1,742,820 6,127,452 5,924,613 202,939 21 93,961 511 523 324 217,135 2,175 690,281 2,444,051 2,398,653 45,398 22 62,039 246 290 315 224,351 1,172 473,981 1,879,872 1,643,256 336,616 23 15,069 95 95 92 59,060 428 116,945 496,490 438,976 57,523 24 93,371 482 507 440 309,416 2,389 890,410 2,970,697 2,526,024 444,573 26 5,421 32 32 61 34,136 122 66,656 304,979 276,387 28,592 26 36,153 220 222 117 70,851 756 311,662 1,107,303 963,201 154,102 27 1,165 11 11 14 648 23 9,228 35,006 21,557 13,449 28 9,949 87 87 41 22,333 238 114,785 396,639 384,685 11,954 29 48,980 246 249 410 277,707 ■ 1,864 932,623 2,738,695 2,707,121 31,574 30 2,481 12 12 12 8,627 39 16,593 54,445 36,484 17,961 31 246,015 713 735 2,318 2,065,667 7,765 3,766,101 16,352,193 16,810,195 541,998 32 16,252 125 130 81 43,752 400 105,190 346,472 299,118 47,354 33 6,762 49 49 22 12,371 147 59,117 235,371 184,857 50,514 34 222,767 757 867 809 488,757 5,469 1,963,779 6,192,640 5,477,077 715,663 35 10,385 52 76 50 32,420 231 68,196 268,222 189,339 78,883 36 21,172 118 120 127 27,829 618 294,229 659,146 627,666 31,481 37 186,572 772 890 1,475 1,000,978 6,682 2,847,340 8,083,896 8,054,253 29,643 38 10,467 82 93 56 31,554 265 71,766 286,065 249,759 36,296 39 10,305 103 108 54 25,656 217 81,046 287,057 227,468 59,589 40 36,060 158 162 342 216,730 1,399 469,942 1,252,438 1,162,466 89,972 41 64,410 334 348 311 229,546 2,032 810,396 2,485,925 1,970,357 515,568 42 5,734 22 22 ! 65 43,358 157 81,120 293,952 279,130 14,822 43 12,112 103 104 62 29,475 237 98,296 322,369 293,531 28,838 44 24,130 139 146 142 73,182 522 150,702 609,276 540,503 68,773 45 31,447 140 140 171 37,499 1,160 608,956 989,936 936,556 54,380 46 22,376 180 185 94 49,820 623 202,998 607,677 443,263 64,414 47 61,145 342 344 314 171,138 1,465 518,353 1,599,833 1,325,497 274,336 48 12,489 34 36 101 67,465, 470 234,499 865,603 792,222 73,381 49 8 Includes District of Columbia. 'Includes systems distributed as follows: Bhode Island, 2; Wyoming, 2. 82 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 44.— ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— REVENUE AND STATE OE TEEEITOET. United States. Alabama 1.. Arizona!... Arjkansas i . California. . Colorado . - . Connecticut . Delaware i . . Florida 1 Georgia Idahoi Illinois Indian Territory . Indianai Iowa Kansas i Kentucky! Louisiana! Maine Maryland 3 Massacliusetts. Michigan... Minnesota . . Mississippi i Missouri . . - Montana I.- Nebraska Nevada! New Hampshire . New Jersey! New Mexico! New York North Carolina ! . North Dakota ! . . Ohio Oklahoma! Oregon i Pennsylvania South Carolina ! . South Dakota !.- Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont - Virginia i . Washington!.-. West Virginia!. Wisconsin All other states < Number of sys- tems. 3 25 78 7 381 37 366 411 172 119 15 27 20 10 110 151 35 317 6 16 28 12 267 83 32 285 24 21 97 42 64 43 169 5 37 87 4 83 183 4 Total. 886,825,636 628, 821 114, 480 665,024 4,091,076 1, 137, 263 1,328,186 189,846 212,099 863,033 178,282 7,308,886 164, 142 2,816,509 1,962,362 877, 783 1,377,441 803,399 597,204 1,617,102 6, 127, 452 2,444,051 1,879,872 496, 499 2,970,697 304,979 1,107,303 35,006 396, 639 2,738,695 54, 445 16,352,193 346, 472 235,371 6, 192, 640 268, 222 659, 146 8,083,896 285,055 287, 057 1, 252, 438 2, 486, 925 293,962 322,369 609,276 989,936 507, 677 1,699,233 865, 603 Gross receipts. 881,599,769 477,936 113,645 549, 612 3,993,698 1,103,089 1, 172, 543 187, 164 194,292 764,764 168,573 6,997,616 163, 315 2,682,337 1,898,949 860,996 784, 455 575,034 1, 406, 944 5,793,553 2,318,165 1,787,793 488, 490 2, 840, 884 286, 155 1,047,813 34,646 383, 842 2,531,090 64,376 14,964,781 330, 618 220,604 6,824,002 265, 615 637, 617 7,236,212 266, 028 279, 720 1,228,111 2,398,970 272,507 311,863 655, 262 967,301 487,373 1,655,091 789,818 Dividends. $268,044 From lease of lines, wires, and conduits. SI, 197, 476 640 241 1,995 2,166 1,376 221,810 3,204 21,666 100 11,027 3,929 134,.359 148 81,844 78,948 1,663 24 3,632 40 28,965 90,078 3,913 3,000 18,209 45 131,870 126 200 148,342 284,332 180 Bent from real estate. $1,348,894 4 7,677 2,031 13,040 40, 654 4,098 333 3,104 34,916 20,175 7,717 1,806 1,434 8,191 2,708 62,668 287 10, 324 2,688 3,548 10,087 6,002 162 51,734 66,227 46, 454 15,305 368 35,860 S,218 10, 865 143 108 50,319 546, 169 1,024 2,678 85,508 628 7,179 163, 658 1,639 1,339 7,419 16,908 6,964 72 3,728 8,308 5,173 9,238 21,533 Interest. $1,369,953 4,362 30,969 12,659 4,141 265 13,715 76,699 800 52, 136 22,226 27,272 2,304 6,375 6,234 8,759 20,675 80,774 28,258 17,801 3,663 20,545 1,284 6,492 191 5,812 18,228 20 402,155 9,817 3,037 62,245 409 4,335 242,581 15,695 1,450 8,026 24,691 1,460 3,924 35,834 7,676 7,941 13,304 3,206 Miscella- neous. $1,061,400 6,733 63 7,946 31,493 1,340 9,426 463 2,658 13, 479 6,201 114,722 22,433 29,795 10,911 6,572 6,708 13,209 8,784 97,820 45,885 66,964 3,988 55,109 12,277 41,572 27 6,877 16, 184 86,418 1,683 8,952 50,887 1,470 10,015 147,086 2,693 4,548 8,839 46, 176 14,031 6,606 6,875 6,761 5,159 5,231 10, 392 ! Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. s Deficit. ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. EXPENSES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. 83 S80,U7,490 EXPENSES. Aggregate. 448,640 76,442 439,872 3,927,990 1,032,385, 1,305,808 208,508 185,183 761,817 181,697 6,851,241 103,888 2,411,573 1,551,659 627,779 1,228,675 718,544 568,821 1,444,055 5,924,613 2,398,653 1,643,256 438,976 2,526,024 276,387 953,201 21,557 384,685 2,707,121 36,484- 16,810,195 299,118 184,867 6,477,077 189,339 627,666 8,064,253 249,759 227,468 1,162,466 1,970,367 279,130 293,531 540,503 935,556 443,263 1,325,497 792,222 J56,867,062 Operating expenses. 314,909 69,861 368,340 3,199,574 766, 129 887,363 157,375 136,772 641,885 134,364 5,011,224 93,533 1,794,106 1,263,267 622,923 912,317 414,923 409,040 1,105,936 4,206,394 1,720,231 1,135,507 302,947 1,786,862 213,772 799,177 18,462 305,071 1,937,262 32,206 9,788,651 242,602 136,600 3,800,462 169,958 451,821 5,393,886 186,979 163,222 882,408 1,584,759 215,541 234,068 403,662 778,837 340,320 988,777 542,777 General op- eration and mainte- nance, and legal expenses. $49,587,964 273,610 63,424 310,076 2,940,169 698,453 814,196 144,331 121,332 465,526 114,861 4,436,770 81,334 1,586,670 1,109,714 464,306 830,096 359,396 359,287 970,238 3,677,559 1,484,499 981,841 .273,713 1,555,746 175,180 705,260 16,249 274, 439 1,753,699 28,828 7,910,326 220,922 116,109 3,253,601 156,994 406,756 4,830,473 171,268 149,065 803,939 1,372,921 173,924 207,018 353,113 709, 125 303,631 890,081 487.909 Rentals and royal- ties on in- struments and appa- ratus. 82,837,013 19,538 2,020 37,238 164,199 37,462 48,405 5,013 4,639 29,734 6,117 253,810 4,305 56,710 43,611 , 20,218 49,654 40,817 25,335 64,276 228,006 64,620 52,686 19,243 106,317 11,710 43,200 1,461 14,424 93,609 1,408 679,293 7,209 6,447 154,293 30,143 188,040 5,857 4,483 58,036 89,245 13,048 12,276 16,006 41,363 10,210 43,612 26, 180 Rentals of offices, etc. Rentals of con- duits, etc. 12,498,814 17,347 4,022 13,168 87,713 30,033 21,291 6,135 7,399 36,741 6,836 202,198 4,397 54,380 49,678 18,763 26,697 14,078 13,036 57,308 236,321 81,271 43,441 9,328 75,613 11,337 21,361 494 11,091 86,704 1,733 578,606 7,043 4,722 139,761 6,239 14,633 265,888 8,558 4,640 16,783 64,929 12,668 7,312 22,044 26,956 16,075 39,068 23,985 S681,727 Tele^ phone traffic. 5442,260 974 164 11,368 2,087 331 90 649,239 2,009 45 29 900 1,922 267 1,589 1,985 4,466 200 31,399 2,104 65,219 16,072 2,121 4,747 612 2,901 1,116 35,123 3,266 592 9,503 1,632 443 180 367 142 122 25,404 1,944 44 162,704 1,263 138 8,543 219 365 2,882 32,871 1,716 4,736 3,776 7,657 Miscella- neous. On floating debt. $819,284 2,492 128 6,269 5,608 181 2,488 1,732 3,402 5,418 6,360 79,171 1,393 31,127 44,292 17,516 1,552 21 8,481 1,540 62,421 54,718 63,943 71 37,376 13,913 28,544 78 4,760 3,018 115 45,783 6,484 9,278 88,120 1,774 251 108,933 1,077 4,669 724 24,793 16,901 5,746 7,381 1,393 6,699 8,659 4,803 Fixed charges. $1,831,377 63,569 435 18, 404 11,576 3,682 13,840 25,365 21,609 118,624 1,538 85,926 2,689 61,520 65,186 17,565 21,419 16,218 3,904 44,494 32,279 123,004 57,289 10,489 58,375 1,591 3,123 31 2,684 92,974 254 161,688 18,562 7,139 171,617 5,984 3,010 204,693 27,068 3,652 28,142 86,046 1,760 2,927 54,539 2,691 13,804 67,410 1,009 On funded debt. $3,511,948 5,960 2,960 1,372 136,225 3,416 44,154 14,617 17,185 26,077 4,478 176,819 1,200 .202,587 54,119 8,740 121,676 21,554 20,816 130,791 204,346 307,266 76,276 12,081 155,221 964 6,353 1,269 13,760 94,576 229 331,503 7,374 1,726 590,765 1,373 3,445 450,100 12,338 2,180 49,371 78,400 1,197 9,193 16,978 35,267 29,562 22,946 2,248 Taxes. $2,944,281 20,119 2,973 11,448 82,807 27,689 25,226 7,924 5,359 41,129 6,642 264,380 2,365 102,325 29,062 19,816 36,022 27,809 14,267 59,332 366,879 58,210 49,698 11,608 113,049 10,106 29,078 644 ■ 6,710 81,951 800 652,067 7,564 4,740 252,411 4,374 11,588 266,373 . 6,731 5,623 28,580 54,812 10,405 5,948 26,356 19,038 12,949 38,928 21,508 For lease of lines. $10,103 J] 4, 982, 719 300 480 1,001 28 ,526 200 140 29 146 245 65 175 664 25 400 305 420 307 350 320 Dividends. 44,083 213 40,008 497,328 231,569 335,225 2,236 4,230 34,102 35,675 1,313,448 4,111 247,509 149,735 58,746 137,329 238,040 120,666 103,473 1,114,470 189,698 224, 422 101,676 411,953 49,955 115,470 1,151 56,400 500,298 2,995 4,876,261 22,636 34,347 661,402 7,650 167,801 1,739,201 16,643 52,786 173,965 166,033 60,227 41,045 38,648 99,723 46,630 207,039 224,680 .16,678,046 Net sur- plus. 80,181 38,038 125,162 163,086 104,878 22,378 218,662 26,916 101,216 «3,315 457,644 60,264 404,936 410,803 250,004 148,766 84,8.95 28,383 73,047 202,939 45,398 336,616 57,623 444,673 28,592 154,102 13,449 11,964 31,574 17,961 541,998 47,354 50,514 716,563 78,883 31,481 29,643 36,296 59,589 89,972 515,568 14,822 28,838 68,773 54.380 I 46 64,414 47 274,336 48 73.381 49 8 Includes District of Columbia. 'Includes systems distributed as follows: Rhode Island, 3; Wyoming, 2. 84 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 45.— ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— EMPLOYEES, SALARIES, STATE OR TEEEITOKY. United states. Alabama!.. Arizona 1... Arkansas 1. California.. Colorado... Connecticut. Delaware!... Florida' Georgia Idaho' Illinois Indian Territory. Indiana! Iowa Kansas! Kentucky! Louisiana! Maine Maryland 2 Massachusetts . Michigan... Minnesota.. Mississippi ! Missouri Montana!.. Nebraska Nevada! New Hampshire. New Jersey ! New Mexico! New York North Carolina!. North Dakota!.. Ohio Oklahoma! Oregon! Pennsylvania South Carolina!. South Dakota 1 . . Tennessee Number of systems. Texas Utah Vermont . Virginia!. Washington!... West Virginia!. Wisconsin All other states ' 4,151 47 11 76 18 13 6 3 25 78 7 381 37 366 411 172 119 15 27 20 10 110 151 35 317 6 106 8 16 28 12 267 83 32 285 24 21 97 42 64 183 4 SALAEIED OFFICIALS, CLEEKS, ETC. Number. 14,124 65 29 41 654 136 124 36 40 275 65 1,415 27 476 341 141 55 291 1,155 324 315 92 440 61 117 14 41 410 12 2,318 81 22 127 1,475 56 54 342 311 65 62 142 171 94 314 101 Salaries. 89,885,886 39,081 12,458 28,230 329,875 130,312 113,179 22,288 26,858 182,887 22,311 17,530 230,339 178,792 73,687 154,229 64,564 31,730 214,766 1,182,216 217,135 224,351 69,060 309,416 34,136 70,851 648 22,333 277,707 8,627 2,065,667 43,762 12,371 488,767 32,420 27,829 1,000,978 31,554 25,656 216,730 229,646 43,368 29,475 73,182 37,499 49,820 171,138 67,465 General and other officers. Number. 6,027 36 26 29 392 71 49 9 26 74 42 22 341 243 117 137 60 28 77 249 159 138 75 216 32 71 14 22 66 768 64 16 430 37 110 296 40 38 121 193 29 43 84 210 52 Salaries. 45,249,890 24,821 10,633 24,030 166,655 89,072 72,590 9,187 19,358 60,254 17,103 509,479 16,310 176,233 140,402 65,787 99,676 43,735 20,819 87,773 557,836 148,413 129,117 61,729 181,641 22,602 56,211 648 14,942 76,192 7,487 930,674 36,683 9,926 307,680 26,860 19,101 363,630 24,300 21,331 118,932 167,531 29,472 23,267 46,620 21,743 35,430 120,474 49,602 3 12 262 65 75 27 14 201 23 5 135 98 24 113 38 27 214 906 165 177 17 224 19 344 3 1,560 17 6 379 13 17 1,179 16 16 221 118 36 19 58 33 35 104 $4,636,996 14,260 1,825 4,200 163,220 41,240 40,589 13,101 7,500 122,633 5,208 449,714 2,220 65,106 38,390 7,900 64,653 20,829 10,911 126,993 624,381 68,722 96,234 7,331 127,875 11,534 14,640 7,391 202,515 1,140 ,134,893 7,069 2,445 181,077 6,660 8,728 637,348 7,254 4,326 97,798 62,015 13,886 6,208 26,562 15,756 14,390 60,664 17,863 ! Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. ' Includes District of Columbia. ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. AND WAGES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. 85 WAGE-EARNERS. Operators. Total. Foremen. Inspectors. Linemen and helpers. Wiremen and batterymen. Troublemen. All other wage- earners. Mal3. Female. Aver- Aver- Aver- Aver- Aver- Aver- Aver- Aver- Aver- age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. age num- Wages. ber. ber. 2,625 ber. ber. ber. ber. ber. ber. ber. 64,628 126,369,735 J729,666 37,333 $10,035,432 1,812 $1,618,256 2,188 81,424,822 9,360 $6,044,008 1,627 $1,043,891 1,961 $1,237,686 7,822 $4,235,974 1 i 309 92,200 17 3,604 200 45,248 6 5,060 29 15,070 45 19,801 1 420 11 3,007 2 73 39, 128 7 4,272 37 13,903 1 750 1 988 16 12, 121 2 1,098 9 5,996 3 1 438 135,049 34 8,318 275 65,384 7 5,130 7 4,888 43 23,627 6 2,820 33 16,804 34 8,072 4 ! 2,990 1,572,218 19 7,491 1,626 688,699 30 32,696 16 10,644 496 390,240 12 6,096 44 32,360 748 504,992 5 i 960 467,210 : 6 1,880 567 210, 390 26 25,200 93 60,120 105 80,760 35 24, 180 16 11,660 123 63, 130 6 j 640 344,727 44 28,947 308 109,332 16 16,952 22 14,820 78 59,618 17 8,684 59 52,052 96 54,322 7 173 81,623 7 947 83 20,224 5 6,280 7 3,592 56 41,574 6 3,640 5 4,290 4 2,076 8 ' 150 45,244 166,545 19 3,491 96 21,563 71,747 5 3,690 9 5,040 16 8,020 2 1,450 3 1,990 9 ; 564 49 10,250 362 10 7,997 53 34,615 71 34,220 5 1,815 4 2,040 10 3,861 10 170 100,656 2,301,144 5 1,560 48,366 55 18, 156 13 14,188 167,554 59 46,248 1 900 37 19,604 11 6,066 237 3,667 896,898 188 127 81,636 608 378, 407 660 383,709 162 88,361 537 256,313 12 139 43,905 21 4,653 82 19,866 8 4,320 2 1,200 15 8,644 1 600 7 3,840 3 792 13 2,860 858,711 96 20,785 1,962 394,462 61 47,853 68 39,362 329 186,511 46 26,273 166 93,109 132 50,356 14 1,909 610,039 129 30,286 1,329 316, 140 33 23,676 19 9,200 296 177,673 4 2,344 55 30,254 44 20,466 15 : 820 1 227, 552 57 12,547 587 126,932 18 12,340 28 13,602 71 35,887 5 2,400 37 18,391 17 6,453 16 i j 1,483 462,433 38 7,221 920 211,863 22 19,145 26 12,716 293 141,539 35 20,885 57 31,576 92 17,498 17 1 601 214,004 9 2,891 385 94,451 14 13,619 11 7,138 141 81,489 7 5,008 13 7,017 21 2,391 18 i 357 1,328 173,986 629,351 35 9,712 7,872 144 45,099 132,864 17 14,750 160,659 36 21,092 36,216 70 49,689 196,174 55 33, 644 19 29 512 180 49 393 68 39,484 35 23,510 62 32,582 20 j 3,524 1,742,820 163 69, 457 1,660 543,160 125 114,816 197 129,241 331 244,562 17 9,709 23 17,400 1,118 614, 476 21 2,175 690,281 68 13, 506 1,635 343,637 53 42,865 134 82,680 179 99,544 34 20,668 59 31,109 113 66, 372 22 ' 1,172 473,981 54 11,799 735 205,940 30 24,819 24 18,137 193 126, 422 57 36,391 43 29,887 36 20,586 23 428 116,945 17 3,100 280 64,780 6 3,435 3 969 60 25,914 4 2,523 30 12,887 28 3,347 24 2,389 890,410 90 17,850 1,665 ■ 404,809 76 59,420 87 60,031 246 163, 199 60 49,010 72 42,263 203 103,828 25 122 66,656 1 416 72 29,708 3 3,688 1 260 26 24,220 2 1,920 2 2,080 15 4,464 26 756 311,662 53 10,600 362 96,648 17 12,560 74 42,376 152 92,768 2 1,200 7 2,630 89 52,880 27 23 , 238 1,'S64 9,228 114,785 932,623 5 1,150 13 4,664 34, 131 168,545 3 1,282 2 2,132 28 28 103 9,198 32,296 103 12 10,020 62,203 21 12,844 72,416 31 21,560 233,629 43 27, 032 29 636 63 94 329 18 9,920 40 31,915 681 321, 699 30 39 , 7,765 16,593 3,766,101 3 1,620 141,782 22 6,420 1 720 3 1,680 187,802 9 6,033 1 120 31 383 3,987 1,344,974 241 240, 741 265 963 637,200 140 89,352 233 171,461 1,663 952,789 32 400 ; 147 , 5,469 105,190 59, 117 1,963,779 41 11 96 6,743 3,444 30,600 242 46,743 7 4,080 5,120 86, 596 24 10, 245 68 32, 106 9 3,312 9 1,961 33 89 27,103 828,042 7 2 1,260 121,252 36 21,350 1 720 1 120 34 3,622 101 175 612 404,904 144 89,422 310 179,304 409 223,659 35 231 68,196 13 3,680 167 41, 546 2 1,380 4 2,100 9 4,600 4 2,100 21 10,210 11 2,680 36 618 294,229 9 3,118 382 131,877 12 12,224 2 1,316 70 58,878 8 2,964 23 16,524 112 67,328 37 6,682 2,847,340 125 41,962 3,930 1,036,869 165 160, 093 210 132,956 1,512 1,025,076 214 130,545 153 123,421 373 196,418 38 265 71,766 20 3,169 175 33,075 12 6,600 16 9,098 24 12,847 4 2,551 8 2,589 6 1,837 39 217 81,046 45 17,674 125 37,276 4 3,460 5 3,264 24 14,308 2 1,320 7 3,120 5 624 40 , 1,399 469,942 j 20 5,136 768 179, 577 36 25,659 36 19, 472 322 143,154 25 16,504 75 33,982 117 46,468 41 2,032 816,396 i 146 41, 415 1,118 307,850 47 43,364 90 71,676 282 220,182 14 7,964 45 29,673 290 94,372 42 157 81,120 1 312 82 27,716 10 9,880 7 3,640 32 27,300 14 7,020 3 1,820 8 3,432 43 237 98,296 21 6,188 128 35,735 12 10,296 20 12,002 33 21,138 2 925 21 12,012 44 522 150,702 44 8,476 352 75,024 24 15, 416 34 18,780 49 24,349 2 840 7 3,512 10 4,305 45 1,160 608,956 6 2,104 660 236,580 20 21, 892 4 3,640 136 131,084 13 6,864 27 22,880 294 183,912 46 623 202,998 7 866 420 83,517 11 10,024 12 7,860 148 91,995 1 960 4 2,580 20 5,196 47 ' 1,465 518,353 49, 8,747 797 180, 114 41 31,258 17 8,442 186 100,342 34 17,644 54 34,194 287 137,712 48 479 1 234,499 45 18,165 239 76,281 15 14,872 24 17,654 95 71,820 14 7,072 15 8,866 32 19,769 49 •Includes systems distributed as follows: Ebode Island, 2; Wyoming, 2. 18407—06- 86 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 46.— ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— EXCHANGES, STATIONS, STATE OR TERRITORY. United States Alabamai Arizona^ Arkansas ^ Calif orma.-.- Colorado Connecticut Delaware! Florida! .' Georgia Idahoi Illinois Indian Territory. . . Indiana! Iowa -.-. Kansas! Kentucky! Louisiana! Maine Maryland 2 Massachusetts Michigan : Minnesota Mississippi! , Missouri Montana! , Nebraska Nevada! New Hampshire — New Jersey ! New Mexico! New York North Carolina ! North Dakota! Ohio Oklahoiha! Oregon! Pennsylvania South Carolina! South Dakota! Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia ! Washington i West Virginia! Wisconsin Another states'... Number of systems. 4,151 47 11 76 18 13 6 3 25 78 7 381 37 366 411 172 119 15 27 20 10 110 151 35 317 106 8 16 28 12 267 83 32 285 24 21 97 42 54 43 169 5 37 87 4 83 183 4 Stations or telephones of all kinds. 14,077 3,259 16,892 106,574 24,533 22,494 4,293 8,216 25,490 3,862 211,187 5,331 132, 489 120,017 40,972 46,266 17,609 14,045 32,090 96,512 93,961 62,039 15,069 93,371 6,421 36,153 1,165 9,949 48,980 2,481 246,015 16,252 6,762 222,767 10,386 21,172 186,572 10,467 10,305 36,060 64, 410 6,734 12,112 24,130 31,447 22,376 61,145 12,489 EXCHANGES AND STATIONS. Public ex- Changes. 10,361 Private branch ex- changes. 30 123 376 96 44 21 38 113 33 912 60 621 710 259 60 112 93 233 511 246 95 482 32 220 11 87 246 12 713 125 49 757 52 . 118 772 82 103 158 334 22 103 139 140 180 342 285 24 771 84 6 1 92 22 1 370 408 115 208 1 141 1 19 684 6 Automatic or nickel-in- the-slot pay stations. 32, 477 78 3 20 25 1 681 693 31 297 13 1,082 16 308 136 66 209 2,189 1,807 425 492 7 774 16 111 3,029 3 2,904 96 39 2,141 26 11 13,183 72 61 6 139 242 2 207 78 Other pay stations. 345 82 731 314 58 106 369 243 1,673 340 1,074 2,016 774 786 413 547 590 1,150 571 1,138 267 1,136 191 399 61 369 3,504 28 14, 462 382 328 2,080 320 129 364 504 201 516 360 821 1,637 127 ! Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. ' Includes District of Columbia. ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. AND LINE CONSTRUCTION, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. 87 PAKTY LINES. CONSTRUCTION. Number. Stations. Total miles of wire. Underground mileage. Overtiead mileage. Submarine mileage. Duct. Cable. Single wire. Pole line. • Single wire on pole and roof line. Cable. Circuit miles of wire in cable. Cable. Circuit miles of wire in cable. 258,166 886,152 4,860,486 16,474.9 7,290.6 . 1,690,502 421,828 2,369,914 8,104.5 780,530 262.6 9,540 1 1,347 295 652 19,683 4,259 4,461 947 412 2,408 465 22,196 43 9,400 6,686 1,353 4,380 2,544 2,360 5,445 15,034 6,286 7,337 1,460 6,788 959 3,105 210 1,648 7,618 54 27,569 611 860 19,170 26 3,496 36,229 615 1,081 3,433 4,943 979 2,069 1,807 5,910 1,671 8,125 1,757 3,131 1,136 1,617 67,061 16,331 18,659 2,117 952 5,727 1,667 80,553 113 39,668 35,904 4,998 12,124 6,966 11,597 12,267 69,922 16,209 19,113 3,757 25,120 3,200 12,091 823 7,446 28,236 177 88,810 1,869 1,712 66,344 116 12,730 96,406 1,736 2,956 9,299 14,346 4,132 9,067 6,058 20,543 7,009 27,229 7,120 32,669 3,872 24,190 144,392 62, 115 56, 181 10, 690 16,503 53,689 6,314 420,665 5,227 209,599 136, il2 62, 349 154,586 •49,368 25,435 97, 137 257,461 196,520 136,356 29,453 167,288 8,517 62,711 1,394 18,390 136, 617 3,283 622,908 24,680 9,532 514, 634 16,186 29,493 601,418 18,621 10,785 86, 195 140,483 9,866, 16,363 44,672 43,027 56,384 109,536 37,630 56.4 0.2 2.2 443.0 99.7 279.0 25.2 18.3 154.2 28.7 0.2 0.7 241.7 40.8 95.1 14.9 10.6 72.3 6,804 50 225 73,383 10,795 15,635 3,813 3,119 19,386 3,630 1,282 5,791 9,330 4,663 2,599 454 1,356 6,914 2,202 38,909 2,392 24,845 36,253 11, 487 11,482 2,757 3,345 3,324 6,302 17,078 16, 156 4,424 25, 106 2,400 10,892 632 2,235 3,480 614 18,758 5,416 2,183. 27,516 3,767 4,856 20,398 3,540 4,241 10,825 20,074 1,397 3,720 6,996 3,713 7,362 15,600 2,124 21,676 ' 3,562 19,493 60,579 29,324 38,896 3,838 8,913 28,456 5,918 206,694 4,853 140,578 105,942 40,440 76,356 30,018 20,111 31, 652 86,755 107,678 75,498 24, 902 86,358 7,118 39,203 1,360 14, 146 42,081 2,849 143, 701 20,573 8,180 246,228 13,050 24,013 177,841 14,326 10,206 67,937 95,625 6,661 14,861 27,913 25,966 27,712 72,733 17,241 36.8 2.8 40.6 135.0. 102.2 41.0 21.9 39.7 77.6 3.3 610.1 4.9 361.5 163.5 90.9 206.0 82.2 34.0 217.6 439.4 376.8 108.0 40.8 492.2 14.5 85.8 1.0 40.0 359.1 4.4 1,127.3 39.4 8.6 967.5 26.7 13.0 781.6 67.3 6.8 183.2 202.1 13.0 18.6 63.5 39.0 113.8 160.6 60.1 5,179 260 4,466 9,936 11,996 1,514 2,694 4,336 5,831 396 71,251 374 47,067 21,226 10,762 26,370 12,660 1,773 17,062 21,689 36,017 11,644 4,536 47,452 1,399 7,711 34 1,628 18,218 434 82,967 3,881 697 114,473 3,136 1,548 73,670 4,222 523 23, 116 21,827 1,376 987 5,101 4,622 14,692 15,331 2,667 2 3 1.5 33.0 6 494 4 5 R 3.0 27.2 2.0 2.2 136 345 135 17 7 8 9 10 11 1,277.0 496.5 142,545 6.6 176 12 13 203.3 61.4 10.3 242.2 41.2 ■65.3 404.8 1,992.6 541.3 479.0 102.4 38.0 2.8 129.7 20.8 20.7 175.0 851.8 234.6 232.8 21,950 7,944 1,147 61,828 6,452 3,499 48,453 148,707 51,791 49,180 1.0 4 14 15 16 1.9 8.0 9.0 8.2 7.0 4.7 1.3 1.0 2.7 32 238 52 80 410 1,034 34 16 34 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 451.0 218.3 33,444 25 26 66.4 28.9 5,797 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 34.3 1,001.7 17.6 427.2 2,509 75,322 2.0 21.7 107 996 2,130.0 3.5 14.2 1,350.9 1,571.7 0.9 1.6 699.4 392,973 217 655 153, 677 36.2 1.0 3,267 9 11.2 256 26.3 4,118.4 16.5 1,086.8 3,855 249,246 4.2 5.0 10.0 77 661 73 37 38 39 0.1 69.8 144.9 22.9 9.4 90.7 72.9 78.6 202.9 199.5 0.3 24.6 91.9 6.9 3.6 38.9 ► 34.6 43.0 83.9 86.0 56 6,142 23,031 1,829 513 11,600 12, 439 14,055 20,867 17,670 40 41 42 43 0.7 9.3 2 168 44 45 46 1.0 30.0 11.0 25 605 62 47 48 49 8 Includes systems distributed as follows: Rhode Island, 2; Wyoming, 2.^ as; TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 47.— ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARDS, STATE OE TEEKITOKT. United States Alabama ^ ArizoQai Arkansas ^ California Colorado Connecticut Delaware i Florida! Georgia Idaho' Illinois Indian Territory. . . Indiana' Iowa Kansas' Kentucky ' Louisiana' Maine Maryland 2 Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi' Missouri Montana' Nebraska Nevada' New Hampshire New Jersey' New Mexico ' New York North Carolina ' North Dakota' Ohio Oklahoma' Oregon' Pennsylvania South Carolina ' South Dakota ' Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia' Washington' West Virginia ' Wisconsin Another states'... Number of systems. 47 11 76 18 13 6 3 25 78 7 381 37 366 411 172 119 15 27 20 10 110 151 35 317 6 16 28 12 267 83 32 285 24 21 97 42 54 43 5 37 87 4 83 183 4 SWITCHBOABDS. Aggregate, 72 30 125 376 96 21 40 120 34 945 55 650 729 266 204 62 112 95 235 523 290 95 607 32 222 11 87 249 12 735 130 49 867 76 120 890 93 108 162 348 22 104 146 140 185 344 36 Manual. Total. 71 30 125 375 46 21 40 113 34 942 55 650 726 250 203 62 112 95 233 623 283 95 506 32 222 U 87 248 11 731 130 48 865 76 93 108 162 348 22 104 146 140 186 342 35 Common battery. 108 3 118 6 1 4 28 2 1 Magneto system. 64 29 123 375 91 44 20 33 95 32 861 53 592 693 243 193 60 107 78 214 501 473 30 211 11 86 226 11 653 122 42 757 73 120 772 87 107 158 320 20 103 137 33 Auto- matic. 1 Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. Total capacity of switch- boards. 2,447,403 17,896 2,681 20,620 39,946 21,472 12,258 5,100 12,510 36,848 6,346 260,487 7,947 165,236 115,378 62,316 65,761 17,847 8,613 28,635 69,465 107,787 80,046 21,069 130,941 4,730 34,347 448 11,057 44,423 2,536 242,455 21,353 7,614 248,143 12,676 10,814 223,439 11,717 13,862 49,339 73,495 4,106 6,907 27,209 11,037 29,431 59,840 10,644 » Includes District of Columbia. ALL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. POWER PLANTS, AND BATTERIES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. 89 ENGINES. DYNAMOS. ELECTRIC MOTOES. Auxiliary oross-oormec- tion boards, etc., number. Magneto gen- erators, rmg- ers, etc., number. BATTERIES. Number. Horsepower. Number. Horsepower. Number. Horsepower. Primary. Storage. Number of cells. Number of cells. 196 2,750. 5 1,369 5,469.1 1,414 4,209.8 9,256 14,931 110,648 19,001 1 -- 19 23.0 19 31.0 75 104 2,061 143 2,514 168 •>, 12 110 29 187 70 49 3 8 9.7 4 9.0 4 15 36.0 18 40.0 137 181 2,638 910 5 5 72.0 15 79.0 6 47.0 93 144! 676 137 6 2 16.0 15 32.0 14 33.3 49 23 405 41 7 1 10 30 3 129 1.0 9.8 31.0 2.0 791.9 5 10 27 4 118 16.0 12.3 46.0 3.0 478.1 18 49 106 38 1,019 33 63 172 69 1,194 78 561 1,907 163 15,109 16 71 224 59 1,675 8 9 10 11 19 538.0 12 2 58 1.0 121.9 64 546 67 737 934 4,446 28 1,361 13 8 41.5 62 96.0 14 4 14.5 28 36.4 61 67.4 693 947 6,673 677 15 7 14 9.8 66.5 14 7 18.4 23.3 247 .195 343 359 2,899 2,001 510 223 16 3 32.0 17 , 1 12.0 2 20.0 1 12.0 61 141 609 14 18 3 27.0 7 44.0 4 32.0 76 240 2,134 43 19 6 35.0 27 93.6 31 39.0 98 160 569 325 20 17 177.0 54 303.0 32 279.4 203 899 8,498 622 21 6 31.0 38 137.5 70 134.1 427 845 2,141 620 22 3 15.0 44 179.0 49 170.2 249 331 6,528 663 23 1 38 0.1 153.2 1 66 0.1 184.1 108 396 216 626 1,128 7,448 24 14 204.2 687 25 4 11 6.0 12.0 4 16 8.0 16.0 34 214 3 60 44 239 8 183 222 1,040 60 1,881 131 331 26 27 •>$, 1 9.0 2 14.0 1 10.0 11 29 4 25.0 28 82.0 53 110.1 167 11 488 323 16 946 969 73 6,413 382 72 1,957 30 31 18 119.0 228 1,088.8 240 897.1 32 15 3 208 8.5 2.3 412.0 11 2 181 7.7 2.0 347.0 99 46 974 184 61 1,080 1,110 465 6,482 92 33 156 2,706 34 17 158.3 35 1 3 133 3.0 10.3 1,149.8 2 3 140 5.6 12.2 • 586.5 128 45 748 85 70 1,089 1,495 628 5,405 22 165 1,466 36 37 40 972.0 38 12 1 11 6.1 2.0 85.8 13 2 7 9.8 2.0 61.1 83 82 163 128 110 315 1,713 726 1,126 118 79 77 39 40 3 50.0 41 7 37.5 36 146.8 38 123.8 292 716 2,619 607 42 9 1 21 31.0 0.7 29.6 9 3 23 35.0 0.9 41.3 27 90 82 40 185 261 80 2,023 1,328 32 32 167 43 44 1 5.0 45 4 17 12 •97.0 5 19 17.0 49.7 46 132 59 214 645 989 385 359 46 S 95.0 47 6 41.5 22 73.9 23 61.5 263 421 2,829 360 48 3 23.0 22 34.2 9 18.0 40 54 316 202 49 5 Includes systems distributed as follows^ Ehode Island, 2; Wyoming, 2. 90 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 48.— COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— STATE OE TERKITOET. United States. Alabama 1-. Arizona i... Arkansas i. California.. Colorado . . . Connecticut . Delaware!... Florida 1 Georgia Idahoi Illinois Indian Territory. Indiana! Iowa Kansas' Kentucky! Louisiana! Maine Maryland ^ Massachusetts. Michigan Minnesota... Mississippi!. Missouri Montana!... Nebraska Nevada ! New Hampshire. New Jersey! New Mexico! New York North Carolina!. North Dakota!.. Ohio Oklahoma! Oregon! Pennsylvania South Carolina ! . South Dakota ! . . Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont. Virginia!. Washington! West Virginia!... Wisconsin All other states". Number ol systems. Miles of wire. 3,157 43 10 76 12 10 S 3 23 72 6 243 37 261 241 161 84 14 23 16 10 77 120 32 227 4 16 28 12 179 71 29 236 23 16 77 36 47 30 157 6 31 65 4 62 140 32,558 3,842 24,190 143,469 62,045 56,171 10,690 16,458 53,512 6,231 407,357 5,227 200,379 121,851 51,699 163,278 49,359 25,358 97,056 257,461 194,185 134,557 29,383 158,724 8,397 51,055 1,220 18,390 136,617 3,283 621,315 24,047 9,492 511,118 16,136 29,0^ 500,219 18,288 10,560 84,512 140,005 9,866 16,257 42,454 43,027 .55,322 106,273 37,620 Subscribers. Stations or telephones of all kinds. 13,276 3,053 15,879 103,240 23,032 21,694 3,472 7,946 24,188 3,602 4,918 120,190 93,063 39,094 17,053 12,505 27,653 87,767 87,961 56,346 14,705 77,918 5,068 30,898 1,091 9,044 41,265 2,427 219,745 15,261 6,260 207,215 0,922 19,731 160,851 9,830 9,392 34,412 62,022 6,380 10,819 20,920 30,495 19,942 54,687 11,389 2,225,981 13,968 3,187 16,892 106,181 24,505 22,449 4,293 8,172 25,380 194,358 6,331 122,799 98,662 40,317 45,195 17,502 13,939 32,038 96,512 90,691 59,871 15,031 82,409 5,390 34,509 1,143 9,949 48,980 2,481 243,166 15,871 6,691 216,731 10,335 20,616 185,089 10,283 10,046 35,007 64,246 5,734 11,939 21,789 . 31,447 21,493 57,182 12,482 EXCHANGES AND STATIONS. Public exchanges. 9,419 67 29 123 372 96 43 21 37 111 32 749 50 509 542 251 196 60 112 88 233 467 230 94 197 10 87 246 12 119 47 686 52 112 744 78 100 147 332 22 102 117 140 158 302 34 Private branch ex- changes. 285 24 22 1 370 408 115 208 174 6 1 141 1 3,807 447 19 5S4 6 Automatic or nickel- in-the-slot pay sta^ tions. 32,459 31 297 13 16 308 130 2,189 1,807 424 492 7 774 16 384 111 3,029 3 2,897 96 39 2,141 26 11 13,180 72 51 6 46 48 139 242 2 207 78 288 Other pay stations. 345 82 880 727 314 58 106 369 235 1,632 340 1,052 1,993 768 749 413 645 581 1,150 567 1,133 266 1,088 191 SI 369 3,504 28 14,409 372 328 2,067 320 368 3,378 129 363 501 201 514 332 309 801 1,606 127 1 Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. » Includes District of Columbia. COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. SUMMARY, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. 91 PARTY LIKES. Switch- MESSAGBa. SALARIED OFFICIALS, CLERKS, ETC. WAGE-EARNERS. boards ol all Number. Stations. kinds. Total. Local. Long distance and toll. Number. Salaries. Average number. Wages. 248,908 808,571 9,954 4,971,413,070 4,851,416,539 119,996,531 13,958 $9,871,596 63,630 $26,206,065 1 1,329 3,022 70 46,049,758 45,568,699 491,059 64 39,056 309 92,200 2 295 1,136 29 4,952,727 4,884,894 67,833 28 12,091 71 38,150 3 652 1,617 125 36,716,883 35,941,937 774,946 41 28,230 438 135,049 4 19,635 66,702 372 177,450,692 175,043,649 2,407,043 654 329,875 2,986 1,571,628 5 4,256 16,303 96 60,237,613 58,706,204 1,531,309 136 130,312 960 467,210 6 4,456 18,615 45 35,897,102 34,381,525 1,515,577 124 113,179 639 344,597 7 947 2,117 21 8,962,892 8,786,328 176,564 36 22,288 173 81,623' 8 411 943 39 18,834,027 18,668,341 165,686 40 26,858 148 45,004 9 2,395 5,618 118 96,079,566 95,503,748 675,818 275 182,887 562 166,377 10 456 1,615. 33 6,399,762 6,171,216 228,546 64 22,211 168 100,156 11 20,660 66,475 782 516,214,961 510,859,240 5,355,721 1,382 957,766 5,886 2,268,517 12 43 113 55 8,337,959 8,114,111 223,848 27 17,530 139 43,905 13 7,787 31,087 538 285,297,532 281,296,040 4,001,492 461 227,954 2,711 834,980 14 4,932 17,649 561 172,778,419 169,636,333 3,142,086 332 177,657 1,725 572,535 15 1,292 4,383 258 58,172,298 57,125,113 1,047,185 141 73,687 813 226,294 16 4,264 11,118 197 141,829,819 140,554,810 1,275,009 250 164,229 1,475 461,789 17 2,543 6,958 62 68,076,915 67,601,308 475,607 88 64,564 601 214,004 18 2,349 11,493 112 21,807,915 20,912,890 895,025 55 31,730 357 173,986 19 5,427 12,214 90 61,960,881 60,676,787 1,284,094 291 214,766 1,328 629,351 20 15,034 69,922 235 183,115,320 173,300,896 9,814,424 1,155 1,182,216 3,524 1,742,820 21 4,983 13,208 479 234,515,840 230,770,258 3,745,582 322 217,060 2,131 684,135 22 7,175 17,181 274 111,464,762 108,937,117 2,527,645 311 223,651 1,159 471,236 23 1,457 3,730 94 60,369,711 59,858,306 511,405 92 59,060 428 116,945 24 4,615 15,911 387 229,844,532 226,973,088 2,871,444 415 306,609 2,254 869,505 25 956 3,169 32 11,319,476 11,072,729 246,747 58 33,836 121 66,356 26 2,904 10,589 199 71,150,107 69,939,928 1,210,179 114 70,691 733 307,727 27 205 803 10 1,385,874 1,341,082 44,792 13 573 22 8,808 28 1,648 7,446 87 16,987,012 16,222,808 764,204 41 22,333 238 114,785 29 7,618 28,236 249 56,171,223 51,388,176 4,783,047 410 277,707 1,864 932,623 30 54 177 12 4,297,920 4,261,660 36,260 12 8,627 39 16,593 31 27,316 86,200 691 357,638,366 337,296,703 20,341,663 2,317 2,065,537 7,740 3,763,597 32 559 1,544 124 35,891,998 35,450,097 441,901 81 43,752 395 104,560 33 847 1,701 47 14,015,733 13,664,186 351,547 22 12,371 147 59,117 34 18,467 60,541 796 552,344,151 540,922,794 11,421,357 792 488,276 5,398 1,954,086 35 22 66 76 23,279,668 22,819,692 459,976 50 32,420 230 68,096 36 3,426 12,229 114 34,843,668 34,320,265 523,403 127 27,829 608 291,964 37 36,016 95,223 862 492,193,245 471,810,398 20,382,847 1,466 1,000,651 6,649 2,843,565 38 575 1,582 89 23,732,914 23,347,281 385,633 55 31,494 262 71,396 39 1,063 2,768 105 17,674,604 17,132,672 541,932 54 25,656 215 80,532 40 3,320 8,648 151 125,995,719 124,932,918 1,062,801 338 214,870 1,379 466,489 41 4,911 14,211 346 166,861,262 161,650,264 5,210,998 311 229,546 2,030 816,068 42 979. 4,132 22 11,755,130 11,477,368 277,762 65 43,358 157 81,120 43 2,039 8,895 103 18,911,897 18,377,414 534,483 62 29,475 237 98,296 44 1,610 3,905 124 63,210,726 62,462,408 748,318 141 73,146 506 148,702 45 5,910 20,543 140 64,623,982 63,868,882 755,100 171 37,499 1,160 608,956 46 1,577 6,254 163 40,700,517 39,280,194 1,420,323 93 49,755 603 202,034 47 7,737 23,466 304 98,033,972 95,481,675 2,552,297 290 169,363 1,433 514,100 48 1,756 7,113 36 23,026,120 22,632,107 394,013 101 67,465 479 234,499 49 1 s Includes systems distributed as follows: Rhode Island, 2; Wyoming, 1. 92 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 49.— COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— REVENUE 11 Idaho'. STATE OK TEBEITOBT. United States. Alabama 1.. Arizona i. . . Arkansas i. Calilomia.. Colorado . . . Connecticut . Delaware'.. rioTida ' Georgia Illinois Indian Territory. Indiana ' Iowa Kansas! Kentucky! Louisiana ' Maine Maryland 3 Massachusetts . Michigan... Minnesota.. Mississippi i Missouri. . . . Montana'.. Nebraska Nevada' New Hampshire. New Jersey' New Mexico' New York North Carolina ' . North Dakota ' . . Ohio Oklahoma' Oregon' Pennsylvania South Carolina'. South Dakota ' . . Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont . Virginia'. Washington' West Virginia'.., Wisconsin All other stfites*. Number of sys- tems. 3,157 243 37 261 241 161 84 14 23 16 10 77 120 32 227 4 74 6 16 28 12 179 71 29 236 , 23 16 77 36 47 157 6 31 65 4 62 140 3 Total. S86,522,2n 528,196 113,102 565,024 4,087,418 1,137,180 1,327,662 189,846 211,737 862,397 177,282 7,255,780 164,142 2,77;, 752 1,903,104 875,395 1,374,385 803,321 696,893 1,516,647 6,127,462 2,433,328 1,872,650 496, 374 2,935,010 304,004 1,098,570 33,746 396; 639 2,738,695 54; 446 16,343^157 345; 017 235,231 6,177,038 268,092 656,483 8,076,974 284,263 285,969 1,243,494 2,484,400 293,952 321,696 600,831 989,936 504,266 1,687,689 865,647 Gross receipts. 881,296,444 477,311 112,267 549, 612 3,990,040 1,103,006 1,172,019 187, 164 193,930 764, 128 167,673 6,944,510 163,315 2,643,680 1,839,691 858,608 1,345,553 784,377 574,723 1,406,489 5,793,553 2,307,442 1,780,571 488,365 2,806,297 285, 180 33,385 383,842 2,531,090 64,376 14,965,746 329,163 220,364 5,808,400 265,485 634,954 7,228,290 264,236 278,632 1,219,167 2,397,445 272,607 311,190 546,817 967,301 483,962 1,542,947 789,762 Dividends. From lease of lines, wires, and conduits. 1268,044 $1,197,476 640 241 2,166 1,376 221,810 3,204 21,656 100 11,027 3,929 134,369 148 81,844 78,948 1,663 24 3,632 40 28,965 90,078 3,913 3,009 18,209 46 122,874 131,870 126 200 148,342 284,332 180 4 7,577 2,031 13,040 40,654 Rent from real estate. Jl, 348, 894 4,098 333 3,104 34,916 20,175 7,717 1,806 1,434 8,191 2,708 62,568 287 10,324 2,688 3,648 10,087 6,002 162 51,734 66,227 46,454 15,305 368 36,860 6,218 10,865 143 108 50,319 646,169 1,024 2,678 85,608 628 7,179 163,658 1,639 1,339 7,419 16,908 6,964 72 3,728 6,173 9,238 21,533 Interest. $1,369,953 439 4,362 30,969 12,659 4,141 265 13,715 76,599 800 52,136 22,226 27,272 2,304 6,375 6,234 8,759 20,675 80,774 28,258 17,801 3,653 20,545 1,284 6,492 191 6,812 18,228 20 402,165 9,817 3,037 62,245 409 4,336 242,581 16,695 1,460 8,026 24,691 1,450 3,924 35,834 7,676 7,941 13,304 3,206 Miscella^ neous. $1,061,400 6,733 63 7,946 31,493 1,340 9,426 463 2,658 13,479 6,201 114,722 22,433 29,796 10,911 6,572 6,708 13,209 8,784 97,820 46,885 66,964 3,988 55,109 12,277 41,572 27 6,877 16,184 49 86,418 1,683 8,962 60,887 1,470 10,015 147,086 2,693 4,548 8,839 45,176 14,031 6,506 6,875 6,751 5,159 5,231 10,392 1 Contains data for system credited to and operating in an adjoining state. 'Deficit. COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. AND EXPENSES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. 93 Operating expenses. Aggregate. 879,864,419 $56,591,746 Total. $49,332,620 General operation and main- tenance, and legal expenses. Rentals and royal- ties on in- struments and apparatus. Rentals of offlces,etc. $2,832,361 $2, 492, 676 Rentals of con- duits, etc. $681,727 Tele- phone trafflc. $436, 666 Miscella- neous. On floating debt. $816, 696 Fixed charges. Interest. $1,829,074 On funded debt. $3,511,768 Taxes. $2,940,430 For lease of lines. $9,752 $14,981,649 Dividends. Net sur- plus. $6,657,792 448,020 75,064 439,872 3,924,471 1,032,325 1,305,284 208,508 184,821 761, 386 180,622 6,801,492 103,888 2,375,588 1,494,821 625,548 1,225,821 718,466 568,510 1,443,624 5,924,513 2,388,188 1,536,685 438,851 2,496,278 275, 412 945,605 20,337 384,685 2,707,121 36, 484 15,801,697 297,727 184,717 5,461,908 189,209 625,037 8,047,994 248,967 226,380 1,153,811 1,968,878 279,130 292,875 532,380 935,556 439,852 1,313,845 792,166 3X4,312 68, 508 368,340 3,196,595 766,071 157, 375 136, 425 541, 485 133, 389 4,962,193 .93,533 1,759,060 1,207,554 520,861 909,524 414, 845 408,758 1, 105, 541 4,206,394 1, 709, 781 1,129,707 " 302,827 1, 757, 472 212, 847 791,770 17,242 305,071 1,937,262 32,206 9, 781, 125 241,219 136, 470 3,785,548 169,833 449, 193 5,387,852 186,206 162, 174 873,897 1,583,327 215,541 233, 439 396, 156 778,837 337, 115 977,316 542, 721 273,013 62,071 310,076 2,938,045 698,395 813, 671 144,331 120,985 465, 164 113,951 4,390,964 81,334 1,563,180 1,057,581 462,328 827, 349 359,317 359,010 969,843 3,677,569 1, 475, 733 976, 307 273,693 1,527,239 174,555 15, 449 274, 439 1,753,699 7,903,625 219,539 115,984 3,240,393 156, 869 404, 241 4,824,742 170, 495 148,027 795,657 1,372,293 173,924 206,389 345,866 709,125 300,647 8?9,844 487,853 19,538 2,020 37,238 164, 021 37, 462 48,405 5,013 4,639 29, 734 6,117 252, 195 4,305 56, 694 43,419 20,218 49, 664 40, 817 26,335 64, 276 228,006 64,541 52,685 19, 243 105,317 11,485 42,050 1,221 i4,424 93,609 1,408 578,860 7,209 6,447 154,257 3,689 30,083 187,925 5,867 4,483 58,035 88,997 13,048 12,276 16,006 41,363 10,095 43, 462 25,180 17,347 4,022 13,168 87, 643 21,291 6,135 7,399 36, 717 6,761 200,912 4,397 63,883 48,228 18, 691 26, 697 14,078 13,036 57, 398 236j 32i 81,261 43, 188 9, 328 75,053 11,337 21,266 494 11,091 86,704 1,733 578,606 7,043 4,722 138,606 6,239 14,485 255,768 8,568 4,630 16,639 64,929 12,668 7,312 22,000 26,956 16,060 38,968 23,986 974 164 7,876 572 11, 368 2,087 331 649, 239 1,983 2,009 1,922 267 1,689 1,542 4,466 200 31,206 2,104 64,399 15, 578 2,109 4,705 612 2,896 1,116 33, 584 3,266 692 9,395 1,557 443 367 142 122 25,051 1,944 44 162,204 1,262 138 8,601 219 365 2,807 32,321 1,716 4,635 3,718 7,552 2,492 128 6,269 6,444 181 2,488 1,732 3,402 6,404 6,360 79,040 1,393 30,894 42,748 17,515 1,547 21 8,481 1,640 62,421 54,672 63,930 71 37, 160 13,913 28,644 78 4,750 3,018 116 46,744 5,484 9,273 88,105 1,774 246 108, 907 1,077 4,669 714 24,787 16,901 5,746 7,266 1,393 6,666 7,490 4,803 63,569 435 18,404 11,576 3,682 13,840 25, 356 21,609 118,624 1,538 86,730 2,689 61,241 54,820 17,509 21, 419 16,218 3,904 44,464 32,279 123,004 66,596 10, 484 58,255 1,691 3,036 31 2,684 92,974 254 161,626 18,662 7,139 171, 630 5,984 3,010 204, 598 27; 068 3,662 28,078 86,046 1,760 2,927 54,465 2,691 13,771 67,345 1,009 6,960 2,960 1,372 136,226 3,416 44, 154 14, 617 17,185 26,077 4,478 176, 639 1,200 202,587 54, 119 8,740 121, 576 21, 664 20, 815 130, 791 204,345 307,266 76,276 12,081 155, 221 964 6,363 1,269 13,760 94, 676 229 331,503 7,374 1,726 690,766 1,373 3,445 450, 100 12,338 2,180 49,371 78,400 1,197 9,193 16,978 36,267 29,562 22,945 2,248 20,096 2,948 11, 448 82, 803 27,587 25,226 7,924 6,344 41,098 5,642 264,038 2,355 101,915 28,443 19,693 36,961 27,809 14,252 59,326 366,879 68, 195 49, 621 11,608 112,849 10,055 28,976 644 6,710 81,961 651,692 7,546 4,730 252,243 4,369 11,588 266,243 6,712 5,683 28,500 64, 766 10,405 5,921 25,813 19,038 12,776 38,802 21,608 300 480 1,001 28 i,286 160 140 29 146 245 65 175 628 400 305 420 350 320 44,083 213 40,008 496,792 231,569 335,225 2,236 4,230 34, 102 35,575 1,313,448 4,111 247, 509 149,735 58, 745 137,329 238,040 120,641 103,473 1,114,470 189,698 224, 422 101, 676 411,953 49,966 116, 470 1,161 56,400 500,298 2,995 4,876,751 22,626 34,347 661,402 7,650 157,801 1,739,201 16,643 52, 786 173,965 166,033 50,227 41,046 38, 648 99,723 46,630 207,039 224,680 80,176 38,038 125, 162 162,947 104,855 22,378 ! 18, 662 26,916 i!oi,oii !3,340 454,288 60,254 402, 164 408,283 249,847 148,564 84,865 28,383 73,023 ^ 202, 939 45, 140 336,965 67,623 438, 732 28,592 162,965 27 13,409 28 11,954 I 29 31,574 J30 17,961 541,460 47,290 50,514 715, 130 78,883 31, 446 28,980 35,296 59,589 515,522 14,822 28,821 68,451 54,380 64,414 273,844 73,381 " Includes District of Columbia. < Includes systems distributed as follows: Rhode Island, 2; Wyoming, 1. 94 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 50.— MUTUAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— SUMMARY, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. STATE OR TERRITORY. United States. Num- ber of sys- tems. Miles of wire. Alabama.. California. Colorado . . Georgia... Illinois Indiana. Iowa Kentucky. Maine Maryland . . Michigan... Minnesota.. Mississippi. Missouri Nebraska New York North Carolina . North Dakota . . Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania... South Carolina . South Dakota . . Tennes^e Texas ■ Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin All other states and territories i . 4 6 3 6 138 105 170 11 70,915 88,520 Sub- scrib- ers. Sta- tions or tele- phones of all kinds. 101 923 70 177 13,308 9,220 13,261 650 35 1,308 4 77 4 . 81 33 2,335 31 1,799 3 70 90 8,564 32 1,656 88 1,593 12 633 3 40 49 3,616 5 435 20 1,199 6 333 7 225 13 1,683 12 478 6 106 22 2,218 21 1,062 43 3,263 12 531 109 389 38 109 16,717 9,645 21, 197 649 1,034 104 43 3,357 2,163 37 10,858 1,633 2,775 371 71 6,019 556 1,426 184 258 1,047 161 171 2,322 863 3,897 327 109 393 28 110 16,831 21,355 655 1,071 106 52 3,370 2,168 38 10,962 1,644 2,849 381 71 6,036 556 1,483 184 259 1,053 164 173 2,341 883 3,963 338 EXCHANGES AND STA- TIONS. Public ex- changes. Auto- matic or nick- el-in- the-slot pay sta- tions 2 163 112 168 5 44 16 1 120 23 44 6 2 71 6 28 4 3 11 2 1 22 22 40 Other pay sta^ tions. 384 PARTY LINES. Num- ber. 9,258 18 48 3 13 1,536 1,613 1,754 61 116 11 18 303 162 3 1,173 201 243 52 3 703 70 213 40 18 113 32 30 197 94 388 Sta- tions. 109 359 28 8,581 18,255 615 1,006 104 3,001 1,932 27 9,209 1,502 2,610 325 11 5,803 501 1,182 154 188 651 ' 135 172 2,153 755 3,763 220 Switch- boards of all kinds. 942 2 163 112 168 5 44 16 1 120 23 44 6 2 MESSAGES. 99, 141, 483 109,185 833, 708 21,020 112,600 24,946,971 9,360,033 20,276,319 526,845 1,271,745 116,000 58,200 3,179,272 1,669,500 45,250 12, 464, 695 2,076,923 2,459,767 593, 400 91,000 6,363,660 933,570 1, 424, 473 161,000 245,000 2,279,000 217,752 163,950 2,283,900 905,374 3,660,756 400,735 Local. 3,433,170 708, 313 108,000 812, 511 20,700 109,420 24,885,109 9,283,463 20,120,311 518,891 1,260,934 116,000 57,500 3,141,257 1,648,920 45,000 12,383,649 2,052,768 2, 434, 396 589. 175 90,000 6,315,949 933, 446 1,397,699 160,000 241, 602 2,276,850 215,440 163,800 2, 267, 198 896, 231 3, 498, 787 398. 176 76, 570 156,008 7,954 10,811 Long dis- tance and toll. 700 38,015 10,680 250 81,046 24,165 25,361 4,225 1,000 47,701 125 26,774 1,000 3,398 2,150 2,312 160 26, 702 9,143 61,969 2,660 SALARIED OF- FICIALS, CLERKS, ETC. Num- ber. Sala- ries. 166 $14,290 26 1,427 2,386 1,135 75 700 2,807 160 30 481 427 60 WAGE-EARN- ERS. Aver- num- ber. $163, 670 36 65 1,775 842 2 180 149 184 7 Wages. 590 32,627 23,731 37,504 . 1,258 644 6,146 2,745 20,905 3,935 2,504 630 2,265 3,775 370 614 3,453 328 2,000 964 4,253 1 Includes systems distributed as follows; Arizona, 1; Connecticut, 1; Florida, 2; Idaho, 1; Louisiana, 1; Montana, 2; Nevada, 2; Oklahoma, 1; Wyoming, 1. MUTUAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. 95 Table 51.— MUTUAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS— REVENUE AND EXPENSES, BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1902. Num- ber ol sys- tems. REVENUE. EXPENSES. Total. From opera- tion. Assess- ments. Aggre- gate. Operating expenses. Fixed charges. Divi- dends. STATE OK TERRITORY. Total. General opera- tion and mainte- nance, in- cluding legal ex- penses. Rentals and royal- ties on Instru- ments and appa- ratus. Rentals of offices, etc. Tele- phone traffic. Mis- cella- neous. Interest. Taxes. For lease of lines. Net sur- On float- ing debt. On fund- ed debt. plus. United States . 994 1303,326 $165,789 $137,636 $283,071 $275,316 $255,344 $4,662 $6, 138 $5,594 $3,588 $2,303 $180 $3,861 $361 $1,070 $20,264 Alabama 4 6 3 6 138 105 170 11 35 4 4 33 31 3 90 32 88 12 3 49 5 20 6 7 13 12 6 22 21 43 12 625 3,668 83 636 53, 105 38,757 59,258 2,388 3,056 311 455 10,723 7,222 125 35,587 8,733 9,036 1,465 140 15,602 2,663 6,922 792 1,088 8,944 1,625 673 8,445 3,411 12,144 5,763 150 2,301 80 612 31,207 19,889 24,690 1,437 1,460 127 465 6,137 3,575 60 22,322 5,700 6,229 1,260 475 1,357 3 24 21,898 18,868 34,668 951 1,596 184 620 3,519 60 431 49,749 35,986 66, 738 2,231 2,854 311 431 10,465 6,571 125 29,746 7,596 8,498 1,391 140 15,169 2,628 6,269 792 1,088 8,656 1,479 666 8,123 3,411 11,652 6,698 597 2,979 68 400 49,031 35,066 55,713 2,062 2,793 282 395 10,450 5,800 120 29,390 7,407 7,526 1,383 130 14,914 2,628 6,034 773 1,048 8,511 1,432 629 7,506 3,205 11,461 5,603 697 2,124 58 362 45,806 33,490 52,133 1,978 2,746 277 395 8,766 5,534 120 28,507 6,162 6,701 1,383 125 13,208 2,515 5,731 773 1,038 6,282 628 629 7,247 2,984 10,237 4,808 23 4 2 31 342 410 609 123 61 5 6 15 77 6 California 178 170 443 64 536 139 Colorado 23 Georgia 1,615 16 92 24 1,286 497 1,450 72 193 820 494 12 42 6 14 131 233 1,544 5 Illinois 196 279 366 46 180 Indiana . 240 60 2,772 2,520 157 Iowa Kansas Kentucky 202 Maine 24 Maryland 30 Michigan 5,586 3,647 IS 13,265 3,033 2,807 195 140 9,937 301 2,501 312 176 496 291 325 4,917 266 6,695 2,758 79 20 253 1,539 46 13 258 Minnnsotn, 694 5 120 87 62 Mississippi Missouri . 1,150 433 660 95 108 215 200 102 376 8 10 • 168 36 6,841 1,137 Nebraska New York . 353 39 26 510 638 North Carolina 64 North Dakota 6 15 5 26 Ohio 5,665 2,362 4,421 480 912 8,448 1,234 348 3,528 3,166 5,549 3,005 36 60 115 1,155 48 120 600 42 87 433 35 Pennsylvania 95 130 19 40 80 47 27 543 173 126 95 663 South Carolina 248 10 144 75 550 10 6 64 289 Texas 46 17 Virginia 115 60 465 44 15 100 75 100 58 6 265 115 33 1,069 74 33 65 322 West Virginia 492 All other states and 65 ilncludes systems distributed as follows: Arizona, 1; Connecticut, 1; Florida, 2; Idaho, 1; Louisiana, 1; Montana, 2; Nevada, 2; Oklahoma, 1; Wyoming, 1. PART II TELEGRAPHS (97) PART II. TELEGRAPHS. OHAPTEE I. TELEGRAPH AND CABLE SYSTEMS. General statistics. — ^Prior to 1902 the only census at which statistics for telegraphs was reported was that of 1880, which covered the fiscal year ending nearest to June 1, 1880. But as the reports of that census con- tain no data relative to domestic ocean cable systems, the statistics are not strictly comparable with those for 1902. The comparison of the totals for the two censuses can be used, therefore, only as a general indication of the magnitude of the industry at the two periods. The statistics concerning the telegraph and ocean cable systems relate to all operations of commercial land telegraph companies owned and operated within the United States, and of domestic ocean cable com- panies operating from the United States. The close relationship between the land and ocean telegraphs makes it impossible to present the statistics for the two classes separately. As the majority of the telegraph systems are oper- ated in a number of states, their business could not be segregated so as to show the capitalization, income, expenses, and equipment for the different states. Hence only the totals for the United States are given. It should also be noted that in compiling the statis- tics for telegraphs the systems were divided into two general classes — the commercial land telegraph and the ocean cable systems, including all systems organ- ized primarily for the transmission of messages for the general public; and the railway telegraphs, including all wires owned and operated in connection with a rail- way system, to subserve its business of a common car- rier, or operated by a commercial telegraph company, through an arrangement with the railway company along the right of way on which the wires are strung, whereby messages relating to the railway business are given preference. The railway telegraph statistics are treated later in a separate table. The commercial telegraph systems are given in Table 1. Table 1. — Commercial systems — comparative 1880. summary: 1902 and Number of systems. Miles of wire Number Receipts Telegraph offices, number Salaried officials, clerks, etc., number Wage-earners, total number Operators Messengers All others Salaries and wages Capital stock: » Authorized, par value Outstanding, par value Total revenue Gross receipts from telegraph traffic From other sources Total exi)enses Salaries and wages Operation and maintenance Interest Dividends All other expenses Net surplus Balance sheet:" Total assets Construction and equipment Real estate, stocks and bonds, machinery , etc. Bills and accounts receivable Cash and deposits Total liabilities Capital stock Bonds Cash investment of unincorporated compa- nies, reserves, bills and accounts payable, dividends unpaid, and surplus 25 M, 318, 350 3 91,655,287 6 $29, 118, 089 27,377 829 26,798 13,093 4,746 8,959 815,039,673 5123,233,075 1117,053,525 $40,930,038 $35,300,669 $6,629,469 $37,204,727 $16,039,673 $9,220,948 $1,950,282 $6,266,693 84,737,131 $3,725,311 $195,503,775 $156,911,448 $32,220,204 $3,084,739 $3, 287, 384 $195,503,775 $117,053,625 $45,893,000 $32,557,250 1880 177 291,213 '31,703,181 '$13,612,116 12,510 337 14,591 9,661 2,469 2,461 $4,886,128 $75,907,260 '$66,529,200 $16,696,623 $13,512,116 $3,184,507 $14,969,372 $4,886,128 $3,846,039 $664, 341 $4,136,750 8 $1,626, 114 $1,737,261 $97,232,640 $93,062,922 C) $3,081,922 $1,087,796 $97,232,640 $67,901,255 "$9,369,166 "$19,962,220 1 Includes 6 operated by Western Union Telegraph Company. 8 Includes miles of wire operated by the Western Union Telegraph Company outside the United States, but does not.include 16, 677 nautical miles of cable oper- ated by submarine cable systems. 8 Includes 820,498 cable messages. ' Both number of messages and receipts were reported for 54 companies, while 17 others reported receipts only. 6 Includes $1,326,967, receipts for cable messages. 6 Reported by only 42 companies in 1880. ' For cash. 8 Includes $40,000, sinking fund appropriation. "Not reported separately in 1880. M Includes funded and floating debt. " Reported as profit and loss. It will be seen from Table 1 that the telegraph sys- tems of the country owned and operated 1,318,350 miles of wire, to which should be added 16,677 nautical miles of submarine cable. They had 27,627 employees; an investment, or capitalization of stocks and bonds, of $162,946,525; a total revenue of $40,930,038; and (99) 100 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. total assets ot $195,503,775. They paid $6,256,693 in dividends and $1,950,282 in interest on bonds. In all these respects, as well as in the number of messages, the telegraph was surpassed by its younger rival, the telephone, and, while the telegraph has intrinsically grown rapidly and has in itself the elements of steady increase, the statistics in this report give every warrant for the belief that each year must see a wider disparity between these two vital means of inter- communication. Ohief features of the data. — ^The striking decrease between 1880 and 1902 in the number of separate holdings, due to the numerous consolidations which have taken place of corporations previously compet- ing or not before under one ownership, has been accompanied by a very great increase in the magni- tude of equipment and business. In 1902 the telegraph business was practically controlled by two companies, yet, in spite of the tendency of consolidation to reduce the number of lines and ofRces, the mileage of wire in operation was more than four times and the number of messages nearly three times greater than in 1880. The wire mileage in operation in 1902, exclusive of 16;677 nautical miles of cable, was 1,027,137 miles greater than in 1880. The comparison of the number of messages sent dur- ing the two census years is affected by the fact that, in addition to the 820,498 cable messages included in the total for 1902, an unknown number of cable messages was reported by a company that did both a land and ocean business, and whose report could not be segre- gated. Moreover, in 1880, the number of messages was reported for only 54 companies ; of the 23 other com- panies, 17 reported only "receipts from messages," 5 kept no records, and 1 had no message business. The average rate per message in 1902, after deduct- ing the number of cable messages and receipts there- from, was 31 cents, as compared with 43 cents in 1880. The number of telegraph offices in 1902 was 27,377, an increase of 14,867, or 118.8 per cent over 1880. Of the total number in 1902, 20,809 were in railway stations. Between 1880 and 1902 the number of salaried offi- cials, clerks, etc., increased from 337 to 829, or 146 per cent; the total number of wage-earners, from 14,591 to 26,798, or 83.7 per cent; the number of telegraph oper- ators, from 9,661 to 13,093, or 35.5 per cent; and the amount paid in salaries and wages, from $4,886,128 to $15,039,673, or 207.8 per cent. Gomparison with the telephone. — It is an interesting and not altogether unprofitable speculation to attempt a determination of the effect of the telephone in reduc- ing or checking the amount of telegraph business. This effect is produced in two ways — by substituting the long distance telephone call for the telegraph mes- sage between two widely separated points, and by obvi- ating to a very large extent the necessity for using the telegraph within city limits. The effect of the tele- phone on the district messenger service is referred to later. As to long distance and toll line telephone talks or messages, the figures of telephone traffic give these as no fewer than 120,704,844, or nearly thirty millions more than the total number of telegraph messages. While a great deal of the telephone traffic has been new and self-originated, its' competition has kept down the use of the telegraph. The rates of the two systems for medium distances do not differ greatly, and for very long distances they are overwhelmingly in favor of the telegraph, if the message be taken as the unit; but if the number of words exchanged be taken into account, as well as the time required for getting into communi- cation, the telegraph is at a disadvantage in case of a large amount of traffic. Frequently the brief message will suffice, and the written telegraph serves as a record, but where a swift interchange is required, the telephone seems to have thoroughly established its superiority for social matters and for business. The public em- ploys the telegraph at the rate of only a little more than once a year per capita, whereas the number of telephone messages is already 65 per capita. Comparative data — earnings and expenses. — In the reports ot the census of 1880 statistics of revenue and expenses were presented for 75 of the 77 systems or companies. The 2 other companies (one was not in regular operation, while the other did not have the necessary records) reported a combined mileage of only 301 miles. The 1880 statistics of assets and liabilities covered the operations of 42 companies. Of the 35 other companies — many of them of a petty char- acter — 18 were lines owned by railway companies which included the data for both railway and telegraph business in the same balance sheet, 7 failed to give a reason for not furnishing the data, 4 made reports that were too incomplete and unreliable to be included in the table, and 3 were private concerns. Of the 25 telegraph systems reported in 1902, 21 were operated by incorporated companies. The capitalization of these companies is shown in Table 2. TELEGRAPH AND CABLE SYSTEMS. 101 Table 2. — Capitalization of incorporated companies: 190S. Number ol incorporated companies 21 Capital stock and bonds authorized, par value $173, 126,07a Capital stock and bonds outstanding, par value 1162,946, 525 Capital stock: Total authorized, par value S123,233,075 Total outstanding, par value 1117,053,525 Dividends paid 86,266,693 Common — Authorized, par value $122,033,075 Outstanding, par value 8115,863, 525 Dividends paid 86, 193, 693 Preferred- Authorized, par value $1,200,000 Outstanding, par value 81,200,000 Dividends paid $63,000 Bonds: Authorized, par value 849,893,000 Outstanding, par value $45,893,000 Interest paid $1,949, 150 Of the total authorized capitalization of commercial telegraph systems, capital stock constituted 71.2 per cent and bonds and funded debt 28.8 per cent. Of the total authorized capital stock, $117,053,525, or 95. per cent, had been issued and was .outstanding at the end of the year covered by this report. Of this amount, 99 per cent was common, and 1 per cent preferred stock. The dividends paid on the capital stock outstanding amounted to $6,256,693, the average rate being 5.3 per cent. Dividends amounting to $6,193,693 were paid by 10 companies on common stock, having a par value of $113,913,725, so that the average rate was 5.4 per cent. Only 1 company was authorized to issue pre- ferred stock, and the entire amount, $1,200,000, was outstanding. This company paid on its preferred stock dividends amounting to $63,000, the rate being 5.3 percent. Ten companies, having capital stock to the amount of $1,939,800, paid no dividends during the year covered by this report. Bonds were outstanding to the amount of $45,893,- 000, and $1,949,150 was reported as paid in interest, the average rate being 4.2 per cent. The total revenue and expenses of the 25 companies for the year covered by their reports are arranged in Table 3 in the form of an income account. Table 3. — Commercial systems — income account: 1902. Gross receipts from operation "or'toq'^?? Operating expenses ^b, mi, 4xx Net earnings irom operation 8, 708, 158 Income from other sources: , ., ,„ o,!o Dividends on stock of other companies Sl,169,b68. Lease of lines, wires, and conduits *'in?'n?X Rent from real estate 206, 07U Interest :::::::;::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 72:223 Miscellaneous . Gross income less operating expenses Deductions from income: coo •7on Taxes ^'™ Interest— , ,,, Floatingdebt i.|5f Funded debt \'lfa'3. Paid for leased lines i,»ib,oio 6,629,469 14,337,627 4,365,623 Net income "'^^^'"^ Deductions from net income: Dividends on preferred stock tX^'S^ Dividends on common stock b,i.y6,aii ^ ^^ ^^ 3,725,311 Net surplus for year The total receipts of the commercial telegraph com- panies amounted to $40,930,038. Of this total, $35,300,569, or 86.2 per cent, represents the gross re- 18407—06 8 ceipts from operation, including all receipts for mes- sages sent over the lines of the telegraph systems in this country, whether originating in this country or for- warded for other systems under traffic agreement. The "income from other sources" amounted to $5,629,469, or 13.8 per cent of the gross revenue. The operating expenses are presented in Table 4. Table 4. — Commercial systems — operating expenses: 1902. Total 826,692,411 General operation and maintenance ^*' noS'oin Salaries of corporation officers 230,250 Salaries of general officers 256,740 Salaries of clerks „ ^Z^'S „ Wages 13,877,041 Operation and maintenance ^' ?n5' om Legal expenses o^ 'oiq Rentals of ofllces and other real estate 876, 213 Rentals of conduits and underground privileges 7,808 Telegraph traffic paid or due other companies 724, 826 Miscellaneous 529,063 It is probable that the $26,592,411 shown for oper- ating expenses includes all expenses that can be charged to the operation of the 1,318,350 miles of single wire and the 16,677 nautical miles of ocean cable. Of all operating expenses, salaries and wages to- gether amounted to $15,039,673, or 56.5 per cent; the other principal item, operation and maintenance, amounted to $9,220,948, or 34.7 per cent; and the remaining items of expense — legal expenses, rentals, telegraph traffic paid or due other companies, etc. — amounted to $2,331,790, or 8.8 per cent. Fixed charges, which consist of taxes, interest, and payments for leased lines, amounted to $4,355,623. Deducting this from $14,337,627, shown as gross in- come less operating expenses, there remains a net in- come of $9,982,004. Deducting from the net income the $6,256,693 paid in dividends on the preferred and common stock, there remains a net surplus of $3,725,311. In addition to the cost of repairs and renewals, in- cluded in the item operation and maintenance, an expenditure of $4,776,763 for new construction was reported by 7 of the 25 telegraph systems. While different methods of bookkeeping were used by the several systems, and different items shown in their annual statements of assets and liabilities, it was found possible in every case to secure the amounts required to construct a balance sheet of the character shown in Table 5. Table .5. — Commercial systems — balance sheet: 1902. Total assets $196, 503, 775 Construction and equipment 156, 911, 448 Real estate 4,768, 131 Stocks and bonds of other companies 26,939,944 Machinery, tools, and supplies Bills and accounts receivable Cash and deposits Sundry 945,796 3,084,739 3,287,384 666,334 Totalliabilities 196,503,776 Capital stock 117,053,626 Bonds. Cash investment, unincorporated companies . Reserves Bills and accounts payable Dividends unpaid . 45,893,000 7,310 7,859,648 6,244,585 366,666 Surplus .". 18,079,041 102 TELEPHONIES AND TELEGRAPHS. The amounts shown in Table 5 are the sum of those shown in the balance sheets of the 25 systems for the business year most nearly conforming to the calendar year 1902. The cost of construction and equipment of the various systems amounted to $156,911,448, or 80.3 per cent of the total assets. Stocks and bonds of other companies, held for investment or to control the oper- ation of such companies, were valued at $25,939,944, and the real estate owned was valued at $4,768,131. These two items constituted 13.3 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively, of the total assets. Of the liabilities, $117,053,525, or 59.9 per cent, rep- resented capital stock outstanding, and $45,893,000, or 23.4 per cent, outstanding bonds. The cash invest- ment of unincorporated systems amounted to $7,310, or less than one-tenth of 1 per cent; reserves and sur- plus combined, $25,938,689, or 13.3 per cent; bills and accounts payable, $6,244,585, or 3.2 per cent; and dividends unpaid, $366,666, or two-tenths of 1 per cent. Salaries and wages. — As ia the case of telephony, so for telegraphy, the number of salaried officials, clerks, etc., the average number of wage-earners employed during the year, and the amount paid in salaries and wages were asked. Table 6 shows the total for all systems. Table 6. — Commercial systems — employees, salaries, and wages: 190S. Salaried officials, clerks, etc.; Total number ^ 829 Total salaries $1,162,632 Corporation officers — Number 54 Salaries $230,250 General officers — Number 82 Salaries ■. $255, 740 All other employees in general offices — Number 693 Salaries $676,642 Wage-earners: Total average number 26, 798 Total wages $13, 877, 041 Managers and assistants — Average number 5, 752 Wages $2,898,588 Operators — Average number 13,093 Wages $8,862,349 Male — Average number : 10, 179 Wages $7,494,909 Female — Average number 2,914 Wages $1 , 367, 440 Inspectors- Average number 1, 152 Wages $573,369 Linemen- Average number 1,208 Wages \ . . . $673, 088 Messengers- Average number 4, 746 Wages $839, 360 All other wage-earners— Average number 847 Wages $130,287 Of the total amount paid to salaried officials, clerks, etc., $230,250, or 19.8 per cent, was paid to corporation officers; $255,740, or 22 per cent, to general officers; and $676,642, or 58.2 per cent, to all other employees in general offices. In addition there were employed, on an average, during the year 26,798 wage-earners, to whom $13,877,041 was paid in wages. Of this amount, man- agers and assistants received $2,898,588, or 20.9 per cent; male operators, $7,494,909, or 54 per cent; fe- male operators, $1,367,440, or 9.9 per cent; inspectors,. $573,369, or 4.1 per cent; linemen, $573,088, or 4.1 per cent; and messengers, $839,360, or 6.1 per cent. The amount paid messengers does not represent the total cost of messenger service, inasmuch as the deliv- ery of messages is intrusted to a great extent to local district messenger companies with which the tele- graph systems have contracts. A sharp contrast is to be noted in the numbers of women operators em- ' ployed in telegraphy and telephony, the former indus- try having 10,179 and the latter 37,333. Wire mileage. — Of the 1,318,350 miles of wire shown in Table 1 as operated by commercial telegraph com- panies, 1,307,046 miles were owned or leased by such companies. The remainder was owned by railway companies. The details of line construction are shown in Table 7. Table 7. — Commercial systems — line construction: 1902. Total miles of wire owned or leased 1,307,046 Underground: Miles of duct ^ lOO' Owned 96 Leased 94 Miles of cable 399 Owned 367 Leased 32 Miles of single wire 1 21,658 Owned 17,265 Leased 4, 393 Submarine: ^ Miles of cable 106 Circuit miles of wire in cable 679 Overhead: Miles of pole line 237,99fr Owned 218, 14& Leased 19,842 Miles of single wire 1,265, 66S Copper wire owned 333,456 Iron wire owned 863, 963 Wire leased 68, 269 Circuit miles of wire in cable 19,041 Miles of cable 1, 467 1 Western Union Telegraph Company failed to report number of miles of duct in which their underground cables were laid. 2 Does not include ocean cables of submarine cable companies. Of the 1,307,046 miles of wire reported as "owned or leased," 1,234,394 miles, or 94.4 per cent, were owned, and 72,652 miles, or 5.6 per cent, were leased by the companies reporting. Of the owned wire, 1,216,450 miles, or 98.5 per cent, was overhead; 17,265 miles, or 1 .4 per cent, was underground ; and 679 miles, or one-tenth of 1 per cent, was in submarine cable. Telegraph power plants. — Table 8 shows the number and horsepower of the various units of the electric power generating plants of the commercial telegraph companies. Table 8. — Commercial systems — generating plains in offices: 190S. Engines: Number 20 Horsepower [[]"'.[['..""". 340 Dynamos: ' Number 75 Horsepower ."I'.WW.W. 32I Motor generators: Number 1 138 Horsepower 1*616 Batteries m offices: ' Primary, number of cells 634 626 Storage, number of cells 19' 733 TELEGRAPH AND CABLE SYSTEMS. 103 In the earlier days every telegraph office depended upon primary batteries for its supply of current, but now all the larger offices and many of the less impor- tant ones have power plants of their own or have motor-generator sets for furnishing the different types of current required. Methods of telegraphic operation. — There are four different methods of operating telegraph wires: The single or Morse system, by which only one message can be sent by key at a time; the duplex system, by which two messages can be sent simultaneously in opposite directions over the same wire; the quad- ruplex system, by which four messages can be trans- mitted over one wire at the same time — two from each end simultaneously; and printing and automatic systems, which make possible a higher rate of speed than can be attained by hand. The message in automatic machine systems, as in the familiar Wheat- stone, is usually prepared beforehand by perforating strips of paper that are then run through the trans- mitter at a high rate of speed. By one of the later printing systems the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany has transmitted over 1,500,000 messages, but at the same time they do not gain ground either here or in Europe. The distribution of the 1,307,046 miles of wire owned or leased, according to the method of operation, is shown in Table 9. Table 9 . — Commercial systems — miles of wire owned or leased, distrib- uted according to method of operation: 1902. METHOD OF OPERATION. Total Single Duplex Quadmplex Machine or automatic MILES Ot' "WIKE. Number. 1,307,046 816,593 185,048 294,910 10, 495 Per cent. 100.0 62.5 14.1 22.6 0.8 In addition to the 679 circuit miles of wire in sub- marine cable, shown in Table 7, as owned and operated within the limits of the United States, a total length of 16,677 nautical miles was reported for 20 ocean cables reaching the shores of the American continent for intercourse with the United States. Press messages. — Due credit is not given in the statistics of business, and could not well be given, for the telegraphic traffic of the news purveying and dis- tributing systems, upon which the public depends to a very large extent for its news of the day. The thou- sands of daily newspapers in the United States receive telegrams of a news character, some of which are exclusive, but the great majority of which are identical throughout the country, and, even if edited in accordance with the relative importance to the local reader, are exactly of the same nature and length when sent out in multiple from headquarters in such cities as New York or Chicago. This enormous news telegraphic traffic shows in the income of the telegraph system but is incalculable otherwise as to number of words; number of messages, etc. Not only are details of the great markets thus furnished daily, but all great events and minor occurrences, such as elections, races, fires, conventions, and speeches, are, under a special schedule, the subject of endless dupli- cation and manifolding in the telegraphic traffic of the daily press. The same press tariff is also granted to other than the daily journals. Some idea of what such work may amount to in the aggregate is afforded by the statistics of telegraph traffic in England, where the system is in the hands of the Government and is subjected to close accounting. The Postmaster- General reported that, during the year 1903-4, the average number of words per week in press telegrams reached the gigantic total of 14,588,458. This is known to be far below the American figures, where, moreover, the telegraph is supplemented in many parts of the country by the large use of the telephone for news messages. District messenger system. — ^The general statistics of the district messenger business are not included in the present report, for the reason that the industry has not been considered as strictly within the scope of this investigation. Practically no telegraph or tele- phone business originates with the district messenger companies, which have two main functions. One of these is to handle the telegraph messages of tele- graph companies, like the Western Union Telegraph Company and Postal Telegraph Cable Company, which control, own, and officer these subordinate organizations ; and the other function is to carry urgent written messages and distribute parcels and packages. It will be seen that the latter of these two functions is in no sense electrical or telegraphic, although for the collection of telegraph messages to be placed on the wires, district messenger "call" boxes, connected by wire with the messenger headquarters, are installed in a large number of business offices, residences, etc. A third function of the district messenger companies, which is understood to be the most profitable branch of the business, but is, in the sense of this report, not telegraphic, is that of conducting a burglar alarm service, special boxes and circuits being equipped for such purpose. Of late years the development of the telephone and other distributing agencies has diminished the usefulness of the district messenger system as hitherto employed in urban centers, as a probable result of which the American District Telegraph Company of New Jersey was incorporated in November, 1901, as a holding company. This company has acquired the control of about fifty district messenger companies, operating, it is said, in about one thousand of the more 104 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. important cities and towns in the United States, exclusive of New York city. This company, which has a twenty-five-year contract with the Western Union Telegraph Company for the delivery and col- lection of messages, has an authorized capital stock of $10,000,000, of which $9,500,000 is outstanding. On this a dividend of 5 per cent was paid up to 1904, when the rate was reduced to 4 per cent. All message collectifon and delivery business of the Western Union Telegraph Company in New York city is handled by the local American District Messenger Company, which operates 85 offices in New York city, with 1,552 miles of circuit, 29,143 instruments, and 1,200 mes- sengers. The authorized capital stock of this com- pany is $4,000,000, of which $3,844,700 is outstanding. The dividends upon this in 1902 and 1903 were 2 per cent. The revenue from all sources was $567,676 and the operating expenses, inclusive of construction, $511,808. The net income was $65,868 and the divi- dends $76,888, leaving a deficit of $11,020. These figures are compiled from the last annual report of the company. It may be added that the Postal Tele- graph Cable Company has organized a number of district messenger companies to render services anal- ogous to the above, but in regard to these also no figures were collected. The stock quotation service. — A part of the tele- graph force of the country, more particularly in the large cities, is employed in handling stock quotations, a large number of the operators being in private em- ploy. The quotations are not brought to separate account as messages, except perhaps in the figures of work done by the subniarine cables ; but it has been stated on good authority that there are on an average 1,000 Wall street cable messages per day, or about three hundred thousand per year; but this would by no means include all the cablegrams relative to prices of, or specxilation in, stocks, wheat, pork, cotton, coffee, tobacco, etc. The extent of the use of telegraphy in transmitting stock quotations is not perhaps fully appreciated, although the public is quite familiar with the stock ticker and the paper tape upon which the ticker prints its abbreviated record of sales and prices. The largest amount of this work is done in New York city, and under the direct supervision of the stock exchange, which treats the quotations made within its walls as the property of the exchange and its members. One stock quotation system, with about one thousand tick- ers in service, is owned and operated by the exchange. This system sent out over the tape nearly thirteen million separate impressions in 1901-2, and over seventy-five thousand on some days, while it required about fifty tons of paper to keep the tickers supplied with reels of narrow tape. In addition to this official service, there is another under exchange supervision, which furnishes tickers to about seven hundred and fifty customers in and around New York. Besides these nearly one thousand more tickers are employed on Manhattan Island in reporting produce, general news, sporting intelligence, etc. It will be seen that in the aggregate a vast amount of telegraphic service is thus furnished to the public. But this is not all, as outside of New York city twenty large cities have ticker services of their own, which in Chicago, Phila- delphia, Boston, etc., represent a further patronage of this special form of telegraphy, now an indispensable part of daily life to the financial and commercial world. The ticker service is also supplemented by a news system, which consists of bulletins sent out by one or two enterprisihg agencies and depends in large measure upon telegraphic advices for its material. It is extremely difficult to bring such work to specific account, but an estimate was made a few years ago by one of the presidents of the Western Union Tele- graph Company that 46 per cent of the messages transmitted were in reference to speculation of some Mnd. Commercial telegraphs on steam railroads. — ^Along the right of way of steam railway companies the com- mercial telegraph systems had 181,921 miles of pole line, on which were strung 954,319 miles of single wire, or 72.4 per cent of the total wire mileage oper- ated by all commercial telegraph systems, as shown in Table 1. Of this wire, 935,409 miles were copper and 18,910 were iron. In addition to this wire the railway companies owned and operated a large mile- age in connection with the transportation business. Railway telegraphs and telephones. — There were 684 railway companies that reported the operation of tele- graph or telephone lines in connection with the trans- portation business. In their reports to the Interstate Commerce Commission the railway companies fur- nished considerable information concerning their tele- graph and telephone systems. This information was supplemented by data obtained by the Bureau of the Census through correspondence with the companies. The results of the combined inquiries are summarized in Table 10. Table 10. — Railway telegraphs and telephones — summary: 1902. Number of companies reporting 684 Number ot telegraph crfflces ' 31, 278 Telegraph operators and dispatchers: Number 30, 336 Wages $20,040,730 Number of sets of instruments: Morse 85, 150 Other 603 Number of cells of battery: Primary 278, 293 Storage 11 , 914 Miles of single track 204, 503 Toial miles of wire 1, 127, 186 Owned 242, 837 Not owned 884, 349 Number of telephones in use 17,606 Number of telegraph messages sent during year: For railroad business only 201, 743, 756 Commercial 4, 474, 593 TELEGRAPH AND CABLE SYSTEMS. 105 The railway companies for which data are included in Table 10 operated 204,503 miles of single track and had 1,127,186 miles of single wire along their right of way. Of this wire mileage, which includes both telegraph and telephone lines, no segregation being possible, only 242,837 miles, or 21.5 per cent, were owned by the railway coippanifis. A large proportion of the telegraph and telephone wire along the right of way of railway companies, and a considerable proportion of that operated by the railway companies is owned by commercial telegraph or telephone companies and is included in their re- ports. Hence an unknown portion of the wire mile- age reported for railway telegraphs and telephones is a duplication of that shown in the report on commer- cial telegraph companies. Moreover, many of the commercial messages reported are included, also, among the messages reported by the commercial tele- graph companies. Few railway companies, however, maintain telegraph lines for other than railway busi- ness, the commercial privileges, as a rule, being granted to commercial telegraph companies. The railway companies reported 31,278 telegraph offices, but only 30,336 telegraph operators. It is probable that in a number of instances the railway companies reported as station masters, agents, etc., employees who also performed the duty of telegraph operator, and that these were not included with the operators. CHAPTEE II. .GOVERNMENTAL TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE. Several branches of departments of the United States Government depend largely in their work upon the employment of the telegraph and telephone. Chief among these are the Signal Corps, the Weather Bureau, and the Life-Saving Service. United States Signal Corps. — One of the earliest demonstrations of the value of telegraphy in warfare was that given in the United States during the Civil War, when for several years a large body of operators on both sides was employed in the maintenance of communication between the forces scattered over the immense area embraced in the field of conflict. On the Federal side no fewer than 1,200 operators were thus employed in the field, aharing all the perils and vicissitudes of the war. Out of the conditions thus developed sprang the present telegraphic system oper- ated by the Signal Corps of the United States Army under the Chief Signal Officer. According to the report made for 1903-4 by Gen. A. W. Greely, Chief Signal Officer, this corps has by law an authorized strength of 1 brigadier-general, 1 colonel, 2 lieutenant-colonels, 6 majors, 18 captains, 18 first lieutenants, 36 master signal electricians, 132 first-class sergeants, 144 ser- geants, 156 corporals, 552 first-class privates, 168 pri- vates, and 24 cooks — a total of 46 officers and 1,212 enlisted men. At headquarters in Washington a staff consisting of 1 chief clerk, 1 chief of disbursing division, 26 clerks, 3 messengers, and 1 laborer is also necessary for the pronapt and satisfactory transaction of public business passing through the office. At the Signal Corps post at Fort Myer, Va., the Corps has an im- portant school of instruction, although work of a more extensive character is now being done at Omaha, Nebr., in the instruction of enlisted men in signaling, telegraphing, telephoning, ballooning, etc. During the year military telegraph lines, with an aggregate length of 507.5 miles, were in operation at ten different posts, and handled 41,805 messages, while at four differ- ent posts, lines aggregating 254 miles were transferred or abandoned. The sum of $2,213.07 was collected for the transmission of commercial telegrams over the military lines, and the sum of $3,450.65 was col- lected and transferred to commercial companies, the latter amount covering tariffs for messages transmitted by such companies over their land lines. The Signal Corps in the Philippines. — These statis- tics, however, are far from doing justice to the work of the Signal Corps, particularly in Alaska and in the new American possessions in the Philippines. At the end of the fiscal year 1903-4 no less than 42 per cent of the enlisted force of the Signal Corps was still serving in the islands, and fully 50 per cent of the entire Corps has been required by military necessities to serve there for periods ranging from two to four years. The work of the United States Signal Corps in the Philippine archi- pelago marks in reality a distinct advance in the appli- cation of electricity to the art of war. In extent of mileage of circuit, rapidity of development, and num- ber of military messages transmitted its operations have surpassed those of any previous military system of communication. The submarine cables laid and land lines built had an aggregate length of 10,450 miles, of which 7,000 miles were operated at one time. General Greely states that the official messages have run into the millions, and that in Manila alone over 100,000 words were handled by the Corps in a single day. For the first four and one-half years the entire expenditure for material and instruments, submarine cables, and other expenses out of the Signal Corps appropriation aggregated $1,381,614. In connection with this work the disbursements of other bureaus of the Army, etc., have been estimated at $1,100,000, making the total cost, direct and indirect, for the entire plant and its operation and maintenance almost $2,500,000. Dur- ing the year of active operations the cost of sending words over land lines was about five mills per word, and over submarine cables three cents per word. This in- cludes the cost of plant, operation, maintenance, and all other expenses, but does not take into account the value of lines and material on hand or transferred to the civil government. In this connection it is inter- esting to note that the estinaated post of telegrams over the British military telegraph system in South Africa was fixed at about seven mills per word. The average for the Philippines covered, however, only the opera- tion of land lines, whose original installation is less costly than submarine cable, while in the South Afri- can figures credit is taken for the full value of all stores and other material used in the construction of the lines transferred to the civil administration after the Boer War. 'Many of the statements in this chapter are derived from the Annual Report of the Chief Signal Officer, U. S. A.,for the year ending June 30, 1904, and from the Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau for 1902-3. (106) GOVERNMENTAL TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE. 107 Up to June 30, 1904, there had been transferred by the Signal Corps to the civil government of the Philip- pines 2,965 miles of land lines and submarine cables. Yet, as a matter of fact, the United States Army in 1898 had found the islands practically destitute of telegraphic facilities, the insurgents having destroyed the few Vis- ayan lines of the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited). By the fortune of war there came into the possession of the Signal Corps about 400 miles of dilapidated and antiquated line in northern Luzon, but the system as it stands at the time of this report is virtually a new creation throughout. The tariff value of the messages sent by the Signal Corps under disturbed conditions in the Philippines can not be satisfactorily determined, according to Gen- eral Greely. It may be stated, however, that the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company (the only com- mercial system operating in the islands) at a minimum commercial tariff of 5 cents a word for official business would have received for this work $7,758,750. As will be noted, the cost to the United States, through the operations of the Signal Corps, was less than one-third of this amount. There should be added also in these estimates the charges for more than 2,000,000 tele- phone messages, amounting, at 10 cents per message, to at least $200,000. There should also be credited to the Signal Corps the tariffs, amounting to $82,996.12, collected for commercial messages and dispatches and paid into the insular treasury. Gratifying as this ex- Tiibition is, the service rendered has obviously been too valuable to be measured by tariff rates. On this point ■Gen. Arthur MacArthur may be quoted as follows : The wire service of the Signal Corps is simply indispensable. It is not -too much to say that in the absence of this efficient service it would be impossible to hold this archipelago with less than 150,000 men, which is now well and efficiently performed by 60,000. We need wires, instru- ments, and operators everywhere — the more the better. It simplifies ■everything, makes unity of action possible, insures concentration of troops on threatened points, and, altogether, is of such importance that it is impossible to say too much in behalf of its indefinite extension to the limit of possible usefulness. . . . The purpose of the present -writing is to impress the War Department with the view that successful operations in these islands absolutely depend upon the Signal Corps, in •consequence of which provisions therefor should be made upon a scale ■commensurate with the importance of the interests involved. As a further illustration of the aid rendered national officials engaged in civilian work, the following is quoted from a letter written by Gen. J. P. Sanger, U. S. A., Director of the Philippine Census: Since January 1, 1903, almost the entire correspondence of the Bureau has been by telegraph, and during this period I have sent and received jiearly 10,000 telegrams and cable messages, many of them at great length and a large proportion of them in the Spanish language. With the exception of a few errors — due, no doubt, to idiomatic and obscure phrases, requiring occasional repetition — the work has been car- ried on with such skill and dispatch as to merit special conimendation; iand, before leaving Manila,.! wish to express to the members of the Sig- nal Corps performing the duties of telegraph operators my high appre- ciation of their efforts and of the excellent organization and administra- tion of the telegraph service. With regard to the facilities afforded to trade and commerce in the Philippines, it may be noted that in June, 1901, the Chief Signal Officer made arrangements which increased largely the telegraphic facilities avail- able to merchants and others. Every office in the archipelago was opened for insular commercial com- munication, while 60 of the larger offices were accorded facilities for handling foreign cable messages. The tariff fixed was very low, being 2 cents per word for points on the island of origin and 4 cents per word for points outside. The receipts from all such commercial messages were deposited in the insular treasury. To sum up the conditions of operation in the Philippines, there were on July 1, 1903, 4,577 miles of wire, of which 3,105 were land lines and 1,472 submarine cables. Part of this system during the year was transferred to the civil government and part abandoned, so that on June 30, 1904, the Signal Corps was operating 2,052 miles of land line and 1,468 miles of cable, connecting in its general system 84 telegraph offices and 13 tele- phone offices, exclusive of the telephone exchanges in Manila and at military posts. In the operation and maintenance of this system there were on duty at the end of the year 9 officers, 1 detailed officer from the line of the Army, and 356 enlisted men of the Signal Corps, as well as 158 civilians, of whom 147 were na- tives of the Philippines. In the city of Manila the telegraphic and telephonic systems, on a single con- ductor basis of estimate, aggregated 174 miles of cir- cuit, of which 123.4 was telephonic. The military telephone system embraced 211 telephones connected with one main central with a 100-drop switchboard in operation night and day, and two subcentrals oper- ated 10 hours daily. The number of calls during the year was 291,997. Outside of Manila local telephone systems for military purposes had been established at 28 army posts and stations and had an aggregate of 38 miles of circuit and 229 telephones. In addition it is understood that the constabulary lines of the Philip- pines aggregated 4,203 miles, of which 172 were cable, 1,861 telegraphic land lines, and 2,170 telephone lines. In connection with these, 66 telegraph offices and 197 telephone offices and stations were maintained. Alaskan telegraphs. — In Alaska, as well as in the Philippines, the United States Sigiial Corps has had an arduous and serious task to perform in establishing and maintaining telegraphic communication. To realize the extent of the territory covered in that region by the network it would be necessary to plot it on a map of the United States as stretching from Wyoming to the Bahamas. The cables used would stretch from Newfoundland to the coast of Ireland, and the land lines would extend from Washington to Texas. The entire construction included 3,625 miles, embracing 2,079 miles of cable, 1,439 miles of land line, and a wireless system of 107 miles. These operations include, moreover, a most extensive utilization of American material, apparatus, and skill in the field of 108 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. submarine work. The seamless rubber cable of American manufacture laid by the Corps between Sitka and Seattle is 1,070 miles in length, laid at an average depth of 1,000 fathoms and at an extreme depth of 1,700 fathoms, and it is said to have a trans- mitting power greater by 25 per cent than the amount of capacity arrived at in accordance with a mathematical calculation on the basis of the transatlantic gutta- percha cables, while in its original cost the former was less expensive than the latter. The cable in Alaska has been thrown open to public use and operated most successfully. The other extensive portion of the Alaska cable system — the Sitka- Valdez section — is 640 miles in length. These cables are operated by Signal Service operators, employing the latest Cuttriss syphon recording instruments. The following sections, aggre- gating 2,128 miles, are now installed and in operation in Alaskan waters : Miles- Skagway to Fort William H. Seward 21 Fort William H. Seward to Juneau _ 102 Juneau to Sitka 291 Seattle to Sitka 1, 070 Sitka to Valdez 640 Valdez to Fort Liscum 4 If the Norton sound cable, which has been aban- doned, be included, a total of 2,260 miles of submarine cable has been laid in the waters about Alaska. The land line system of Alaskan telegraphs, nearly 1,500 m.iles in length, was scarcely completed when in June, 1903, extensive forest fires in the valley of the Tanana destroyed various portions of the circuits, aggregating 100 miles in length. The line was rebuilt, however, and thrown open to the general public for commercial service before winter began. It has since been oper- ated with unusual success, although the difficulties are serious and exceptional, as a result of high gales, inac- cessibility, the rigors of winter, etc. No fewer than 206 breaks, due mostly to blizzards, forest fires, high winds, and sleet storms, have had to be made good. The Norton sound section of Alaska has been the scene of the development by the Signal Corps of a wire- less system necessitated by the apparent inability to maintain permanent cable connections between Cape Nome and St. Michael. In the late summer of 1903 the wireless bases for Norton sound were established at Safety harbor and St. Michael, where portable houses were built, in which were installed engines, bat- teries, and wireless apparatus, supplemented at each station by two masts 210 feet high, between which were suspended fan-shaped antennae, consisting of 125 copper wires one foot apart. The generating plant comprises a 5-horsepower gasoline engine, a 3-kilowatt motor dynamo, a 60-cycle alternator, and step-up transformers. The transmitting and receiving appa- ratus operates successfully across . a distance of 107 miles, and with it, in one afternoon alone, 5,000 words were exchanged between Safety harbor and St. Michael. Up to the present time this wireless system has sent over 1,000,000 words. It has been so success- ful that General Greely has recommended its extension to Dutch harbor or some other point in Unalaska, pointing out that the Signal Corps wireless station at Safety harbor could work to Nunivak Island to the south over the 250 miles of sea intervening, and that the Navy Department could, by stations of suitable power on Nunivak and Unalaska Islands, perfect com- munication over the balance' of the distance, which is less than 400 miles. Similarly the signal station at Safety harbor could communicate readily with a wire- less station at a suitable point on the Asiatic shore of Bering strait, thus completing the circuit around the world by that route, as was attempted and abandoned at the time when it was first proved that cable could be made operative across the Atlantic ocean. During the year $56,935.89 was spent for Alaskan, telegrams handled by the Signal Corps alone. Of this amount, there was collected on account of Alaskan line tariffs $12,208.93, which was deposited in the Treasury of the United States, as required by law. There was also collected and turned over to other lines the sum of $17,539.81. The balance, $27,187.15, was collected by other lines for tariffs on messages sent into and out of Alaska. Of the entire volume of business, amount- ing to 55,559 messages, there were 31,020 commercial and 26,539 official messages, the latter being chiefly telegrams connected with the transaction of Govern- ment business within the territory. With the recent additions to the facilities above described there has been a rapid increase of traffic. United States cable ships. — It was found necessary that the Signal Corps should have a cable ship of its own for its submarine cable operations. With the cooperation of the Quartermaster-General of the Army, the transport Burnside has been utilized as a transport and as a cable ship in the Philippines and in Alaska, The efficiency of this transport was demonstrated dur- ing 1904 in picking up and lajring cables in ocean depths ranging from one to two miles. For several years past the repairing of Signal Corps cables along the Atlantic coast has depended upon the employment of commercial companies' cable boats, with the result that, despite every effort, cables con- nected with some of the most important defenses of the United States have been interrupted for long periods because of the inability to secure promptly a suitable boat by charter. During 1904 the Quarter- master-General of the Army purchased a boat, which has been named the Cyrus W. Field, and which is used by the Signal Corps for such work. The Field is fitted up with such cable apparatus as makes it an efficient and satisfactory boat for cable maintenance and repair. GOVERNMENTAL TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE SERVICE. 109 Other telegrapMc work of the Signal Corps. — Other work of a telegraphic chaTacter under the management of the Signal Corps comprises the operation of the telegraph and cipher bureau of the White House, which places the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy in quick and direct communication with the military and naval forces of the United States. A further development of the work of the Corps has been foujid in the organization of the Signal Corps of the National Guard. There exist, as shown by the 1904 report of the Chief Signal Officer, distinct organizations of this character, with commissioned officers and enlisted men, in California, Colorado, Con- necticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the territory of Okla- homa; while detachments under noncommissioned officers have been organized in Maryland, New Hamp- shire, Rhode Island, and the territory of Arizona. These organizations are drilled in telegraphic technique and practice, are generally equipped with apparatus, and have shown themselves able to transact a consider- able volume of telegraphic business during maneuvers and special operations of the National Guard. Telegraphy in the Weather Bureau. — An important development of the official telegraphs of the United States has been that carried on by the Weather Bu- reau of the United States Department of Agriculture, with headquarters in Washington. An idea of the extensive nature of this work may be formed from the fact that on July 1, 1903, no fewer than 2,015 places in the United States were receiving daily forecasts, 926 were in receipt of special warnings, and 7,096 were in receipt of emergency warnings, all this work being done at Government expense. By means of the tele- phone 28,251 stations were in receipt of daily forecasts and 7,602 of special warnings, while in addition 3,087 points were reached daily by means of railway tele- graphs, these being supplemented daily by an allied service by railway trains at 2,423 points, by mail at 78,164 points, and by rural free delivery service at 97,648 points. The data for this distribution were received in part through the cooperation of the prin- cipal telegraph companies, while the Weather Bureau had, at the date of its report in 1903, 421 miles of tele- graph and telephone lines. The office operates also systems of submarine cable, as, for example, 9 miles from Key West, Fla., to the storm warning and vessel reporting station on Sand Key Island, Fla.; 23i miles of submarine cable from Point Reyes Light, Cal., to Southeast Farallone Island, Cal.; and 8 miles of cable from Glenhaven, Mich., to connect with the storm warning display station on South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan. These are typical examples of the cable operations necessitated by the work of the Weather Bureau, ^he most notable extension to the work of the Bureau was made by means of the tele- phone, in regard to which Dr. Willis L. Moore, Chief of the Weather Bureau, in his report dated August 11, 1903, says: A marked increase (nearly 20,000) is shown in the number of places receiving forecasts by telephone without expense to the United States, and with the rapid extension of "fanners' telephone lines" (so called) opportunity is afforded for placing weather information directly in the homes of the more progressive agriculturists, as well as in the tele- phone exchanges of rural centers of population, where it is posted for the benefit of the general public. The managers of these local tele- phone lines seem to be very much interested in this matter, and, with very few exceptions, have given their hearty support in making the distribution as successful as possible. It is not difficult to" secure the co- operation of these officials, as a statement of the fact that forecasts can be had gratis adds to the inducements which they can offer to prospective subscribers. The great advantages of this plan of dissem- ination are apparent when we consider the very early hour at which the production reaches the subscriber and the slight amount of labor involved in furnishing him with the information. The weather map published by the Bureau summa- rizes daily in graphic form the telegraphic work done, being a photograph, so to speak, of weather conditions prevalent over the entire country. The record is taken daily at 8 a. m. and 8 p. m. at each of the 200 stations distributed over the 3,000,000 square miles, and embodies barometric and thermometric data, as well as observations relating to wind, rain, etc. At 8.30 p. m. these reports are dispatched to Washington, with the right of way over all other telegraphic business, and from them the map and the forecasts are devel- oped each day at headquarters in Washington. The national capital is thus the central station from which the principal forecasts are sent out. Local forecasts are also issued at Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Den- ver, San Francisco, and Portland, Oreg. The fore- casts made for thirty-six or forty-eight hours are sent to the morning and afternooia papers and are pub- lished in 2,500 daily newspapers, in addition to the distribution given them as already noted. The promptness and value of the service may be inferred from the fact that in the middle Western states, from Ohio to Nebraska, 600,000 farmers obtain the morning weather forecasts by telephone thirty minutes after they are issued. The total cost of the Weather Bureau is about 11,400,000 a year, and the careful investigation of an American insurance company has shown that the annual saving to the people of the United States by this telegraph and telephone weather service is $30,000,000. It is stated that during the cold wave of 1898 fruits valued at not less than $3,400,000 were saved by the telegraphic forecasts. With regard to shipping, also, the warning service has been of great utility, for forty-five minutes after the determination of a storm warning at Washington it is brought to 110 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. the notice, or placed in the hands, of every sea captain in every lake and ocean port of the United States. It is stated that whereas formerly 75 per cent of the loss of the shipping on the Great Lakes was due to storms, now less than 25 per cent can be attributed to this cause on account of the efficiency of the storm warnings. United States Life-Saving Service. — An important and valuable branch of telegraphic and telephonic work done by the National Government is that con- stituting the operations of the United States Life- Saving Service, conducted under the administration of the Treasury Department. This service does not now maintain, and never has maintained, any tele- graph lines. The telephone is used exclusively be- tween the life-saving stations in preference to the -tele- graph; for it is more convenient, its use is more easily learned, special operators are not required, And its maintenance is easier. As is well known, the stations of the Life-Saving Service extend along the coast of the United States at intervals of but a few miles, so that the whole seaboard is under patrol, and news of a shipping disaster or similar occurrence at one point can be immediately communicated to contiguous sta- tions and the necessary aid obtained. The first lines of the Service were established in 1879, and the system has been gradually extended along the various coasts until, according to the statement of Mr. S. I. Kim- ball (for many years General Superintendent), there are now more than a thousand miles of line connecting stations with each other where they are contiguous and geographically related, and connecting isolated stations with the nearest local telephone exchange. The termini of all the lines running along the coast are either connected with or in the immediate neigh- borhood of the general telegraph systems of the coun- try, so that messages can be promptly transferred from the telephone lines to the telegraph lines and sent to any part of the country. The utility of this service is frequently tested, not only in the communication of news to the press, but also in case of shipwreck, in enabling anxious friends and relatives to get in touch with each other with a minimum of agonizing doubt and delay. Upon the plan above outlined, tHe country, or coast, is divided into 13 districts. The region of the Great Lakes is an exception to the plan, there being no sys- tem of continental lines connecting station with sta- tion, except in a few cases where such an arrangement can be advantageously effected. Most of the stations, however, are connected with telephone exchanges, giving long distance facilities in addition to local service. All the telephone lines of the Service are constructed and maintained by a superintendent of telephone lines, with the aid of a corps of seven linemen, distributed over the various coasts of the country as the necessi- ties may require. These linemen, however, are assisted in their duties by the life-saving crews, when such assistance can be rendered without interfering with their regular duties. It is difficult, if not impos- sible, to give an adequate idea by figures of the amount of work performed by the telephone corps attached to this service. These men, it may be said, are inces- santly on duty, ready to meet the emergencies brought about by the shifting of beaches along the coast, the cutting through of gullies and inlets by severe storms, the strokes of lightning, and other troubles that tend to the interruption of constant communication over the circuits. As an illustration of the importance of the system, the following passage may be quoted from the official pamphlet entitled "Organization and Methods of the United States Life-Saving Service," published in 1894:' The telephone Imes which now extend along nearly all those portions of the coast on which contiguous stations are located make it easy to quickly concentrate the crews of two or more stations at any point where additional force is required, as in the case when several wrecks occur at the same time in the same neighborhood, and the double equip- ment at each station expedites this concentration by permitting the reinforcing crew to come unencumbered. A notable illustration of the benefit of such a combination of crews was the work achieved near Cape Henlopen in the great storm of September 10, 11, and 12 last, one of the most destructive that has ever visited our coast, when the crews of three stations, under the leadership of Captain Clampitt, of the Lewes Station, rescued the crews of 22 stranded vessels — 194 persons — by the use of every form of rescuing apphance, 23 being landed with the surfboats, 16 with the self-righting lifeboat, 135 with the breeches buoy, and 20 with the life car — not a life being lost. The telegraph and railroad systems of the country are also used to secure the services of the crews at scenes of rescue far remote from their stations. On two occasions the Cleveland crew has been called to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and Newport, Ky., a distance of 240 miles, to render aid to the sufferers from inundations in the Ohio vaUey. On the first occasion, 1,200 persons were succored; on the second, over 800. The crew of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Station, Lake Superior, was once called at night to Chocolay Beach, near Marquette, Mich., a distance of 110 miles. Proceeding by special train running at the highest attainable speed, and taking with them their beach apparatus and boat, they reached the beach at midnight, and, through a bUnding snowstorm and in spite of. bitter cold, were able to board two stranded vessels and rescue 24 persons after every effort of the citizens had failed. Shorter journeys of from IS to 30 miles by rail are frequently undertaken, especially where the rail- way skirts the shore, as it does on many parts of the coast. 1 By Sumner I. Kimball, General Superintendent of the Service. Read before the committee on life-saving systems and devices. Inter- national Marine Conference, November 22, 1889; pages 28 and 29. OHAPTEE III. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEGRAPHY. Pioneers of telegraphy. — From the earliest dawn of civilization there has been an insistent effort to develop and perfect means of communication for the exchange of intelligence. The fundamental idea of society is that of intercourse, and it might be said that the place of any people in the scale of civilization may be deter- mined by the extent to which it has cultivated and perfected its facilities for intercommunication. Among some or the most barbaric and primitive races, how- ever, ingenious methods for signaling have long been known, and in the earliest historical records of the leading nations of antiquity are to be found frequent notes of the speed with which dispatches could be sent, signals exchanged, and warnings given over great expanses of country by various noises, columns of smoke by day, bonfires on mountain peaks by night, and other devices, some of which to-day remain as obscure in their nature as they appear to have been certain in their results. Many instances are noted in which the news of a great event has apparently been circulated hundreds of miles away simultaneously with its occurrence. From the scientific standpoint it ■seems certain that in the strict sense of the term no telegraphic agency intervened and that in each case the rumors were nothing more than the expression of natural foreboding or instinctive prophecy. Dis- missing telepathy from consideration, it would seem "that the earliest systematic telegraphic work was that done by means of signaling semaphores, which to this day remain extensively in use on railroads and frequently under electrical control. With regard to the use of electricity or magnetism, -Galileo, in 1632, referred to an occult art by means of which sympathetic magnetic needles, though widely separated, could be made to exchange signals for pur- poses of communicating intelligence, but this was merely the echo of a tradition or superstition that had -come down from the ancients. The discovery of an electrostatic discharge from a body electrified by friction was eagerly seized upon as a means of signaling, and as early as 1727 Stephen Gray made an electric discharge from an excited glass tube ■situated at one end of the line, to pass over a circuit some seven hundred feet in length, suspended in the air by silk threads, and thus effect the motion of a pith Taall electroscope located at the other end. It was obvious that the delicate movements of the electro- scope could be made to constitute a system of signals. Twenty years later Professor Watson constructed a telegraph line that extended from the rooms of the Royal Society of London over the house tops and used the earth as the return circuit. He employed the dis- charge of a Leyden jar or condenser as the current for operating the crude signals. A year later Benjamin Franklin sent crude signals across the Schuylkill river at Philadelphia. Cumulative results from these experiments set many minds working upon the prob- lem of an electric telegraph, and in 1753 a practical suggestion of this nature was made by an unknown correspondent of the Scot's Magazine, who advanced the idea of having parallel wires corresponding to the letters of the alphabet extended between two given places. In 1774 an actual working telegraphic line of this kind was established at Geneva, Switzerland, by Le Sage, who had 24 wires, insulated in glass tubes, buried in the earth, and employed an ordinary fric- tional machine to deliver a charge to the wires. Such work remained, however, purely experimental and fruitless until the discovery of the primary voltaic bat- tery by Volta enabled investigators to dispense with the use of frictional machines and placed in the hands of inventors and physicists a readily available source of current. From this new point of departure successful ad- vances were soon made. In 1812 Professor Soemer- ing, of Munich, brought out an electro-chemical tele- graph which was highly ingenious. Employing the discovery of the power of a current from a battery to decompose water, he caused the passage of the current over the circuit to evolve gas in the appropriate tube at the other end of the line, thus indicating any one of the 35 numerals and letters. About the same time similar work was done independently by Doctor Coxe, of Philadelphia, the signals being distinguished at the far end of the line through the decomposition of water or of a metallic salt. Ingenious as these methods were,, it is obvious that a telegraph system comprising be- tween 30 and 40 circuits and depending for its signals upon the evolution of a tiny bubble of gas could never be very practical. Another German, Schweigger, reduced this ponderous system of 35 wires to 2, the letters being indicated not simply by the bubbles, but (in) 112 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. by l.he time elapsing between their appearance. A remarkable step forward was made in 1816 by Ron- alds, of England, who invented a telegraph system in which he used clocks, one at each end of an under- ground wire, In front of each clock was suspended, from an insulated wire, a pith ball electrometer. These balls were discharged as a brass plate or hand capable of being moved along the signal disk was made to touch a given letter, so that a series of signals could thus be transmitted equivalent to letters or numerals. Ronalds worked a line not less than 8 miles in length, but the transmission was slow. Upon the communication of his plan to the British Admi- ralty, he was informed that "telegraphs of any kind are now wholly unnecessary" and that "no other than the one now in use would be adopted." The English Government at this time was using sema- phoric telegraphs, which had been improved by an Englishman named Murray from the telegraphs of like character employed by the French. A significant advance was made in 1819, when the physicist Romagnesi discovered the deflecting influ- ence of a galvanic current on a free magnetic needle, causing it to take a position at right angles to the flow or direction of the current ; the direction of the current being reversed the deflection of the needle was also reversed. This and the great discovery by Oersted of the production of magnetism by electricity served as the basis of the needle telegraph system, as well as the groundwork of all modern telegraphy. In 1820 Ampere, in a memoir to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris, disclosed the plan of an electric telegraph which depended on the deflection of a mag- netic needle surrounded by coils of wire through which the currents were passed. He remarked significantly that the communication between the battery and the different coils was to be opened and closed by means of keys, but he still based his apparatus upon the employ- ment of as many wires and magnetic needles as there were letters. In 1820 Schweigger made the interesting discovery that the deflection of the needle might be increased by coiling an insulated wire as a helix and thus conducting the current around the needle from end to end; while in 1821 Arago noted that a piece of soft iron thus surrounded by a helix of wire, when a current of electricity was passed through it, became a temporary magnet. In 1825 Sturgeon, of London, found that by loosely coiling copper wire around a varnished piece of insulated soft iron bent into the form of a horseshoe, the successive coils being msulated from each other, he could at will, upon pass- ing a current through these coils, convert the soft iron into an electro-magnet and could as quickly demagne- tize it. This provided means for reciprocal motion and for so controlling the movements of an armature in front of the electro-magnet that it acted in response to current impulse from a distant point, thus giving signals that might be taken by either the eye or the ear, or even be impressed upon paper. It will be seen that, while no practical telegraph had yet been brought out, successive experimental steps had developed the sources of curretit, effective circuits, and electro- mechanical and electro-chemical means, so that, by forces liberated or utilized at one end of the circuit, signals could be received and recorded at the other end many miles away. The year 1837 was a notable one in the history of telegraphy, for the reason that Wheatstone and Cooke, in England, utilizing the work of Oersted and his con- temporaries, devised an ope^-ative needle telegraph with right and left deflection, and put it into actual service in 1838 on the line of the London and Blackwall Railway, one of the first of England's steam railroads. They employed two conductors and two needles. At almost exactly the same time Steinheil, in Germany, discovered that a good electric connection could be made with the ground at each end of a single line, so that the return circuit or wire was no longer needed, while the resistance of the line was greatly reduced. Simultaneously Morse, in America, was doing his great work, and in 1837 was able to make a public exhibition of apparatus whose conception dated back to 1835. Prof. S. F. B. Morse was a man of typical American versatility, one of the fathers of American art, as well as one of the founders and the first presi- dent of the National Academy of Design. His fame rests, however, upon his electro-magnetic telegraph, and, while his share in this and even his originality has been bitterly contested and the essentials of the art have been claimed for his distinguished associates. Professors Henry and Alfred Vail, it is impossible to deny that from Morse sprang the original conception and that by him much of the original work was done. Through struggle and privation his persistent and per- severing efforts carried the invention to the point where it became a practical and invaluable art. The status of Morse in regard to the telegraph has been admirably set forth as follows by the late James D. Reid:' Morse's entrance into the circle of inventors was sudden and unex- pected. . . . He was a painter, educated indeed in general electric science to the extent attainable by collegiate instruction and intimacy with professional teachers, but having never pursued its study with reference to practical results. He entered now not so much to discover, although even in this he has earned a permanent fame, as to invent and combine. He brought into use the painter's art . . the blend- ing, the combining of things known. He took familiar elements, and, with a dexterity which looks like inspiration, put them together. He then invented a language by which they could find expression. Up to his time it is well known that there had been practically no telegraphic language. Morse gave the alphabet of that language, and it is to-day acknowledged and employed by all nations as the telegraph idiom of the world. There was also, as all know, up to Morse's time no recording telegraph. Morse also gave that, and it is in preferential use by every nation on the earth. ^ The Telegraph in America, page 77. A MAIN OPERATING TELEGRAPH ROOM. AUTOMATIC REPEATER EQUIPMENT IN TELEGRAPH OPERATING ROOM. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEGRAPHY. 113 With regard to another important step, the relay, Reid ^ has also the following : Morse made his discovery with the relay in 1836. It was the discov- ery of a means by which the current which through distance from its source had become feeble could be reinforced oi; renewed by its own action. It made transmission from one point on a main line, through indefinitely great distances and through an indefinite number of branch lines, and to an indefinite number of stations and registration at them all, by the manipulation of a single operator at a single station, both possible and practicable. It was not until 1837 that two of his instruments were put in operation at the ends of a short line. In the earlier stages of his work Morse had thought it necessary to embody the signs to be recorded or printed in a kind of type which would regulate the opening and closing of the circuit, in order to mark or imprint cor- responding points or signs upon a card or strip of paper at the desired intervals of time. For this purpose- he made a quantity of type, some few pieces of which are still preserved, but in his more perfected apparatus this plan was abandoned. In 1837 Morse filed his caveat in the United. States Patent Office and six months later applied for a patent, which he obtained in 1840. His first completed instrument for recording was tested in 1835, and a model of the relay was shown to a few persons in that year and in 1836. The apparatus shown to Alfred Vail in 1837 was already in such promising and operative condition that the offer of pecuniary and mechanical assistance was immediately made to Morse by the Messrs. Vail, for which assistance Morse assigned to Vail one-fourth interest in the patents. A Morse instrument made at the Speedwell iron works of the Vail family at Morristown, N. J., was put in experi- mental operation over three wires of copper circuit carried around a room, and on January 24, 1838, this apparatus was shown in operation at the University of New York in Washington Square. A few weeks later it was inspected by the Committee of Science and Arts of Franklin Institute, whose report may be taken as authoritative of the stage of development and as evi- dence of the fact that telegraphy had reached a practical stage. The report says: The instrument was exhibited to them in the hall of the institute, and every opportunity given by Mr. Morse and his associate, Mr. Alfred Vail, to examine it carefully and to judge of its operation. The instru- ment may be briefly described as follows: (1) There is a galvanic bat- tery of sixty pairs of plates, set in action by a solution of sulphate of copper. (2) The poles of this battery can be connected at pleasure with a circuit of copper wire, which in the experiments we witnessed^ was 10 miles in length. The greater part of the wire was wound round two cylinders, and the coils insulated from one another by being covered with cotton thread. (3) In the middle of this circuit of wire- that is, at what was considered virtually a distance of 5 miles from the battery— was the register. In this there is an electro-magnet made of a bar of soft iron bent into the form of a horseshoe, and surrounded by coils of the wire which forms the circuit. The keeper of this magnet 'The Telegraph in America, page 78. is at the short end of a bent lever, at the end of the longer arm of which is a fountain pen. When the keeper is drawn against the magnet, the pen comes in contact with a roll of paper wound round a cylinder, and makes a mark with ink upon this paper. While the telegraph is in operation, the cylinder which carries the paper is made to revolve slowly upon its axis by an apparatus like a kitchen jack, and is, at the same time, moved forward, so that the pen, if constantly in contact with the paper, would describe a spiral or helix upon its surface. (4) Near the battery, at one of the stations, there is an interruption in the circuit, the ends of the separated wire entering into two cups, near to each other, containing mercury. Now, if a small piece of bent wire be introduced, with an end in each cup, the circuit will be completed, the electro-magnet at the other station will be set in action, the keeper will be drawn against it, and the pen will make a mark upon the revolving paper. On the other hand, when the bent wire is removed from the cups, the circuit wiU be interrupted, the electro-magnet will instantly cease to act, the keeper will, by its weight, recede a small distance from the magnet, the other end of the lever will rise and lift the pen from the paper, and the marking will cease. (5) The successive connec- tions and interruptions of the circuit are executed by means of an ingenious contrivance for depressing the arch of copper wire into the cups of mercury, and raising it out of them. This apparatus could not be described intelligibly without a figure, but its action was simple and very satisfactory. (6) Two systems of signals were exhibited, one representing numbers, the other letters. The numbers consist of nothing more than dots made on the paper, with suitable spaces intervening. Thus would represent 325, and may either indicate this number itself, or a word in a dictionary, prepared for the purpose, to which the number is attached. The alphabetical signals are ,made up of combinations of dots and of lines of different lengths. There are several subsidiary parts of this telegraph which the committee have not thought it nectesary to mention particularly. Among these is the use of a second electro-magnet at the register, to give warning by the ringing of a bell, and to set in motion the appa- ratus for turning the cyhnder. The operation of the telegraph, as exhibited to us, was very satisfactory. The power given to the magnet at the register, through a length of wire of 10 miles, was abundantly sufficient for the movements required to mark the signals. The com- munication of this power was instantaneous. The time required to make the signals was as short, at least, as that necessary in the ordi- nary telegraphs. It appears to the committee, therefore, that the possibility of using telegraphs upon this plan in actual practice is not to be doubted, though difficulties may be anticipated which could not be tested by the trials made with the model. One of these relates to the insulation and protection of the wires, which are to pass over many miles of distance to form the circuits between the stations. In 1837 Morse had made a report to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States with regard to his telegraph system, and in the following year it was exhibited before the President of the United States and his Cabinet. Morse now attempted to secure aid from Congress for the construction of a line about 40 miles in length between Washington and Baltimore, and finally a bill was passed by a small majority appropriating $30,000 for this purpose. This line was duly constructed, and on May 24, 1844, Miss Ells- worth, daughter of the United States Commissioner of Patents, sent over it the memorable message, "What hath God wrought!" A short while afterwards the National Democratic Convention, sitting in Baltimore, nominated Polk for President, and the immediate transmission of the news by telegraph to Washington not only caused a sensation, but helped the young 114 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. invention in many other ways. During the session of 1844-45 Congress made an appropriation of about $8,000 to keep the system in operation during the year, and placed it under the supervision of the Postmaster- General. A tariff of one cent for every four characters was instituted, and Messrs. Alfred Vail and J. H. Rog- ers were appointed operators under Professor Morse as superintendent. The Government declined, however, to go any further in its assistance, and also refused to piu-chase the Morse telegraph for $100,000, the price at which it was offered by the inventor and his associates. Thus, contrary to the practice prevailing in Europe, the telegraphs reverted to private hands and have so remained up to the present time. Commercial developments. — The early days of teleg- raphy as an industry in the United States witnessed the usual difficulties and disasters that every new art encounters. The growth of business was naturally attended also by a great many rivalries and compe- titions. The first chapter of the American commercial telegraphic development, summing up all the pioneer work of whatever character, may be said to have closed with the formation of the Western Union Telegraph Company, which in 1856 consolidated a large part of the telegraphic systems of the country. No sooner had Morse shown his system to be operative and succeeded in enlisting capital than other inventions and devices also found their supporters, and it took several years before the chaos of conflicting claims and methods could be reduced to system and the best types of apparatus could establish their superiority. The Morse system has always been based essentially upon the operation of a lever key, the depression and raising of which, opening and closing the circuit, causes a series of longer and shorter electrical impulses to pass over the wire, thus making corresponding clicks with the sounder or imprinting themselves on tape as dots and dashes, the nature and sequence of which translate themselves into letters and numerals. But from the very first other principles competed with this simple manual plan, and some of them remain operative to the present day, though, strange as it may seem, after three-quarters of a century of tremendous electrical development the whole great telegraphic system of the world is still based primarily and essen- tially upon the skill of the human hand — i. e., upon manual operation as distinguished from mechanical transmission. In other words, telegraphy remains a handicraft. Machine telegraphy was, however, like chemical telegraphy, given a very early trial, and some of the companies competing with the Morse system based their claims to public support upon the employ- ment of printing apparatus, such as the Hughes and Phelps, and, perhaps more notably the House, upon which patents were granted in 1846 and in 1852. Some idea of the ability of the House mechanism may be formed from the fact that its capacity has been rated at from 1,800 to 2,600 words an hour; indeed, a press report containing 3,000 words, more or less abbreviated, has been sent by it in the same time. Two men were required for the reception or transmission of such a message, one known as the "grinder," to give the machinery motion by 'turning a crank, and the other to act as the operator. Some of these operators be- came so expert and highly trained that, even when the type wheel was performing at the rate of 6,000 revolutions per hour, they could calculate the varia- tion of time between strokes, and read messages on the House printer from the sounds these made. Such automatic or machine printing systems have attracted attention from time to time, and several are now before the public as competitors for favor. None of them, however, has been able to secure the enthusi- astic approval of telegraphic authorities in America, although elaborate and continued experiments have been made over long circuits, and the only one in general employment outside of the Morse system is the more or less antiquated Wheatstone, in which mes- sages are prepared by perforating tape by hand punches, the tape being afterwards run through machines permitting signals to be transmitted, which, upon being taken off at the other end of the long cir- cuit, give a record in dots and dashes in ink on a strip of stiff paper. A speed of 400 words a minute is attainable with the perforated tape run through a Wheatstone automatic transmitter at high speed, the receiver at the distant end giving a clear and distinct impression of the signals. This speed is, however, only attainable on circuits of moderate length, say 200 miles of overhead fine. As compared with such rapid work the average rate by hand of from 25 to 50 words a minute seems very slow. This slowness is offset, of course, by the time spent by the Wheatstone oper9,tor in preparatory punching; but an enormously increased amount of telegraph business can be transmitted by the machine method over the same wire, and great economy is thus obtained in the time during which the circuit is occupied for the transmittal of a message. The assertion is made by the advocates of automatic and high speed telegraphy that, given favorable con- ditions, such systems would enable a large propor- tion of the mail matter now sent by trains to be put on the wires with enormously increased expedition. Thus the written contents of a whole mail bag from New York to Chicago, if handled by automatic or machine telegraph, could be sent over the circuit between the two cities in one or two hours, so that a letter written at the seaboard in the morning could be delivered to a merchant on the banks of Lake Michigan before his lunch hour. Automatic high speed tele- graph systems, in which speeds of 1,500 to 2,000 words per minute are attained, have usually employed at the receiving end chemically prepared paper, upon which the current by its decomposing effect traces the **^-*,/g.v^""- ^, NEW FAST STOCK TICKER. TVPEWRITING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEGRAPHY. 115 dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet. One of the chemical solutions used for this paper is iodide of potassium, the current setting free the iodine, which appears as brownish characters upon the paper strip. The inventors of automatic systems maintain that all this is feasible and should have been carried out long ago; while, on the other hand, the managers of large telegraph systems, although permitting their wires to be used for such experimental work, assert that the practical difficulties are too serious to be over- come, and that the key and the sounder associated with the Morse alphabet remain to-day the necessary foimdation of the commercial telegraphic art. With one of the modern machine telegraphs, the ingenious Buckingham system, over one and a half million mes- sages have been transmitted, and a record has been made of 2,429 words between New York and Chicago in slightly less than twenty-four minutes. In this system the messages are actually received in type- written form on message blanks and are thus ready for instant delivery. One striking improvement has been the invention of duplex, quadruplex, and multiplex telegraphy. In duplex telegraphy two distinct messages are simulta- neously transmitted in opposite directions over a single wire. In diplex, two messages are transmitted over one wire at the same time in the same direction. The next step made was due largely to the work of Edison, and was that of enabling one wire to carry two mes- sages at the same time from each end of the line. A number of working circuits in America are thus quad- ruplexed, and the "phantom circuits" thus created effect an enormous saving in line construction. It has, indeed, been asserted that such saving amounts to as much as fifteen or twenty millions of dollars in the United States alone. A number of multiplex telegraph systems have been brought out, although very few are apparently opera- tive or in practical use. Among the most notable are those with which the names of Gray and Delany have been associated. Some depend upon musical tones, which serve as the vehicle of an equal number of sepa- rate telegraphic messages. These tones are sent over the line in the form of rapid interruptions of current obtained by means of tuning forks, vibrated auto- matically by electro-magnets. Such harmonic sys- tems, although admirable as beautiful inventions, have no prominent place in the art. A more practical development which has been car- ried out on both sides of the Atlantic consists of the synchronous system in multiplex telegraphy, such as that of Delany, in which trailing fingers or arms passing over the face of disks at each end of the line are main- tained in synchronous relationship. The single line wire between the two disks is led to the different por- tions of each disk in such a manner that as the two arms travel around they can distribute electrical impulses successively to each section. Through this division or dissection of the line, say into as many as thirty-six separate parts, it is feasible to transmit with virtual sintultaneity 36 separate messages. This ingenious system has never been pushed to quite such an extent, but it has been found possible to send several mes- sages simultaneously in both directions. Obviously either the arm may travel or the disk upon which it makes contact may revolve, the result in each case being the placing simultaneously in contact of cor- responding parts of the disk, so as to give the sectors and the operators working them momentary use of the wire in swift succession. Aside from methods of sending dispatches, a great deal of experiment was devoted in the early days to the insulation of circuits. The idea of burying wires underground was taken up at the very outset, but the practice was soon adopted of raising the wires attached to insulated arms, brackets, or knobs on poles. In this exposed position, especially in wet and foggy weather, the current leakage from the line rendered the effective transmission of signals very difficult. Both copper and iron wire was used in the first circuits, but copper was soon abandoned on account of undue elongation and lack of tensile strength, and iron wire came into common use. On many circuits the iron wire was fastened to the bare poles with iron staples, such poor insulation resulting that the cutting down of every second pole was actually carried out in order to render the line operative. Some of the circuits were insulated with tar ; in one or two cases they were coated with bees- wax. In a short time insulators fastened to the cross arms by wooden pins were developed. As early as 1848 one of the contracts for circuits in Maryland, to be built at a cost of $300 a mile for a single wire line, specified that there should be 20 poles to the mile; that the wire should be three-ply. No. 14 iron wire, painted when put up, insulated with square glass globes set in the end of the poles, with a glass cover and with a wooden one 10 inches square, the poles them- selves to be of white oak, chestnut, or cedar. The number of poles was soon raised to 35, but this appears in other respects to have been fairly standard construc- tion. At a very early stage, before 1850, neat iron poles were adopted at Louisville. A very early form of insulation was a small iron hat, into which an iron stem with a hook was inserted and was held until hot brimstone in the hat had cooled and solidified around it. About 1849 No. 9 galvanized iron wire was adopted for some of the circuits in New England, associated with cylindrical glass globes for insulators. These globes were secured by an iron stem and hook to a wedge of wood insulated with gum shellac. Some of the earliest circuits consisted of several strands of No. 16 iron wire, twisted into a cord, the idea being to increase both strength and conductivity; but it was soon found that this form retained moisture. 116 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. which caused oxidation and disastrous weakness. Other early attempts at insulation and the construc- tion of durable circuits comprise the adoption of vul- canized rubber as insulating material in place of glass, and short poles of only 10 or 12 feet, so as to avoid high winds and atmospheric electricity. It was soon found, however, that vulcanite exposed to the atmos- phere became foul and fragile, and that the shorter poles, half the length of the ordinary, were exposed to the dangers of spring freshets, while the wires could not be carried clear of buildings, etc., which would not constitute an obstacle to circuits at the ordinary height. Submarine telegraphs. — ^The attempts to transmit signals commercially through wires laid under water date back as far as 1839. In the summer of 1842 Morse laid an insulated wire in New York harbor between Castle Garden, at the southern extremity of Manhattan Island, and Governors Island, the United States military headquarters at the junction of the East and North rivers. He employed a wire wrapped in hempen thread, well soaked with pitch and tar, and surrounded by rubber. A few signals were exchanged over this circuit, but the cable was torn up, as a great many of its successors have been, by the anchor of a boat and part of it was carried off by the sailors. This experiment was repeated at Washington in the following December and both experiments are described in a letter of Mr. Morse to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated December 23, 1844. Numerous other experiments were made in the next few years in the United States. The first submarine wire insu- lated with gutta-percha in this country was laid across Hudson river in 1849 from New York city to the New Jersey shore. This wire or cable having no pro- tection other than the gutta-percha the circuit soon broke down and was abandoned. The first subma- rine cable of any length antedated this a year, having been laid in 1847 across the strait from Dover, Eng- land, to Calais, France, the cable consisting of a copper conductor, surrounded merely by an insulating layer of gutta-percha. Although the early failures were somewhat discour- aging, the more sanguine inventors and scientists were convinced that such work could be indefinitely extended. Morse said with regard to data obtained from his own trials, "The practical experience from this law is that telegraphic communication on the electro-magnetic plan may certainly be established across the Atlantic ocean. Startling as this may now seem, I am confident the time will come when the project will be realized." The same idea appealed to many minds, but it was not until numerous shorter lengths of cable had been laid in different parts of the world, particularly those connecting England with the continent of Europe, that the larger project was pushed forward. The successful carrying out of the idea was in great measure due to the courage and indomitable perseverance of a young New York mer- chant, Cyrus W. Field, who associated with himself such well-known Americans as Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor, and Marshall 0. Roberts. Capital was pledged. Government support was enlisted, on both sides of the Atlantic surveys were made, and in 1858 the first Atlantic cable was laid between Ireland and Newfoundland. Congratulatory messages were ex- changed between Queen Victoria and the President of the United States, and the public enthusiasm on both sides of the Atlantic was intense. Very little was known, however, about the condi- tions governing the construction of cables to be low- ered to and raised from such extreme depths as 2,000 fathoms, and this first cable linking the New World with the Old lasted but a few weeks. Its sudden lapse into silence caused many people to be skeptical as to whether messages had actually been exchanged. As a matter of fact, exactly 400 messages had been transmitted between August 5, the day it was con- nected on both sides of the ocean, and September 1, the time of its interruption. Such a failure, following a long series of other ruptures and interruptions, was enough to paralyze all further effort, but the courage of Mr. Field and his associates rose superior to every obstacle, and the work was renewed in 1865, when another cable was laid across the Atlantic, only to break again in deep water before completion. A fiLnal effort was made in 1866, when a third cable was suc- cessfully and permanently laid on the bed of the ocean, while the cable laid the previous year was recovered and repaired in deep water, so as to become available for business. By this time about $12,000,000 had been invested, all of which would have been totally lost had the attempt failed, so that one need hardly grudge the handsome rewards which were enjoyed by most of the parties in the enterprise when at last their efforts brought fruition. Since 1866 the history of submarine telegraphy has been one of continuous advance, until all the oceans have been occupied by these circuits. The last defi- nite figures with regard to cables give the number as 1,750, with an aggregate length of nearly 200,000 miles, their cost being estimated at $275,000,000 and the number of messages transmitted annually over them at more than 6,000,000. The fleet maintained for laying and repairing these cables in all quarters of the globe would constitute a fair-sized navy, and several large factories in the leading countries of the world are devoted exclusively to the production of submarine cable. Submarine cables. — Considerable progress has been made in the production of submarine cable, although of late years the chief changes have been in the direc- tion of increasing the weight. At the present time such cable, as shown in illustra- tion on page 117, consists broadly of a central core or conductor of stranded copper wire, over which is a Oooduolot. OulU-percha, Jul*. Wliei. Ottter Covering Submarine Telegraph Cable, with various layers stripped. Shore-end Cable. Deep-sea Cable (for greatest depth). Deep-sea Cable (tor lesser depth). Intermediate Cable, TYPES OF SUBMARINE CABLES. 18407—06 9 118 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. layer of insulation consisting usually of gutta-percha or a gutta-percha compound. These constitute the cable proper, but are protected by a wrapping of jute or hemp, around which is placed an external sheathing of stranded iron or steel wires covered with tape and compound. The core of the cable varies in size and weight of copper according to the length of cable and the speed at which it is proposed to send signals through it. A small core permits only a slow rate of transmission, while a large one allows a high rate of speed to be obtained over the longest cable. The copper core in a modern cable will weigh as much as 650 pounds per nautical mile, with an electrical resistance of nearly If ohms the mile. In the earlier cables the gutta-percha insulation weighed about as much as the copper — that is, 400 pounds to the mile — which is now about the standard, weight for the gutta- percha. Such a cable can be worked over a distance of 1,850 nautical miles, or 2,130 statute miles, at a speed of 40 words, or about 200 letters, per minute, but lighter cables do not permit of such a high efficiency. When worked duplex, the carrying capacity of the cable is approximately 80 words, or 400 letters, per minute. The shore end or shallow water portion of such cables weighs about fifteen tons to the mile and receives especially heavy armor on account of exposure to , abrasion by rocks, ice, etc. ; but the deep sea portion weighs only one ton to the nautical mile in water, with a breaking stress of six tons, so that it would support at least six miles of its own weight when immersed. The cable to b6 laid is carried to sea in lengths of sev- eral hundred miles, coiled up in large tanks, from which the cable is paid out by means of a special, highly ingenious gear and sheaves which permit the operation to be checked at any minute. Should the work of laying the cable be interrupted — as, for exam- ple, by fog or storm, or on the approach to shore — the end is buoyed so that it can be picked up. Cable can be paid out at a speed of four to eight miles an hour, according to its size, the state of the weather, etc. In some of the earliest work ruptures were frequent, but at the present time cable laying is .|jM(|i'lly;, conducted with great celerity, even in thfe ,_Pa^^.^ ocean, where depths of 5,000 or 6,000 fathorris are ilfP^iied. Submarine signating, — ^While regular telegraphic signals can be trajismitted over short Lengths of cable, their use is impracticable with long submarine cables, and hence other means have to be adopted of causing the electrical impulses to pass from one end to the other. It might be supposed that strong and large currents would be required, but the contrary is really the case, and apparatus of the most delicate character is employed, while the volume of current is very small. Cable messages are transmitted in two ways. In one the mirror galvanometer is used. The movements of a mirror carried on the needle of the galvanometer deflect a small beam of light over a scale marked on a sheet of white paper. A current passing in one direc- tion through the galvanometer coils deflects the spot of light to the left, while a current passing in the oppo- site direction deflects it to the right. When the needle is still, the reflected beam of light from its little mirror forms a bright motionless spot on the paper; but a very minute movement of the mirror is considerably amplified by reflection, and the operator finds it easy to read the signals thus sent by the cable keys at the other end of the line. Such receiving apparatus is extremely light in weight, the mirror and the magnet weighing only from one and one-half to three grains, so that the passage of an extremely small current through the galvanometer coils will transmit visible signals. It can readily be understood that such processes, while ingenious, are easily susceptible of interruption, and that the strain upon the operator, watching in the dark, the movement of the dot of light, is quite trying. Moreover, no record is left. The other form of apparatus, due primarily, like the cable mirror gal- vanometer, to Lord Kelvin and known as the syphon recorder, has very generally superseded the mirror galvanometer, and this gives a record. In this appa- ratus the moving member affected by the passage of current through adjacent coils carries a delicate glass syphon, one end of which dips into a reservoir of ink, while the other end is brought very near to the sur- face of a traveling paper tape. The ink discharged from the syphon as it moves to and fro makes a per- manent record on the tape in a series of strokes look- ing like the line of a serrated mountain ridge, the dots being represented by upward movements and the dashes by downward movements. In the Kelvin syphon recorder, in order to compel this ink to flow out of the syphon, both the ink and the paper are oppositely electrified, the effect being to cause the ink to be ejected so as to produce a line of minute dots. The recorder sometimes failed to operate in damp weather, owing to the dissipation of the electrostatic charges on the paper and ink, but Cuttriss has suc- cessfully overcome this difficulty by keeping the syphon in constant vibratjon by means of electro- magnets in the circuit. Wireless telegra-pTiy. — The aim in wireless telegraphy is to establish electrical communication between two stations without the use of wires for conveying the impulses of the current. In its more modern accepta- tion the term is limited to aerial or space telegraphy, depending upon the use of the ether as distinguished from some of the earlier work in which bodies of water were used as media for conveying signals. Such utili- zation of water dates back to the time of Franklin, who in 1748 made some experiments across the Schuyl- HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TELEGRAPHY. 119 kill at Philadelphia, while in 1842 Morse transmitted signals across an 80-foot canal without wires. In such experiments the actual media for conveying the current were water and earth, which, like the wires, are tangible substances rather than intangible, like the tenuous ether. This work was resumed in a more practical manner nearly half a century later by Mr. Edison and other inventors in connection with train telegjraph systems, the object of which is to communicate with a moving train remote from stations or signaling points. One means of accomplishing this consisted, in a sliding or rolling contact with the train, like the trolley now employed in street cars. But the fundamental idea of wireless train telegraphy being the absence of con- tact, the Edison and other systems depend on electro- magnetic or. electrostatic induction for the transmis- sion of signals. Special apparatus installed in the signaling station sends currents at a high rate of pul- sation over wires paralleling the track along which the train passes. These impulses are transmitted to the passing train by means of either coils of wire wound lengthwise around the car or, preferably, a metallic roof or side on the car. This metallic surface thus acts as one large plate of a condenser. The sig- nals sent are readily received, and messages can be sent in like manner from the moving train to the parallel circuits along the track. In such work it has been usual to employ a telephone as the receiver of the usual dots and dashes as well as the telegraph key and buzzer, and it is stated that messages have been sent through the air in this manner between a fixed circuit and a moving train through a distance as great as 600 feet. Similar methods have been worked out by Mr. Edison and others for communication with ships at sea, with balloons, etc. A full account of such ingenious methods can be found by those interested in Maver's "American Telegraphy and Encyclopedia of the Telegraph." The wireless telegraph systems of the present day and of the period embraced in this report utilize the free ether of space. The mechanism consists of apparatus for creating electro-magnetic vibrations which are propagated at the speed of light in all directions and are of various wave lengths. These electro- magnetic waves are analogous to the vibrations im- parted to the surrounding air by a sonorous bell or tuning fork or to the ripples which, when a stone is dropped into a body of water, follow each other in rapid succession in every direction until the whole impulse has died out. Sound waves travel at the rate of 1,120 feet a second, and the number of vibrations to the second depends upon the wave length of the note struck. Such a rate of speed is very slow compared with that of wireless telegraphy, for, accepting the electro-magnetic theory of light, from the fact that light travels at 186,000 miles per second, it is seen that the etheric transmission of an electro-magnetic wave is practically instantaneous for telegraphic purposes. Wireless telegraphy depends on the ability of the apparatus at the receiving end of the line to respond sympathetically to the vibrations of the ether, just as objects attuned to the same fundamental note respond when a tuning fork is struck in its vicinity. One of the first significant demonstrations of the existence and passing of these electric waves in space was made by Prof. Joseph Henry, who, by means of disruptive spark discharges from a frictional electro- static machine on an upper floor of his house, succeeded in magnetizing needles in the cellar 30 feet below, in spite of the two floors and ceilings intervening. The definite discovery of these radiations came much later, however, and was made in 1888 by the late Heinrich Hertz in Germany. Similar studies had been made in England by Oliver Lodge, S. P. Thompson, and others. As early as 1885-86 apparatus was patented whose operation depended upon the effect produced upon particles of dust, etc., by the electric oscilla- tions. This was a primitive form of the coherer action, more closely identified and developed by Branly, and finally worked out by G.. Marconi in his now well-known system of wireless telegraphy, patents for which were applied for in June, 1896. In the Marconi system the electro-magnetic waves, produced by special high tension disruptive discharge apparatus and given off to the ether by means of wire anteimae carried up into the air for a -considerable distance, are intercepted at the remote receiving station by similar high wire antennae and brought down for registration to a coherer. This coherer consists of a small glass tube about the size of an ordinary pocket pencil. In this tube are two pole pieces of silver, to which the wires of the circuit run, and between them is a gap of about one thirty-fifth of an inch loosely filled with a mixture of nickel and silver filings or particles, to which a little mercury has been added to increase the sensitiveness. The arriving electric oscillations have the effect of drawing the filings together to form a continuous circuit, so that the resistance within the tube, high when the filings are loose, is diminished when they cohere, and a cur- rent then flows from the local battery. This closing of the coherer circuit closes also the telegraphic record- ing circuit. At the instant that the impulses received make their record the tongue, or tapper, of an electro- magnetic bell gives the tube a sharp jolt, which causes the particles to separate, and the tube is ready to receive the waves constituting the next signal. When the apparatus is properly tuned for receiving the waves, messages can be regularly transmitted and clearly received. In March, 1899, after preliminary experiments over 120 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. shorter distances, Mr. Marconi established wireless telegraphic communication between South Foreland, England, and a station near Boulogne, on the other side of the strait of Dover. His disruptive apparatus consisted of a 10-inch induction coil, by means of which he caused sparks to pass across a spark gap of about three-fourths of an inch. The waves that resulted from the electrical disturbance were given off into the ether by copper wire antennae raised by a pole 150 feet into the air. Messages were sent and received by the Morse code at the rate of 15 words a minute, the distance being 32 miles. Prof. J. A. Fleming, who was present, says: "The messages were automatically printed down in telegraphic code signals on the ordinary paper slip at the rate of 12 to 18 words a minute. Not once was there the slightest difficulty or delay in obtaining an instant reply to a signal sent." This work attracted a good deal of attention, but was eclipsed by that done on December 12, 1901, when Mr. Marconi succeeded in transmitting the three successive dots which constitute the letter S of the Morse alphabet clear across the Atlantic from the per- manent Marconi station at Poldhu, Cornwall, to a temporary station at St. Johns, Newfoundland. One year later regular dispatches were transmitted over the same etheric route, including congratulatory mes- sages between King Edward VII and the Governor- General of Canada. Since that time considerable news matter has been sent across the Atlantic by the Marconi system, but up to the time of the preparation of this report no regular commercial service had been established. Meantime, however, the Marconi and De Forest sys- tems have been installed in a large number of Atlantic steamships, which are thus enabled to communicate with tower stations along the shores of the Old World and the New and carry on in the aggregate a consider- able wireless telegraphic traffic. The steamships also maintain telegraphic communication among them- selves for business purposes, and the writer of this report was able to witness, in March, 1905, the main- tenance of communication between five such steam- ships in mid-Atlantic, the two extreme members of the group being 1,000 miles apart. In the United States, as in Europe, the development of wireless telegraphy has been quite rapid ; systems of great ingenuity and merit have been elaborated and commercially established by Dr. Lee De Forest, Prof. R. A. Fessenden, John S. Stone, and others. All the navies of the world have adopted wireless telegraphy of some kind, and, in addition to the systems named, the "telefunken" is in quite general use for such purposes in Europe as well as commercially. In that of the United States have been elaborated im- provements enabling men-of-war to communicate over distances of hundreds of miles. Th-e main desideratum at the present time is the means of placing transmitting and receiving stations in exclusive connection, so that no others can intercept the dispatches. The best work done with wireless telegraphy up to the present time has been across large bodies of water rather than on land, and various ingenious theories are advanced to account for this phenomenon. Remark- able results have nevertheless been secured on land. Mr. Marconi, in Europe, has transmitted messages from England across the continent of Europe to Italy, and during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 Doctor De Forest transmitted messages from St. Louis to Chicago. During the late Russo-Japanese War a very considerable use was made of wireless teleg- raphy by both combatants, and it was also used most successfully by the London Times, whose special cor- respondent on board a small steamer equipped with a De Forest apparatus was able to send dispatches from the scene of action around Port Arthur direct to the Chinese coast. This work was, however, stopped summarily by the Russian military authorities, and the important question of the right of a newspaper or any neutral to establish within the sphere of conflict means of communication which could be used to the serious disadvantage of one or the other of the powers at war has, with cognate matters, become the subject of diplomatic discussion. PART 111 MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS (121) PART III. MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM AND POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. The statistics included in this report cover practi- cally all municipal electric fire alarm systems in opera- tion in the United States during any part of the year ending December 31, 1902. No previous inquiry of the kind has been made in the United States serving as a basis of comparison, and the present inquiry was restricted to systems depending upon the application of the electric telegraph or telephone. The present report deals with electric fire alarm systems and police patrol systems, which are frequently worked together in com- mon by one board or department, but which are .Ijere treated, as far as possible, in separate categories; flo cognizance was taken of fire brigades, engines, ' etc. The data presented refer exclusively to systems oper- ated under municipal control, with the exception of the fire alarm system in use at the Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, which is owned and operated by the United States Government. The earliest records dealing with the subject show that fire alarms and fire extinction were matters which until the last century were left very largely to private and volunteer effort. But even in the days when the fire apparatus was manned by organized citizens or by persons acting upon the impulse of the moment, the appliances and the alarm systems were often owned or subsidized by the communities. Thus, fire wardens appear among the officials of New York city as early as 1683, since which time there has been a steady tend- ency to remove fire administration from private hands and concentrate it in those of the municipality. Never- theless the present report, which includes the statistics of 764 systems, shows wide variations in the municipal methods adopted for the government of the fire alarm and fire extinction service. The boards or departments of administration to which these systems were intrusted are shown in Table 1. Table 1. — Electric fire alarm systems, grouped according to boards or departments of administration: 1903. BOARDS OR DEPARTMENTS OF ADMINISTRATION. Total. Administrative bodies Board of aldermen and police and iire commissioners Board of assessors Board ot commissioners for public utilities Board of fire commissioners (or commissioner) Board of fire engineers Board of public safety Board of public works Board of selectmen and board of engineers Board of trustees elected by voluntary firemen Chief of fire department and city electrician City council and chief of fire department City council and fire marshal city council and superintendent of fire and police departments Committee appointed by citizens at town meetings Department of electricity Department of fire and police patrol telegraph Department of police and public property Department of wire inspection Fire and police board Fire and water committee of the sanitary improvement commission. Fire department (chief, committee, or director of ) Fire marshal Joint board of fire wardens and selectmen : Mayor and city council Mayor, city council, and fire department Ordnance Department of United States Army Police and fire commission Police and fire department Superintendent of fire alarm and police patrol telegraph Water department , Water and light department Not reported Systema. 764 341 1 - 2 10 62 67 36 6 1 2 2 4 5 1 2 21 1 1 2 1 1 141 2 1 20 1 1 12 1 4 1 1 10 From Table 1 it appears that 341 tire alarm systems, or nearly 50 per cent of the total number, were under the direction of administrative bodies; these included boards of aldermen, boards of selectmen, citj^ councils, boards of burgesses, trustees, etc. — bodies which are almost universally of an elective character. In the larger cities of the United States, however, it is now an almost invariable rule that the fire department shall be administered by an officer or officers nominated and appointed b}^ the mayor, with or without the confirma- tion of the city council. There is also a growing tend- ency' to intrust the supervision of the fire alarm and police patrol systems, as well as of other electrical functions, to a department of electricity. (123) 124 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. The authorities, other than administrative bodies, in charge of fire alarm systems include 141 fire depart- ments, 67 boards of fire engineers, 62 boards of fire commissioners (or a single commissioner), 36 boards of public safety, 21 departments of electricity, 20 mayors with the assistance of the city council, and 12 police and fire commissions. This heterogeneity is due largely to the fact that so many of the fire alarm systems are in cities and towns of less than 25,000 population. Table 2 shows the number of fire alarm systems in- stalled during each year, from 1852 to 1902, inclusive. Table 2. — Electric fire alarm systems installed each year. YEAR. Number. YEAK. Number. YEAR. Number. Total 764 1886 22 23 11 17 10 3 10 8 5 3 6 7 8 9 3 6 9 4 1868 10 1885 1867 1866 4 25 19 26 25 33 32 82 36 37 53 41 50 44 44 40 38 1884 2 1901 1883 1865 3 1900 1882 1864 1 1899 1881 1863 1898 1880 1862 1 1897 1879 1861 1878 1860 1895 1877 1859 1894 1876 1868 1 1875 1857 1892 1874 1856 ] 873 1855 1 1872 1854 1 1889 1871 1863 1888 1870 1852 1 1869 It will be observed from Table 2 that in the earliest decade, namely, from 1852 to 1862, only 4 systems of fire alarm telegraph were installed. From 1862 to 1872 greater activity was evinced, 40 systems being in- stalled. The decade from 1872 to 1882 showed a still further increased appreciation and demand on the part of the public, no fewer than 62 systems being installed. The rate of increase was well maintained from 1882 to 1892, these ten years witnessing the installation of no fewer than 299 systems, or about 30 per year. In the eleven years from 1892 to 1902, inclusive, the number of new systems was proportionately greater, reaching 359, or nearly 33 new plants per year. In view of the fact that all the larger cities had already been equipped, the swelling number would indicate that as time has gone by the improvements of the system and the in- creasing introduction of automatic features have -ren- dered the service available for many of the smaller communities. No census records prior to 1902 are on file with re- gard to the municipal electric fire alarm systems of the United States, so that comparison with the statistics presented in Table 3 is not possible. This table shows the construction and equipment and number of fire alarms for cities of specified population. Table 3.— ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS, GROUPED ACCORDING TO POPULATI' CENTAGE EACH ITEM IS OF TOTAL: 1902. ON OF CITIES, AND THE PER- POPULATION GROUPS. Total. 100, GOD and over. 50,000 and under 100, 000. 25,000 and under 50, 000. 10,000 and under 26, 000. Under 10, 000. 100, 000 and over. PER CENT OF TOTAL. 50,000 and under 100,000. 26,000 and under 50,000. 10,000 and under 25,000. Under 10,000. Number of systems Oyerhead construction: Miles of pole line- Owned Leased Wire mileage — Total -■ Single wire Single wire In cables Underground construction: Street miles of conduit — Owned Leased Wire mileage — Total Single wire Single wire in cables Number and character of boxes or signaling stations: Signaling Number on poles or posts All other Annunciating Number on poles or posts All other Special telephones Fire alarms received Central office equipment: Manual transmitters Automatic transmitters Receiving registers, all kinds Receiving circuits Transmitting circuits Telegraph switchboards, number Number of sections Total capacity Telephone switchboards, number Number of sections Total capacity Single circuits Central station power equipment: Engines — Number Horsepower Dynamos — Number Horsepower Motor generators and dynamotors— Nimiber Horsepower Battery cells- Primary Storage 764 2,798 10, 952 28,202 27, 721 481 414 445 11,433 526 10,907 37, 739 34,776 2,963 1,900 86,070 165 295 462 1,973 1,361 214 259 2,407 62 153 6,480 442 7 68 19 61 81 47 57, 010 49, 327 36 2,682 14, 172 13,849 323 378 316 10,647 387 10, 260 16,028 14,880 1,148 1,432 40,548 91 29 166 752 440 65 84 1,401 39 105 5,911 32 350 1,123 2,756 2,738 ■17 19 46 461 42 419 1,787 1,357 430 262 1,818 2,866 2,837 29 5 25 127 36 91 4,666 4,242 423 125 1,760 10 46 49 289 265 21 25 212 9 28 374 163 11, 716 18 76 84 344 269 226 7 23,189 16, 364 4,735 10,469 4,793 8,960 524 2,877 4,475 4,369 106 18 51 177 65 122 7,159 6,609 650 16 16 115 15,499 25 103 80 426 297 71 81 463 5 10 66 97 10, 713 9,629 394 793 2,452 3,934 3,928 6 2 7 21 6 15 6,100 5,688 412 77 65 1,547 11 42 74 162 100 32 33 106 2 2 53 341 13,580 3,905 31.1 24.5 50.3 50.0 67.2 91.3 71.0 93.1 73.6 94.1 42.5 42.8 38.7 76.4 47.7 88.7 9.8 36.5 38.1 32.3 25.7 32.4 58.2 62.9 68. 6 91.2 28.6 86.2 10.5 62.8 71.6 46.8 40.7 33.2 4.9 12.5 10.2 9.8 9.9 3.5 4.6 10.3 4.0 8.0 10.0 9.6 14.5 6.6 10.3 6.5 16.3 10.8 14.7 19.5 9.8 9.7 8.8 14.5 18.3 5.8 14.3 3.5 5.3 8.9 9.9 6.4 8.3 21.2 9.4 16.6 10.1 10.2 6.0 1.2 5.6 1.1 6.8 0.8 12.4 12.2 14.3 8.6 13.8 11.6 25.8 18.6 17.4 19.0 16.3 13.9 9.4 11.3 5.2 1.3 0.9 5.3 3.9 3.7 19.2 8.4 18.2 18.7 26.3 15.9 15.8 22.0 2.4 11.5 1.6 10.5 1.1 19.0 19.0 18.6 17.2 19.0 6.0 18.2 16.1 34.9 17.7 21.6 21.8 33.2 31.3 19.2 8.1 6.6 0.9 22.0 14.3 1.7 15.8 7.8 6.2 10.6 18.8 19.5 51.6 28.3 22.4 13.9 14.1 1.3 0.5 1.6 0.2 1.1 0.1 16.1 16.4 13.9 82.8 81.0 100.0 3.4 10.0 7.1 14.2 16.4 8.2 7.4 15.0 12.7 4.4 3.2 1.3 0.8 77.1 42.8 8.6 63.1 21.6 17.0 23.8 7.9 ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. 125 Table 3 shows a total of 764 systems, of which 36 were in cities having a population of 100,000 and over, 37 in cities of 50,000 and under 100,000, 76 in cities of 25,000 and under 50,000, 221 in cities of 10,000 and under 25,000, and Sdi in cities and towns under 10,000. These systems had in the aggregate 2,798 miles of pole line owned and 10,952 leased, with a total wire mileage of 28,202 miles, consisting of 27,721 miles of single wire and 481 miles of single wire in cables, engaged in the receipt and distribution of fire alarms. That the practice of putting such important wires as those of the fire alarm telegraph underground has rapidly in- creased of late years is indicated by the fact that, in addition to this overhead construction, these S3'stems included 414 miles of conduit owned and 445 miles leased by municipalities, giving shelter to 11,433 miles of wire, of which 526 miles were single wire and 10,907 miles were wire in cables; thus, out of a total wire mile- age of 39,635 miles, 28.8 per cent was underground. Distributed along the circuits thus enumerated, there were reported 37,739 signaling boxes or stations, of which 34,776 were installed on poles or posts, and 2,963 " all other," or those located in booths, buildings, etc. There were also 93 annunciating boxes reported. It has already been shown that there were 39,635 miles of wire in the systems, and as the total number of signaling stations and annunciating boxes was 37,832, the distribu- tion of apparatus by means of which alarms can be sent in to the central oflBce was evidently very nearly one to the mile of operative circuit. If to this signaling and annunciating apparatus be added the 1,900 special tele- phones reported, the stations would slightly exceed one per mile of wire. Over this apparatus and wire mileage 85,070 fire alarms are reported to have been sent or received during the year ending December 31, 1902, which would give an average of between two and three per station and per mile of wire. It will be understood, of course, that these figures for fire alarms sent in or received do not include retransmission from central over other circuits from headquarters to the scattered engine houses, hook and ladder companies, etc. ; for this reason it ie impossible to determine the aggregate number of alarms received, transmitted, repeated, etc., by the fire alarm departments. Nor can any definite inference be drawn with regard to the number of boxes per mile of circuit in regard to the density of popula- tion or of buildings, for the general reason that as a measure of safety and precaution it is the practice not to put adjacent boxes on the same circuit, the object being to prevent interruption of service on any given line of communication, and also to lessen the proba- bility of any two boxes on the same circuit being "pulled " at once for the same fire. Table 3 presents also a variety of data with regard to the central office equipment. By reference to the table it will be seen that there were 165 manual trans- mitters, 295 automatic transmitters, and 452 receiving registers of all kinds, grouped at the various central offices or fire headquarters. These were associated with 1,973 receiving circuits and 1,361 transmitting circuits, for the operation of which there have been installed 214 telegraph switchboards, with 259 sections and a total capacity of 2,407 circuits, working in coop- eration with 62 telephone switchboards, with 153 sec- tions, and a total capacity of 6,480 drops or lines. The single circuits extending from the headquarters and returning thereto were reported as 442 in number. There are a large number of so-called fire a.larm sj^s- tems that consist in ringing a central bell or merely blowing a shrill whistle at some well-known central point, and it is probable that such an arrangement exists in some localities for calling the jjolice or the vil- lage constable. No so-called fire alarm or police patrol systems were considered b}^ the Bureau of the Census as falling within the scope of the inquiry unless the calls were sent in through a box over a single circuit and received at a fire or police central where at least one receiving register or other device was located. For the operation of the fire alarm systems reported a large variety of apparatus and methods are in use, although battery current is in all the main reliance and the chief source of energy supply. According to the returns included in Table 3, the central office power or current equipment in 1902 comprised 57,010 primary and 49,327 storage battery cells. The primary batteries are usually of simple type, depending merely upon the renewal of acid or of such materials as copper or zinc, and the storage batteries are charged, in most cases, from an exterior power plant. This is shown by the fact that among the 764 systems there were reported only 19 dynamos generating current, with a total capacity of 51 horsepower; 7 steam or gas engines, with a total capacity of 58 horsepower; and '81 motor generators and dynamotors, with a total capacity of 47 horse- power. From this it would also appear that certain of the dynamos generating current are engine driven, and that the others are driven by electric motors. In some instances the power plant installation is in the nature of a reserve or precautionary measure, to insure a supply of current to the circuits in case the ordinary sources of supply should be interrupted. A further study of Table 3 reveals the fact that of the 442 single circuits all but 4 were reported for cities of less than 25,000 population, 97 being in cities of between 10,000 and 25,000, and 341 in cities of less than 10,000. Other details indicate that for the systems in cities of less than 25,000 population there is little cen- tral office equipment other than the receiving registers and automatic transmitters. Of the total underground wire mileage of 11,433 miles reported in 1902, 10,647 miles, or 93.1 per cent, were in cities having a popula- tion of 100,000 and over; a similar proportion prevailed 126 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. with respect to conduits. The distribution of the 28,202 miles of overhead wire construction, however, was verydifferent,,14:,172 miles, or 50.3 per cent, being found in cities of 100,000 population and over, and 8,409 miles, or 29.8 per cent, in cities of less than 25,000 popu- lation. Distributed along these 8,409 miles of over- head wire were 13,352 signaling and annunciating boxes or stations, or 35.3 per cent of the total number. The use of the telephone appears to be chiefly restricted to the larger cities. Only 1 out of 62 switchboards, and only 109 out of 6,480 drops, or telephone lines, were reported in cities of less than 25,000 population; whereas 39 of the switchboards and 5,911 drops were reported iti cities of 100,000 and over. In most other respects this table reveals a general uniformity and similarity of equipment and practice in the fire alarm systems throughout the country, as measured by the per cent distribution among the different population groups. In connection with the use of the telephone for fire alarms it may be noted that it has been the practice of the Wisconsin Telephone Company, of Milwaukee, to suggest in its telephone directory that patrons send in fire alarms by telephone. The chief of police has lately requested the manager of the company to omit this suggestion from the book hereafter, for the reason that it frequently takes too long a time to notify the fire headquarters by telephone. This delay, he states, gives the fire a chance to gain headway before the department is able to respond to the call. The percentage each item is of the total is also shown in Table 3. As might be expected, the percentages show that in the smaller communities, where for reasons of economy it is not feasible nor desirable to employ a large fire alarm staff, automatic transmitters prepon- derate, these percentages being 25.8, 34.9, and 14.2, respectively, in the three smallest population groups, whereas in respect to the use of manual transmitters 58.7 per cent are in use in the one group of cities having a population of 100,000 and over and nearly 80 per cent in the three groups comprising a popula- tion of 25,000 and over. It is rather surprising, how- ever, to note that the smallest cities report the largest proportions of all engines and dynamos, which would hardly be expected since a primary battery equipment is usually quite adequate in such cases, but the num- bers dealt with are altogether too small to carry any particular significance. In fact, it will be noted that 51 per cent of all primary batteries and 45.6 per cent of the total number of storage batteries were for sys- tems in cities of less than 50,000 population. Table 4 presents a synopsis of the number of fire alarm systems which reported the different varieties ■" construction and equipment, grouped according to population of cities. Table 4. — Electric fire alarm systems reporting different varieties of construction and equipment, grouped according to population of citiet: NUMBBE OF SYSTEMS, BY POPULATION GROUPS. CHARACTEK OP CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT. Overhead construction:' Pole line- Owned exclusively Leased exclusively Owned and leased Overhead construction ex- clusivsly Underground construction := Conduit — Owned exclusively Leased exclusively Owned and leased Both overhead and underground construction Boxes or signaling stations: ^ Signaling boxes exclusively . . Annunciating boxes exclu- sively Both signaling and annunci- ating boxes Special telephones Central oifice equipment: Manual transmitters exclu- sively Automatic transmitters ex- clusively Both manual and automatic transmitters Receiving registers, all kinds. Receiving circuits Transmitting circuits Both receiving and transmit- ting circuits Telegraph switchboards ex- . clusively Telephone switchboards ex- clusively J Both tel egraph and telephone switchboards single circuits exclusively Central station power equipment: Engines Dynamos Motor generators anddynamo- tors Engines, dynamos, motorgen- erators, and dynamotors Dynamos, motor generators, and dynamotors Battery cells — Primary storage Both primary and storage. Total. 114 609 139 681 8:3 752 9 1 104 43 214 43 182 322 255 255 146 21 5 14 24 1 7 522 270 44 100,000 and over. 50,000 and under 100,000. 25,000 and under 50,000. 10,000 and under 25,000. 21 157 19 220 1 13 87 11 53 124 1 140 Under 10,000. 82 261 50 387 7 363 8 1 26 8 35 3 48 . 54 31 1 1 341 311 76 5 1 One system failed to report the miles of pole line owned or leased, and one system failed to report pole line and wire mileage. - Two systems failed to report the miles of conduit owned or leased. 3 Two systems reported only telephoning boxes, which are not shown in this table. From this interesting table it will be observed that of the 764 fire alarm systems in the United States, 681 used overhead construction exclusively, and of this number 387, or over 50 per cent, were to be found in communities of less than 10,000 population. This con- firms the statement as to the extension of municipal fire alarm systems in the smaller cities and towns. There were 83 systems which used combined overhead and underground construction. There were only 114 municipalities which owned their entire pole line, while 509 leased, or used without cost, the supports for their overhead wires and cables. Table 5 shows the miles of conduit and the wire mile- age for the 83 systems reporting the use of under- ground construction. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. 127 Table 5.— UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS, BY STATES AND CITIES: 1902. STKEET MILES OF CONDUIT. WIRE MILEAGE. STATE OR CITY. STREET MILES OE CONDUIT. WIRE MILEAGE. STATE OB CITY. Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. United States 414 445 11,433 526 10,907 5 14 2 12 15 21 221 15 206 1 4 18 2 12 156 2 2 12 Los Angeles 10 1 10 8 54 2 165 143 is' 127 54 2 150 16 1 Pasadena 164 San Francisco 15 30 East Orange 1 1 1 1 13 1 2 5 1 1 120 24 3 1,380 i' 1 2 5 12 2 16 1 40 2 101 760 40 2 85 ie 760 Montclair Morristown 8 6 Ne-wark 120 24 Trenton 1 134 3 30 1 62 6 3 760 684 760 684 1,380 Illinois 3 5 26 168 3 1,105 50 16 4 10 474 25 2 1 129 168 3 2 54 13 640 3 24 4 58 3 13 640 3 24 4 55 Chicago 1 13 3 1,105 60 Elgin 1 Evanston 6 15 Rockf ord 2 5 2 4 .« 5 21 10 Indiana Ohio 1 4 4 6 52 17 3" 6 49 17 Fort Wayne Indianapolis 1 1 9 5 1 4 137 23 5 195 80 45 126 4,353 53 23 5 Canton 4 0) 17 42 17 42 Cleveland 80 45 126 (1) Pennsylvania 85 6 124 42 1,463 204 42 1,259 4,300 Allegheny Massachusetts . . 84 252 11 3,905 185 201 53' 252 2 75 8 3 11 3 34 19 1 5 990 50 3 8 13 30 3 61 5 1 24 8 120 9 3 3 132 255 si' 8 36' 3 i' 4' 3' ""iM 25 990 19 3 is el 5 24 4 120 9 3 8 230 63 Brookline 186 12 Clinton 201 Fall River 1 Haverhill 5 3 5 1 4 8 6 20 181 45 Lexington Providence 3 181 Milton Nahant 1 Memphis 6 2 18 3 3 6 7 45 26 45 Texas 26 Galveston 2 4 2 2 20 4 9 9 WinthroD 1 82 19 9 San Antonio 20 33 Waco 4 Bav Citv .... 3 30 7 225 10 7 2 4 315 23' 2' 7 202 10 7 4 315 Detroit 2 6 9 136 9 3 3 2 1 19 Kalamazoo Norfolk 1 5 5 131 2 2 2 Richmond 131 2 2 3 16 200 115 465 200 115 465 Seattle 4 2 36 2 201 2 84 2 117 4 455 23 455 23 Eau Claire ... . . , 0) 1 2 15 184 84' 2 Nebraska 2 15 (') 0) 23 23 Milwaukee 36 100 1 Not reported. 2 Has 2 separate systems, but is treated as 1 system. 3 City rents one or more wires in cable owned by private company. It appears from Table 5 that in the 83 systems included, 414 miles of conduits were owned and 445 miles were leased, giving a total of 11,433 miles of single wire and single wire in cables from which the streets have immediately been released. This under- ground circuit was more widelj^ distributed than might perhaps be expected, being found in no fewer than 23 states and the District of Columbia. Nor can it be said that the larger cities were unduly represented; a glance at the table shows that New York, Boston, Chicago, 128 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Philadelphia, and other large cities by no means pre- ponderated in this respect. Further reference to this subject will be made incidentally in connection with underground police patrol wires. Table 6 presents the number of employees and the total salaries and wages paid in 1902 in cities of 100,000 population and over in 1900, for both electric fire alarm and police patrol systems. Data are presented for 26 systems exclusively fire alarm, 21 systems exclusively police patrol, and 9 systems a combination of fire alarm and police patrol service, or a total of 55 systems. Table 6. — Employees and wages in cities of 100,000 population and over, electric fire alarm and police patrol systems: 1902. Number of systems Salaried officials and clerks: Total ntimber Total salaries General managers, superin- tendents, etc.— Number Salaries Clerks and bookkeepers- Number Salaries Wage-earners: Total average number Total wages Operators, male — Average number Wages Foremen and inspectors- Average number Wages Linemen, wiremeu, battery- men, etc. — Average number Wages All otber employees — Average number Wages Total. 84 $139,477 71 $124, 728 13 $14, 749 818 $804,066 $401, 659 92 $100, 666 $272, 910 41 Rre alarm ex- clusively. Police patrol ex- clusively. 26 28 $49, 396 306 $309, 034 nis $132, 379 $36,586 123 $114, 945 34 $25, 126 Combina- tion fire alarm and police patrol. 21 $32, 294 21 $32, 294 291 $270, 903 211 $201,204 22 $20,361 64 $46,738 $2,600 9 36 $57, 787 22 13 $14, 749 222 $224,128 67 $68, 076 40 $43,720 112 $111,227 $1, 106 1 Includes 1 female operator. It will be gathered that the figures shown in Table 6 are representative rather than inclusive; at the same time they should not be understood as applying to the systems as a whole, owing to the fact that in so many of the smaller communities th^ duties which would fall to a fire alarm or police patrol service are merged, in those performed by other officials in such a manner that the proportion of salaries or wages paid can not well be segregated according to the amount of work done or relative hours of duty in each department. The num- ber of wage-earners shown in the table is the average number of each class continuously employed during the j'^ear in the operation and maintenance of the electrical department of the two systems. Of the 38 cities having a population of 100,000 or over, 2 — Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo. — had no sys- tems of electric fire alarm; 2 did not report employees and wages, the systems being operated by local tele- phone companies on contract; and in 9 the fire alarm and police patrol systems were operated in conjunction and were reported in combination. In regard to the police patrol service, 4 of the 38 cities hiiving a population of 100,000 or over — Louisville, Ky., New Orleans, La., Scranton, Pa., and Toledo, Ohio — had no electric sys- tems; 1 failed to report employees and wages, and 3 were operated by local telephone companies on contract. The systems for 9 cities, as already noted, were operated in conjunction with fire alarm services and were reported in combination therewith. That the services are already of some magnitude is indicated by the fact that the 55 systems included in this table show a total of 84 salaried officials and clerks, with total salaries of $139,477 per annum, and 818 wage- earners, with total wages of $804,065 per annum. Table 7 is a detailed statement summarizing for each state all of the information with regard to constructional equipment of fire alarm systems, and also the number of alarms received. 1, Automatic repeater: 'l, automatic line tester; 3, multiple pen register; 4, manual dial transmitter. vuxrvff^vmy. 1 Relay switchboard; 2, joker board; 3, working switcbboard; 4, multiple pen register; 5, automatic line tester. TELEGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT, FIRE ALARM HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D. C, 1902. 130 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 7.— ELECTEIO FIEE ALARM STATE OR TEKRITOEY. Num- ber of sys- tems. CHARACTER OF CONSTRUCTION. NUMBER AND CHARACTER OP BOXES OR SIGNALING STATIONS. Overhead. Underground. Signaling. Annunciating. Miles oJ pole line. Wire mileage. Street miles of conduit. Wire mileage. Total num- ber. Num- ber on poles or posts. All other, Total num- ber. Num- ber on poles or posts. All other. Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. 1 United States... Alabama 764 2,798 10,952 28,202 27, 721 481 414 445 11,433 626 10,907 37,739 34,776 2,963 93 84 9 1 6 1 2 28 12 26 1 1 7 8 1 34 37 . 19 8 12 3 22 3 106 40 17 4 3 3 5 1 18 57 2 2 70 9 4 60 2 56 6 3 3 4 10 1 11 9 7 4 26 2 4 7 7 149 42 55 -(vr- 67 10 162 87 49 33 29 ii' 8 311 210 81 83' 9 6 ii' 185 371 32 5 219 387 11 5 s' 10 3' 19 6 5 94 6 79 ig' 280 145 381 60 <''48 97 '"'545' 545 294 71 149 113 227 13 1,791 327 182 25 38 15 113 11 180 566 9 1,103 44 18 1,392 32 719 269 66 15 75 219 16 78 117 106 53 316 2 112 7 37 1,487 219 669 140 "88 197 10 2,136 935 373 120 299 423 367 170 3,867 940 769 40 1,802 39 181 11 320 1,070 9 3,687 95 23 2,348 63 3,238 296 66 15 129 283 18 101 303 166 68 698 8 112 7 37 1,462 219 669 136 "88 197 10 2,124 886 372 120 299 423 366 170 3,808 910 766 40 1,788 39 151 11 316 1,060 9 3,366 87 23 2,336 63 3,232 296 66 15 129 281 16 101 298 166 58 696 8 196 16 62 1,672 397 1,014 70 307 179 410 10 2,275 1,400 620 183 687 321 481 493 4,890 1,531 838 52 1,097 67 172 18 419 1,779 30 5,678 196 54 2,969 128 3,566 609 138 33 267 622 21 231 407 283 132 1,220 10 192 16 62 1,467 368 813 70 261 178 406 10 2,173 1,296 496 172 464 321 443 491 4,385 1,468 800 47 1,038 66 171 18 373 1,664 30 4,916 194 51 2,761 118 3,408 548 138 31 250 515 21 217 306 282 130 1,143 10 3 s 4 Arkansas ft 25 15 21 221 16 206 115 29 201 20 16 4 fi 7 Connecticut 4' i}) 30 8 143 127 16 S q District oJ Columbia . . Florida 1 6 760 760 46 1 4 in 8 2 8 ""2 11 1'' Idaho IS Illinois 12 60 1 62 3 5 684 ■58 3' 684 55 i62 104 25 11 123 3 9 3 9 14 15 Iowa 16 17 Kentucky 16 16 18 11 1 59' 30 3 ....... 33 2 4 (■) 124 9 19 17 42 1,463 256 315 "'264' 26 17 42 1,259 230 315 38 2 605 63 38 5 69 1 1 vn Maryland ?i Massachusetts Michigan ■}•> OS Minnesota ?4 ?5 Missouri 14 4 456 466 ?6 Montana ?7 30 (■) (') 23 23 ?8 Nevada ?<) New Hampshire 4 10 i' 5 18 14 156 2 2 12 164 46 115 Rn 15 15 SI New Mexico S"" New York 201 8 134 30 1,380 1,380 663 2 3 208 10 158 61 16 13 3 33 North Carolina North Dakota S4 35 Ohio 12 21 474 474 3fi Oregon 37 6 85 3 137 12 4,353 201 63 4,300 201 38 Rhode Island 31 South Carolina 40 2 17 7 41 Tennessee 6 7 45 26 46 26 4? Texas 2 2 43 Utah 44 Vermont 2 6 9 136 2 9 2 '"'ise' 14 101 1 2 77 4ft Virginia 5 2 46 Washington 47 West Virginia 48 Wisconsin 2 36 2 201 84 117 41 Wyoming 4 4 1 Not reported. New York city has 2 separate systems, but is treated as 1 system. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. 131 SYSTEMS, BY STATES: 1902. Special tele- phones. Fire alarms re- ceived. CENTRAL OFFICE EQUIPMENT. Single cir- cuits. CENTEAL STATION POWER EQUIPMENT. Transmit- ters. Keceiv- ing regis- ters, all kinds. Re- ceiv- ing cir- cuits. Trans- mit- ting cir- cuits. Telegrapli switch- boards. Telephone switch- boards. Engines. Dynamos. Motor gen- erators and dynamotors. Battery cells, Man- ual. Auto- matic. Num- ber. Num- ber of sec- tions. Total capac- ity. Num- ber. Num- ber of sec- tions. Total capac- Num- ber. Horse- power. Num- ber. Horse- power. Num- ber. Horse- power. Pri- mary. Stor- age. 1,900 85,070 155 295 452 1,973 1,361 214 259 2,407 62 153 6,480 442 7 58 19 51 81 47 57,010 49,327 1 8 1 58' 6 33 e' 6 ""i48' 3 26 2 32 63 30' 245 108 45 '"'246' 17 87' 254 2 '"'iso' 133 46 25' 2 23' 53 "■'■72' 838 70 305 2,661 1,295 1,183 80 786 349 1,191 60 9,027 3,648 1,807 512 1,864 511 940 1,063 9,491 2,830 2,430 239 2,272 85 585 27 787 3,306 48 12,794 434 130 6,142 454 4,571 718 160 91 995 1,320 108 264 1,708 1,275 462 3,135 39 ...... ...... 3 ...... 2 1 4 i' 12 3 12 1 2 1 3 3 3 11 19 2 i I 3 2 1 17 4 7 82 16 62 6 30 18 28 7 2 4 60 14 78 a 14 10 20 .2 2 12 2 ' 176 49 178 7,140 376 1,610 50 "'266' 255 50 1,657 2,312 542 461 971 125 917 78 5,024 1,292 380 152 1,371 202 136 "'834' 2,706 72 10,005 388 195 5,539 45 6,020 474 50 96 554 646 230 511 499 253 230 1,884 75 405 '"'26' 2,126 667 1,597 450 906 312 956 'i,'684' 1,043 1,133 13 967 1,158 127 11,311 2,506 2,358 90 418 50 671 2,754 4 4,411 ,309 "'esi' 528 3,270' 1,370 369 36 75 1,014 '"iu 1,271 938 30 1,280 ? 3 1 15, 1 23 4 122 4 4 1 1 9 1 1 125 6 25, 17 9 15 1 1 1 1 5 5 6 7 44 7 8 2 3 250 1 1 9 1 3 1 3 4 26 4 4 1 22 25 10 5 5 10 11 12 28 3 ...... 4 1 "31 14 8 2 ...... 1 12 6 8 1 6 2 6 2 . 50 17 3 2 1 1 3 42 13 26 1 6 1 2 1 71 17 15 1 1 1 78 71 36 8 25 22 27 31 318 64 55 8 42 2 9 63 56 33 6 24 21 14 6 250 33 26 1 20 8 6 4 1 1 3 5 1 33 6 7 8 10 5 1 1 3 5 1 35 6 7 24 73 135 4 2 26 48 60 554 58 64 5 3 6 6 311 110 20 7 13 14 15 16 1 1 34 1 50 100 17 18 17 2 50 24 12 2 2 2 2 1 11 41 2 39 6 4 22 1 39 2 1 3 1 3 2 2 19 1 5 • 3 5 7 6 '1 1,920 144 115 116 ?n 7 58 9 1 1 40 2 1 43 1 14 1 21 W. 'R 24 15 15 185 2 2 160 1 1 95 26 7 2 2 8 1 1 5 V 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 9!^ '"'e' 7 15 8 13 S3 78 19 72 4 11 7 14 25 88 oq 5 9' 196 1 1 30 31 11 30 3 79 261 13 127 6 24 1 44 1 355 3 6 6 173 1 3 2 6 32 33 34 8 1 7 3 1 22. 1 18 4 2 43 1 16 2 i66 8 140 44 10 93 8 102 30 4 15 1 13 15 1 14 91 8 223 4 4 186 2 7 35 36 6 2 28 .11 2,208 30 2 1 37 38 1 1 8 39 40 4 ...... 1 3 7 1 3 4 3 1 2 1 5 7 9 1 17 20 36 3 9 26 18 20 25 2 6 20 14 2 5 2 5 18 32 1 1 50 41 4? 43 1 3 3 1 3 4 3 37 20 8 5 4 4 11 2 2 1 44 2 1 3 5 60 100 45 46 47 5 13 62 48 10 11 53 1 1 50 1 1 2 2 48 49 r 132 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. As might be expected, the 764 systems, while dis- tributed through 48 states and territories, are to be found chiefly in the older and more densely popu- lated sections. Massachusetts has the largest number, namely, 106; Hew York is second, with 70 (or 71 if New York city were to be credited with two systems instead of being counted as one); New Jersey is third, with 57; followed by Pennsylvania, with 56; Ohio, 50; Michigan, 40; Indiana, 37; Illinois, 34; California, 28; Connecti- cut and Wisconsin, each 26; Maine, 22; Iowa, 19; New Hampshire, 18; Minnesota, 17; Colorado and Kentucky, each 12; Vermont, 11; and Texas, 10. New York, however, leads in almost every respect, having 5,578 signaling boxes, as compared with the next state in rank, Massachusetts, which has 4,890. With regard to the use of the telephone as central station equipment, Maryland is repoi'ted as having 1,920 drops, or lines, or a shade less than 30 per cent of the total capacitj'^ of the country thus engaged, while Pennsylvania has 2,208, or 34 per cent. In telephonic capacity 64 per cent of the total is thus accounted for, but as this rep- resents only 7 switchboards, 1 in Maryland and 6 in Pennsylvania, it can not be accepted as a full indication of the facts, 55 of the boards being in use for such work in 21 of the other states or territories. The total number of signaling and annunciating boxe^ in the United States was 37,832, from which 85,070 alarms were received. Of these alarms 12,794 are cred- ited to New York, from 5,594 boxes, or 2 per box, per annum, whereas in the state of Illinois, with 2,278 boxes, the number of alarms received was 9,027, or 4 per box. In Massachusetts, with 4,890 boxes, 9,491 alarms were received, or 2 per box. In the state of Pennsylvania, with 3,566 boxes, 4,571 alarms were reported as having been received, or about 1.3 per box. In Kentuckj^, with 603 boxes, 1,864 alarms were reported, or 3 per box. In Minnesota, with 838 boxes, 2,430 fire alarms were reported, or 3 per box. The variations in the average number of fire alarms per box may be due either to the prevalence of wooden construction in build- ings, resulting in more frequent fire alarms, or to the heavy duties thrown on the boxes by distributing them more sparsely. This latter supposition, however, does not appear to be borne out upon examining the distri- bution of boxes per mile of wire. For example, Illinois, with a total of 2,820 miles of wire, had 2,278 boxes, or less than 1 box per mile of wire, while Pennsylvania, with 7,591 miles of wire, had only 3,566 boxes, or less than 1 box to 2 miles of wire. Minnesota had 838 boxes to 1,084 miles of wire, or about the same propor- tion as Massachusetts, with 5,330 miles of wire and 4,890 boxes. New York appears to be well equipped in this respect, having 5,594 boxes to 4,937 miles of wire, thus giving more than 1 box to the mile. The higher proportion of boxes peSr mile of wire in New York may doubtless be explained by the liberal distribution in the densely populated districts of New York city and Brooklyn, but the difference between the figures for New York and Pennsylvania is, to say the least, quite striking. The proportion of alarms per box would indicate that Pennsylvania is as well served with its fire boxes as New York is with its larger number, but that Illinois falls below the standard of these two great Eastern states. The suggestion that the number of alarms per box may have some relation to the use of wood in construc- tion is supported by statistics from the Southern states, where the use of brick and stone is less prevalent than in the North. Tennessee, with 267 boxes, reported 995 alarms, or nearly 4 per box; Georgia, 412 boxes and 1,191 alarms, or nearly 3 per box; Virginia, 407 boxes ajid 1,708 alarms, or over 4 per box. In New York, and other closely settled cities in the Northern states, the use of wood for walls and roofs has long been pro- hibited within the urban areas, and the general intro- duction of structural steel in buildings has been a nota- ble feature of the last decade. Table 8 is of interest as presenting the figures for the electric fire alarm and police patrol systems of Hono- lulu, Hawaii. Table 8. — Electric fire alarm and police patrol systems of Honolulu, Hawaii: 190S. Date of establishment 1901 Overhead construction: Miles oi pole line, owned 50 Total wire mileage, single wire 100 Number and character of boxes or signaling stations: Signaling, on poles or posts 50 Telephoning, on poles or posts 50 Special telephones 5 Fire alarms received 50 Police calls received or sent 2, 750 Telephone 150 Another 2,600 Central oflBce equipment: Automatic transmitters 4 Receiving registers, all kinds : 1 Receiving circuits 4 Transmitting circuits 4 Telephone switchboards, number 1 Number of sections 1 Total capacity 150 Central station power equipment: storage battery cells 290 The construction shown in Table 8 was used inter- changeablj' for fire alarm and police patrol purposes. All the construction is overhead, embracing 50 miles of pole line owned by the department, with 100 miles of circuit, and 50 signaling and 50 telephone boxes on poles or posts, supplemented by 5 special telephones. The central office equipment includes 4 automatic trans- mitters and 1 receiving register, 4 receiving and 4 transmitting circuits, and 1 telephone switchboard with a capacity of 150 drops, and the power equipment em- braces 290 storage battery cells for supplying current to the whole system. During the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1902, 50 fire alarms \yere received, averaging 1 per signaling box, and 2,750 police calls were received ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. 133 or sent, of which 150 were telephonic. It is of interest to note that one of our outlying dependencies should be so well equipped, boasting of facilities which, in fact, a great many communities of importance within conti- nental United States do not enjoy. The apparatus and methods, and probably the supplies, in use in Honolulu are, however, of American origin. In a great manj^ cities of the United States it is the custom of the municipal authorities to exact, by ordi- nance, by grant of franchise, or otherwise, the right to string wires on a certain number of . cross-arm pins on the pole line of a telegraph, telephone, electric light, street railway, or other electric company, or to reserve the right to use a certain number of ducts in an under- ground wiring system belonging to a specific conduit company, or to any company operating some specified public service. Table 9 gives the number of fire alarm and police patrol systems, grouped according to the population of the respective cities, which have reserved the right of way on poles or in conduits without cost to the city. Table 9. — Electric fire alarm and police patrol systems hnving per- petual right of way on poles or in conduits, without cost to the city, grouped according to population of cities: 190S. POPULATION GROUPS. Total 100,000 and over 50,000 and under 100,000 26,000 and under 50,000. 10,000 and under 25,000. Under 10,000 Fire alarm. 34 36 73 195 286 Police patrol. 30 26 31 26 10 According to Table 9, perpetual rights of way of this character have been reserved for 623 fire alarm and 123 police patrol systems. It is interesting to note that of the fire alarm systems, which secured rights and accommodations of this character without cost as an offset to the grants made to private companies, 480 belonged to communities of less than 25,000 population. Table 10 may be regarded as a connecting link between the fire alarm and police patrol statistics embraced in this report, as it includes the systems, or portions of systems, which are employed interchange- ably for fire alarm and police patrol purposes, grouped according to the population of cities. The statistics given in this table are included in the tables giving the data for fire alarm and police patrol systems, respectively. 18407—06 10 Table 10. — Construction and equipment of electric systems used inter- changeably for fire alarm and police patrol, grouped according to population of cities: 190S. Number of systems Overhead construction: Miles of pole line- Owned Leased Wire mileage — Total Single wire Single wire in cables. Underground constructionr Street miles of conduit- Owned Leased Wire mileage — Total Single wire Single wire in cables. Signaling boxes or stations Number on poles or posts All other Special telephones Central office equipment: Manual transmitters Automatic transmitters Receiving registers, all kinds Receiving circuits Transmitting circuits Telegraph switchboards, number Number of sections Total capacity Telephone switchboards, number Number of sections Total capacity Single circuits Central station power equipment: Motor generators and dyna- motors, number Total horsepower Battery cells — Primary storage , POPULATION GK0UP3. Total. 454 485 6,533 5,488 45 167 5,742 70 5,672 1,711 1,472 239 12 12 57 197 121 34 11 17 761 7,748 4,227 100,000 and over. 385 140 4,809 4,770 97 156 5,737 68 6,669 1,107 961 146 296 7 6 28 146 31 35 328 6,709 1,631 50,000 and under 100,000. 23 153 470 466 5 2 1 '6 2 8 270 222 48 12 26 37 1 1 12 2 6 113 446 1,690 26,000 and under 60,000. 37 87 132 131 1 200 10,000 and under 26,000. 146 Under 10,000. 183 148 35 2 1 2 3 6 4 1 2 247 74 Table 10 embraces 23 sj'stems, with 5,533 miles of overhead wire and 5,742 miles of wire in conduit, upon which were distributed 1,711 signaling boxes or stations, of which 1,472 were on poles or posts; these boxes were supplemented by 369 special telephones. The central office equipment of these systemis included 12 manual transmitters, 12 automatic transmitters, 57 receiving registers, 197 receiving circuits, and 121 transmitting circuits. There were also 34 telegraph switchboards, with a capacity of 354 circuits, and 11 telephone switch- boards, with a total capacity of 761 drops, or lines. Among these systems there were 6 single circuits, all of which were in communities of less than 25,000 popula- tion. The power equipment of the central offices embraced 7,748 cells of primary battery, 4,227 cells of storage battery, and 10 motor generators and dyna- motors, with a total capacity of 5 horsepower. 134 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. These 23 combination systems were widely distributed as to the population of cities, 6 systems be,ing in cities of 100,000 and over, 4 in cities of 50,000 and under 100,000, 5 in cities of 25,000 and under 50,000, 2 in cities of 10,000 and under 25,000, and 6 in cities and towns of less than 10,000. Cities of 50,000 population and over reported all of the underground construction of these systems and the great bulk of the apparatus, although it should be noted that the 6 plants in cities of less than 10,000 population had more than 30 boxes per system. It might be expected that the combina- tion of the fire alarm and police patrol systems would have found favor in the small communities for reasons of economy, but this table does not support such an inference. HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE. The electric telegraph was not utilized for fire alarm purposes until the beginning of the second half of the nineteenth century. Even to-day there are a great many communities in America which retain the inade- quate method of notifying the community by ringing a bell in some high tower, or by blowing a steam whistle, the number of strokes or pauses indicating roughly the location of the fire. As late as 1865, New York city had a watch tower system, under which a watchman, on discovering a fire or receiving an alarm, sounded upon his bell the number of the district; this was repeated by watchtowers all over the city, and thus the whole community was warned. While such a method was effective in distributing information, it is obvious that there was abundant opportunity for delay and mistakes; moreover, while the alarm served as an immediate call to duty, it also notified a large nuinber of people who had no immediate concern in the matter. It was inevitable that the introduction of the electro- magnetic telegraph by Prof. S. F. B. Morse should direct attention to the ease with which warning signals could be instantaneously transmitted from point to point. The first suggestion for the use of the telegraph for fire alarm purposes is said to have been made by Dr. W. F. Channing, of Boston, as earlj^ as 1839, when the telegraph itself was in a very crude and imperfect condition. Making a suggestion, however, is one thing, and constructing a practical device is quite another. The history of electricity is full of instances where possi- bilities were suggested years before it was found feasi- ble to devise the proper apparatus. It is an authentic fact, however, that in 1845 Doctor Channing published in the Boston Advertiser an article in which he de- scribed a method of applying the telegraph to fire alarms. The plan was as follows: A central office was to be established in some public building, in which the necessary battery, together with a Morse register and an alarm bell, should be located; a double wire to proceed from thence over the housetops successively to every engine house and fire bell in the city, and return again to complete its circuit to the place from whence it started. In every station thus established a Morse register in connection with an alarm bell was to be placed, also a key, by the simple depression of which an appropriate signal would be instantly conveyed to every other station on the circuit. He also suggested the modification of having five or six circuits, or even a circiit from every station, to the central office. By this method the operator would be able to communicate directly to all the stations, and, if so desired, every alarm of fire might be made to pass through the central office before being communicated to the different stations. From among the many modifications to which his design is susceptible, Doctor Channing calls special attention to one, in these words: "There is, however, one which deserves to be specially mentioned. By a slight change of the arrangement of the alarm bell stations and increase of machinery, the hammers of the bells could all be disposed so as to strike mechanically on the communication of a galvanic impulse from the central office. The agent (operator) would therefore be en- abled, by depressing a single key with his finger at certain inter- vals, to ring out an alarm defining the position of the fire simul- taneously on every church bell in the city." This description clearly indicates the electro-mechanical bell striker, urges the municipal authorities to take his project into consideration; and, as the city had been behindhand in the matter of giving alarms of fire, the adoption of this system would place her in advance of other cities.' Nothing, however, was done until early in the winter of 1847-48, when L. L. Sadler, superintendent of the Boston and New York telegraph line, in discussing with F. O. J. Smith, one of the pioneer capitalists associated with Morse, and then president of the Port- land telegraph line, the feasibility of using telegraphy for fire alarm purposes, stated that he had in his employ at Framingham, Mass., an operator named Moses Gr. Farmer, who was the most ingenious man he had ever seen, and who, he believed, could work out a system. The matter was brought to young Farmer's notice, and within a week he had produced an apparatus capable of carrying out the idea, based on electro-magnets and the striking mechanism of an old church clock. This was the first machine ever constructed for giving an electric fire alarm, and served as the starting point for all the later work that has been done in this field. Nothing more came of it at the time, however, although the apparatus was indorsed by Mayor Quincy, of Boston. In 1851 Doctor Channing succeeded in interesting the Boston city council in the subject of fire alarm tele- graphs to such an extent that $10,000 was appropidated for an experiment. His plan again proposed numerous box stations, connected by telegraph circuits with the central office, from which all alarm signals received from the boxes were to be sent out over other circuits to the bell towers, so that the box signals would be simultaneously struck, electrically, by every fire alarm bell in the city. At a total cost of about $16,000 this system, with some modifications, was adopted for 39 signal stations. It is possible that both Doctor Channing and Pro- fessor Farmer worked out their ideas independently, although attention should be called to the fact that 'Adam Bosch, Trans. Am. Inst. Elec. Engrs.,Vol. XIV, 1897 page 336. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. 136 Charles Robertson, who introduced the Morse telegraph system into Germany, had utilized it in New York city in 1850 to aid the fire department in signaling the exist- ence of fires. In fact, lacking evidence to the contrary', it would appear that the authorities in New York city were pioneers in this direction. As early as November, 1846, the common council of the city authorized the in- troduction of the Morse magnetic telegraph into the fire service, and in the next month at a meeting of engi- neers and firemen, a committee of five was appointed to urge the adoption of the plans recommended by the chief engineer relative to such work. In 1847 a permit was granted to Hugh Downing and Royal E. House, a well-known telegraph inventor, to set up a line of tele- graph for fire purposes in different parts of the city, at a cost' of $500. In 1851 the connection of the bell towers with fire headquarters by telegraph was com- pleted with immediate beneficial results, but it is a mat- ter of official record that public curiosity on the subject was so great that the entire telegraph apparatus was often put out of service by the tampering fingers of inno- cent visitors. Nothing permanent, however, came of such experimental work, and, for the evolution of the practical machinery required, attention must be paid to the joint efforts of Doctor Channing and Professor iFarmer. In 1861 Professor Farmer became superin- tendent of the Boston fire alarm system, continuing in active service until 1855, and remaining for another four years with the department which his skill and ingenuity had done so much to create. During this period Doctor Channing and Professor Farmer took out, singly and together, several patents which became the foundation of the fire alarm system as it exists to- day. One of these patents, covering what was known as the "village system," was taken out by ^^rofessor Farmer in 1859. It naturally would be supposed that so invaluable an aid in subduing fires would receive the warmest wel- come from those engaged in fire extinction; but it is a fact that the bitterest enemies of the new system were found among the firemen themselves. The fire depart- ments, about the middle of the last century, were volun- teer organizations, often partaking of the character of a club, and frequently engaged deeply in politics. The introduction of prompt and efficient methods of giving the alarm marked the beginning of a new era and the creation of the paid fire alarm departments. The advent in the field of the late John N. Game- well marked another point of departure in the art and industry. In regard to his work, J. "W. Stover has said: The fire alarm telegraph as it stands to-day is not the work of one nor a half dozen men. Many have contributed to its perfec- tion. I have only named a few. It has been an evolution; but if I were asked to name the one man to whom, more than all others, we are indebted for its progress and general use, I should without hesitation name John N. Gamewell, of South Carolina. From 1855 to the time of his death he devoted his splendid business ability and his best efforts for its advancement and its extended use. It has been a number of times suggested to me that those who best understand the importance of his work should erect a monument to his memory. My answer has been, and is. It is not necessary; the evidence of his devotion and beneficent work may be found on nearly every street of nearly every city and town in this broad land. 1 Hearing or reading a lecture by Doctor Channing on the subject of fire iilarm telegraphs, delivered in the Smithsonian Institution at Washington in 1865, Mr. Gamewell at once became deeply interested in the sub- ject, and bought from Messrs. Channing and Farmer the right to the use of their inventions and patents in the Southern states. In 1859 he purchased the rights for the rest of the country. This investment, while small compared with what is expended upon fire alarm telegraphs at the present time, was an evidence of great courage and enterprise in those days. The original plant in Boston, installed in 1852, comprised only 19 tower bell strikers and 26 street signal stations, and during the year 1854 — two years after the system had been introduced — the number of fire alarms in Boston was only 196. The Boston system, with some improve- ments, was taken up in Philadelphia in 1855, and St. Louis closed a contract in 1856, though this plant was not in use until earlj;^ in 1868. The cities of New Orleans and Baltimore adopted the system in I860, but further development was seriously arrested by the outbreak of the Civil War. No sooner was the war over than Mr. Gamewell again took up the work actively, pushing the system with great vigor and perseverance by means of a corporation to which he gave his name. But it was not until 1869 that. New York city, which had organized a paid department in 1865, abandoned its old watchmen and bell towers in favor of the modern methods with which this report deals. Since that .time the progress of the system has been rapid, and several ingenious inventors have devoted their energies to the subject. The lead- ing systems are those known broadly as the Gamewell, the Gaynor, and the Speicher.^ The apparatus has of course been greatly improved since its introduction. For example, the first signal boxes used in Boston depended for their operation upon the turning bj' hand of a crank similar to the one so long a familiar feature of telephone stations for ring- ing up "central." The original instructions placed on these signal boxes were that the person sending in the alarm should turn the crank six times. Fastened di- rectly to the shaft of this crank was the break-circuit wheel; one-half of this wheel was so toothed that in revolving it transmitted and recorded in dots or dashes, by means of a Morse register at the central fire head- quarters, the number of the fire district in which the ^ "Progress in Fire Alarm Telegraphy;'' paper read before Inter- national Association of Fire Engineers, New York city, September, 1902. ^For details see Mayer's "American Telegraphy and Encyclo- pedia of the Telegraph." 136 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. fire was located, while the other half transmitted a cer- tain number of current pulsations, indicating on the Morse register the number of the box. The tower bell was still used, but only to sound the district; in order to ascertain the exact location of a fire, the firemen were supposed to go to the street boxes and count the taps or strokes made on the small bells inside, these signal taps being sent from the central ofiice as soon as the alarm had been transmitted to the tower bells. If a fireman on reaching such a box did not find the bell striking, it was his duty to signal the central ofiice at once, whereupon the operator there would repeat the signal, unless the circuit had been broken or interrupted. All this was excellent in theory, but it was quickly demonstrated that people sending in alarms would exer- cise the crank so vigorously, in the excitement of the moment, that the operator at the central ofiice could not decipher the signals. The instructions upon the boxes were then made to read to the effect that the crank should be turned twenty-five times, which would seem to give abundant opportunity for sending in the signal clearly, but even then there were mistakes and delays. With regard to Boston, Adam Bosch says: The original crank signal boxes remained in service in Boston until 1866, in which year automatic boxes were substituted in their place. The following year, Joseph B. Stearns, the immediate suc- cessor of Farmer in the superintendency of the Boston fire alarm telegraph, received a patent for an apparatus operated by ' ' reverse currents," which permitted the simultaneous use of the same wire for receiving a signal from a box and transmitting it to the alarm bells. Several years prior to the introduction of automatic signal boxes, Stearns abandoned the method of striking the district numbers on the bells, and new boxes were designed to strike the box numbers only. While, with the adoption of the automatic signal box, the speed with which a fire alarm box was operated no longer depended on the temperament or mental condition of the person giving the signal, a proof was soon furnished that in a matter of this kind as little as possible should be left to "the intelligence of the public." Incorrect signals were often received from these boxes, for the occurrence of which no cause could be assigned. It was usually the first "round " that was found to be wrong. This remained a puzzle until the cause was discovered, which was this — that the person giving the alarm, disregarding the instructions to "pull the hook down once and let go," would, after the first pull, by way of emphasis, give the hook another pull or two. This would momentarily suspend the movement of the break wheel, and if it occurred between two successive breaks a long pause would ensue, and the signal would be either unintel- ligible or a number entirely different from the box number would be transmitted. One of the first important steps forward, therefore, was found in the automatic signal box, operated by pulling the hook trigger and then releasing the mech- anism. The patent on this device was taken out in 1867 by Charles T. Chester, of New York, while further im- provements were made and patented about two years later by Crane and Rogers, of Boston, who introduced what was called the "noninterference pull." The use of this prevented interference with a signal sent in by a box until its completion; hence each box was enabled to transmit its signal free from the mistakes and delays caused either by careless and excited persons or by those governed by malicious intent. In 1871 Mr. Gamewell, who was the first to use an open-circuit break wheel, secured the first patent on his noninterfering signal box; this prevented interfer- ence or confusion between alarms sent in from different boxes at the same time, thus securing certainty of trans- mission. The new Gamewell box was a normally wound box with trigger pulls and a so-called skeleton break wheel. All automatic boxes were actuated either by weights or by springs; if the latter, they were pull wound. The Gamewell box contained an electro- magnet and an armature which, when in the position farthest from the magnet, shunted the break wheel. If a box was pulled while the armature was in its normal position against the magnet, the armature was held there until the signal was completed. By the same mechanism the armature in every other box on the same circuit was held in position to shunt the break wheel, so that, even if another box were pulled, interference with the first signal would be impossible. The only chance of inter- ference lay in the possibility that the hook of the sec- ond box might be pulled the instant the circuit was closed, and while the armature was still held close to the magnet; but the use of a skeleton break wheel made these periods of contact so exceedingly short that the chances of interference were very remote. The next step forward in this important direction was taken by J. M. Gardner, of Hackensack^ N. J., who in 1880 patented a box ' which provided not only against the dispatch and reception of confused alarms due to the use of imperfect pull devices at the signal box, but also against interference with a signal from any box through the ' ' cutting in " of another box on the same circuit; in this way both "local" and "distance" noninterference were secured. The bene- fits of this improvement were felt in the more rapid detection and extinction of fires. Another important improvement in signal boxes was introduced by Mr. Tooker, of Chicago, in 1875. Hith- erto delays had often occurred in transmitting alarms because the key to open a box could not be found on the instant. The Tooker kejdess door was intended to deter malicious persons from sending in false alarms or otherwise interfering with the apparatus. The door was opened by the turning of a handle, which wound up a spring, thus setting in motion the mechanism by which a local alarm was sounded on a small gong within the box. The person using the Tooker device, having turned the handle of the door and heard the local alarm, often thought he had done all that was necessary, and would walk away without pulling the hook that sent in the signal to "central," so that the vital part of the signal was omitted. The next step in the development of this idea was the invention made by M. H. Suren in 'See Maver's "American Telegraphy and Encyclopedia of the Telegraph" for technical details. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. 137 1895. In the operation of this invention it was only necessary that the handle of the door should be turned, whereupon the bell rang and the alarm was transmitted to the central office without even opening the door of the box. A similar development is seen in the device patented by J. J. Euddick in 1889, by means of which the boxes, besides being noninterfering, are made to succeed each other, each in turn sending in its own definite signal, even if three or four boxes on the same circuit are pulled at the same time. It is a common practice to call attention to the signal boxes and poles by painting them a! bright red color, or in some other way equally distinctive, so as to enable a person desiring to use a box to find it immediately. In many communities lists of signal boxes are printed and distributed, so as to familiarize the public with their location. Reference has already been made to the fact that as early as 1859 Professor Farmer took out a patent on the "village system." A crude system of this kind was installed in Mobile, Ala., in 1866. It is obvious, how- ever, that in view of the cost of maintaining a staff solely for the fire alarm service, towns and villages of small size could not enjoy this means of protection unless the human element had in a large measure been eliminated. In 1870 the village system was rendered feasible of application by Edwin Rogers, of Boston, who patented what is known as the "automatic re- peater. " This device made it practicable to strike all the bells and gongs of a fire alarm system directly from one street signal box without the intervention of an operator at the central office. The idea was too valuable, however, to remain restricted in its application to only small cities, and the principle was rendered useful in central office systems by the application of what is known as the "joker," invented in 1876 by Prof. J. P. Barrett, superintendent of the bureau of electricity of the city of Chicago, and head of the electrical department of the Columbian World's Fair in 1893. By means of the " joker" alarms can be sent directly from a signal box to the fire companies whose duty it is to respond first. This, in combination with the automatic repeater, has been found invaluable in modern work. In the fire engine house, to which signals from cen- tral are transmitted, is usually found the electro-mechan- ical indicator, which dates back to 1875. This is placed in a conspicuous position, and shows at once, in large figures, the number of every box from which an alarm is being transmitted; in this manner each alarm is brought to notice, and the location of the fire indicated. The gongs in engine houses, rung by the direct agency of electro-magnets which attract and then release an arma- ture, are another familiar feature; many of them are from 6 to 24 inches in diameter. Other important acces- sories in such work are the whistle, which is often sounded in small communities, and particularly the tower bell, which remains a distinct element of fire alarm work. In some instances these bells have reached remarkable proportions, one type striking 10,000 blows of a most sonorous character, with a weight drop of 25 feet. A.n ingenious feature in connection with this bell is its attachment to an electric motor which automat- ically starts to rewind the mechanism when the weight has run down; and this automatic winding system can be used also to wind up the weights driving the trans- mitters and nmltiple registers at the central fire head- quarters. The switchboards are, of course, the most conspicu- ous feature of the central fire office; they are usually handsome and substantially built of mahogany or walnut in the form of a hollow square, so that the operators have all the apparatus and mechanism within easy reach. In the fire alarm circuits are inserted galvanometers, whose readings can be taken at the board, to show that the batteries are up to the electro-motive force required for signal transmission, and also to indicate the elec- trical condition of the circuits themselves, giving notice of any break or grounding. In fact, the circuits are under constant test, as it is obvious that nontransmis- sion of a signal might be attended with disastrous and even fatal results. The central office apparatus includes a relay in each circuit from the signal boxes; for «ach relay there is a multiple pen or registering device for the purpose of permanently recording the alarms received, and an annunciator so placed that the opening of the circuit causes the electro-magnetic drop to fall, disclosing the number of the circuit affected. A notable feature of every well organized central fire alarm telegraph office is the repeater, under a glass case in the center of the operating room. This repeater is usually provided with a locking mechanism, by means of which all the armatures of the relays of fire signal box circuits, except that on which the alarm has come in; are locked, so that they can not respond to any new alarm that may be sent in during the transmission of the first alarm; thus confused signals are avoided. There are other devices also employed as adjuncts of this work, such as voltmeters, ammeters, and other ap- paratus for electrical measurements, etc. The batterjr itself was at first of the expensive Grove and Daniells type, but for a great many years past it has been of the type of jarimary cell known as the gravity, or sulphate of copper — a form quite suitable for fire alarm telegraph requirements, being easily sup- plied with new material, readily cleaned, and simple enough in construction to be maintained by any fireman of ordinary intelligence. "Within the last decade, however, the storage battery has been adopted for this class of work to a considerable extent, being found in many of the larger cities. The maintenance cost of the storage battery equipment is said to be only half that of a primary battery plant of equal size; but since the battery equipment is hardly large enough, as a general thing, to warrant the expense 138 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. of an independent or isolated power plant, the practice is generally to connect the batteries with the local central power station, from which the needed supply of charging current is ordinarily obtained. It is obvious, however, that even this source of supply can not always be depended upon, although the batteries carry a consider- able reserve supply; hence some of the central fire alarm stations maintain more than one source of current supply, or connect with a source by more than one circuit. ■ A further development of recent years has been the more general use of the telephone for fire alarm service. This arose in a natural and simple manner from the fact that telephone subscribers in many small towns would call ' ' central " to ask where the fire was. It was readily seen that ' ' central " could be employed very usefully, either as an auxiliary in the transmission of fire alarms or as a fairly efficient substitute for the regular alarm. For example, at Kansas City, Mo. , the local telephone sei'vice discharges all the functions of a fire alarm system; the police patrol system there has, however, a signal telegraph. < Another very interesting feature of the more recent developments, which, however, is not considered in the statistical portion of this report because it does not con- stitute an integral part of the municipal fire alarm tele- graph, is what is known as the auxiliary system. The '.auxiliary boxes are placed in convenient locations in buildings, in a school, for example, at the teacher's desk; in case of fire, a small glass pane in the front of the box is broken, and a ring pulled down, which action operates a trip in the nearest street box and causes the alarm to be sent to fire headquarters exactly as though the box had been pulled by hand. The auxiliary cir- cuit has a special battery, and is not connected elec- trically with the regular circuits of the fire alarm system. As a general thing the municipal fire alarm systems, like telephone companies, have resisted the attachment of any auxiliary apparatus to the devices with which communication is maintained, on the ground that need- less additional complication was brought about, thus lowering the efficiency of the system. The auxiliary fire alarm telegraph, however, is so valuable an aid to the fire department that its use has been encouraged. By the use of this system, not only can an alarm be transmitted at once to the fire department, no matter how remote the nearest street box may be, but persons all over the building can be notified immediately and the chance of panic is thus minimized. In New York city, at the beginning of 1902, no fewer than 2,400 of these boxes had been installed, with the approval of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters. The only serious objection to such work has been the leaving of the auxiliary devices in the hands of a private or indi- vidual commercial company, instead of constituting it part of the municipal department under control of the citj' authorities. Another kind of fire alarm telegraph, somewhat auto- matic in character, is that known as " thermostatic." In this the materials or mechanism of the thermostats, when heated to a given degree of temperature, close the circuit, thus sending in an alarm, and in some cases also releasing showers of water from pipes so placed that a fire may be put out, even before outside assistance arrives. Of course, there is always the chance that such a device may go off accidentally, through some rise of temperature not due to an outbreak of a fire, or through some accident to the mechanism, in which event, if water is released, considerable damage may be done to perish-^ able goods. A quite ingenious extension of the ther- mostatic principle has been made in the use of a cable in which a soft metal fuse wire is interwoven with the copper wires which constitute the alarm circuits; the generation of undue heat melts immediately the fuse wire in the cable, thus closing the circuit and sending in an alarm. This is a portable and variable arrange- ment, which can be modified to meet changing circum- stances, as, within a storage warehouse or k large department store, the cable may be trailed or drawn at will over any pile of goods to any point where a fire might possibly break out. In Boston some 500 build- ings are equipped with automatic fire alarms, and no fewer than 110 with the sprinkler equipment. Another important part of fire protection work in the leading cities, which should be noted in this connection, is the insurance patrols, maintained by the fire insurance companies themselves. This work consists chiefly in spreading rubber covers over valuable goods at the moment when the risk of loss of such perishable mate- rials is greatest. Perhaps one of the best examples of this is the Boston protective department, maintained by the insurance companies doing business in that city. It has a staff of no fewer than sixty men, specially trained for the work of protecting property exposed to fire and water damage. They operate with six special wagons, supplied with rubber covers, duplicate sprinkler heads, gas fittings, extinguishers, and emergency tools of vari- ous kinds, and are in constant readiness to respond to an alarm of fire, just as is the regular fire engine or hose reel. The staff and the wagons are concentrated at three houses, located in sections of the city where the greatest values of property are massed. Fire alarm pole lines are usually constructed with more than ordinary care, although the wires are some- times strung upon the poles of the local electric light, telegraph, and telephone companies, and even on those of the trolley systems. Metallic circuits are always used; that is, there is a complete circuit by wire from the box to central and from central back to the box, and also between all other points of communication, the earth being used as part of the circuit only in case of an accident. It is considered good practice to secure the wires to poles at a height of not less than 20 feet from the ground, and to use the finest quality of gal- vanized-iron wire or hard-drawn copper wire; the wire ELECTRIC POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. 139 generally employed has a weight of about 325 pounds to the mile for iron and 170 pounds for copper. All the joints are carefully soldered, and the terminal con- nections of both iron and copper wires are made with insulated copper wire run through the buildings and up to the apparatus, conduits being often employed for this interior work. When underground cables are used for fire alarm purposes the ends of the cables are brought out at short intervals to small switchboards usually placed on lamp- posts, following the method proposed by William Maver, jr., at one time expert on the electrical sub- ways in New York city. In this manner easy access is afforded to the circuits for testing purposes. In view of the vitally important nature of fire alarm telegraphs, it is rather surprising that more work has not been done in placing the wires underground — not merely out of the way, but where they would be less exposed to the elements or the risk of malicious break- age; no winter goes by and no high wind passes with- out the breaking of some aerial telegraph circuits. A scheme for the use of wireless telegraphy in fire alarm signaling apparatus has been suggested by Signor MoUo, chief of the fire department of Naples, Italy, and others. M. Emile Guarini has worked out a plan for the equipment of fire engine houses and numerous buildings at Brussels, Belgium, but at the time of this report it is not known whether the system has been put in operation. The idea is to utilize thermostats for alarm purposes. The rising of a column of mercury, closing the circuit, energizes an electro-magnet, which, in turn, attracts an armature and releases a disk revolving by means of a spring motor. Each disk has notches cut on its periphery at such distances that they represent arbitra- rily, in a code, the number and location of the building. When the disk revolves, its periphery projections make and break a primary circuit, setting up alternating cur- rent in the secondary coil, which, in turn, energizes an oscillator system, sending out into space the waves which represent the message. These waves are received upon a long aerial wire raised Vertically at the fire engine house and are again converted into oscillations in the resonator circuit, so that the coherer is affected in the usual way, the filings in the coherer being made to close the circuit as the waves come in, and being decohered by the tapper in the relay, circuit; the message thus received is recorded on the tape of the register for the local circuit. This system embodies some of the important features of the village and automatic sys- tems already described. At the same time, as a wirSless system can not detect the source of a signal, serious difficulties would appear to stand in the way, and the opportunities for malicious interference might be greatly increased, unless some means could be devised to protect the receiving apparatus at the engine house against receiving wireless signals originating elsewhere than at the scene of a fire. ELECTRIC POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. Eeports were received from 148 electric police patrol systems. The data for systems used interchangeably for the fire alarm and police patrol services have already been referred to in connection with the statistics for fire alarm systems. The service is of much more recent date than that of the fire alarm, and does not, therefore, include so many plants. Table 11 shows the boards or departments of admin- istration to which the several police patrol systems are subject. Table 1 1 . — Electric police patrol systems, grouped according to boards or departments of administration: 190S. BOARDS OE DEPARTMENTS OF ADMINISTRATION. Total. Administrative bodies Board of police commissioners (or commissioner) Board ol police and Are commissioners - . Board of public safety (or director, or commissioner of) . Board of public works (or commissioner of) Board of trustees Department of electricity (or city electrician) Department of fire and police patrol telegraphs Department of police and city property Department of wire inspection Fire commissioner and city council Mayor. Mayor and board of police commissioners Mayor and chief of police Mayor and city council Mayor and city marshal Police department (or police) Special committee by vote of town Superintendent of police and board of public safety . Not reported Systems. 27 6 14 4 1 7 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 , 1 21 1 1 2 From Table 11 it will be seen that 49 systems, or about one-third of the total number reported in 1902, were governed by administrative bodies — boards of aldermen, boards of selectmen, city councils, etc. — 27 by boards of police commissioners, 24 by police depart- ments, and 14 by boards of public safety. As already noted, electric fire alarm systems were installed and operated as early as 1852, and during the decade from 1862 to 1872 no fewer than 40 systems were put into operation. However, with regard to police patrol systems, work in this field was of a very uncertain and indifferent character up to the year 1881. Table 12 shows the number of police patrol sys- tems installed dui'ing each year from 1867 to 1902, inclusive: Table 12. — Electric police patrol systems installed each year. YEAR. Number. Total 148 8 1901 6 1900 8 1899 7 1898 - - . 8 5 1896 8 1895 7 1894 9 11 1892 7 1891 10 1890 13 1889 4 1888 3 6 1886 7 1885 3 1.HS4 6 1883 3 1882 1 1881 1 1880 1 1879 1 1878 1 1877 1876 1 1876 1874 . . 1 1873 1872 1871 1870 1 1869 1868 1867 1 Niunber. 140 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. It will be seen from the above table that only 8 sys- tems had been installed prior to 1882. From that j'ear onward, however, a marked increase was seen. The decade 1882 to 1892 witnessed the installation of 56 plants; the decade 1892 to 1902 was even more active, 76 plants being installed during the period, while during the eleven years from 1892 to 1902, inclusive, there were in all 84 installations. It will be observed, however, that the increase in the introduction of elec- tric police patrol systems has hardly kept pace with the adoption of fire alarm systems, the number of fire alarm systems being in 1902 more than five times as great as the number of police patrol systems, in spite of the fact that the two can be and are so frequently operated in cooperation, or under the same management. Table 13 presents the general statistics with regard to the construction and equipment of the service and the amount of work done, together with the percentage which each item is of the total: Table 13.— ELECTRIC POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS, GROUPED ACCORDING TO POPULATION OF CITIES, AND PERCENTAGE EACH ITEM IS OF TOTAL: 1902. Number of aystems Overhead construction: Miles of pole line — Owned Leased Wire mileage — Total Single wire Single wire in cables Unaerground construction: Street miles of conduit — Owned Leased Wire mileage^ Total Single wire Single wire in cables Number and cbaracter of boxes or signaling stations; Signaling Number on poles or posts All other Telephoning Number on poles or posts All other Special telephones Police calls received or sent Telephone All other Central oifice equipment: Manual transmitters Automatic transmitters Receiving registers, all kinds Receiving circuits Transmitting circuits Telegraph switchboards, number Number of sections Total capacity Telephone switchboards, number Nimiber of sections Total capacity Single circuits Central station power equipment: Motor generators and dynamotors — Number Horsepower Battery cells — Primary Storage POPULATION GROUPS. Total. 148 829 3,187 17, 339 14, 296 3,043 271 602 9,011 264 8,747 9,476 6,747 2,729 1,170 1,060 110 1,998 40, 626, 505 23, 393, 812 17,232,693 30 439 1,272 983 70 84 578 187 • 224 3,065 28 24,477 11, 317 100,000 and over. 582 1,589 13, 552 10,654 2,898 239 425 8,646 172 8,474 6,496 4,217 2,279 798 753 45 1,668 31, 658, 693 20,430,896 11, 127, 797 40 10 311 826 577 42 49 433 142 168 2,370 19, 786 4,823 60,000 and under 100,000. 101 537 1,828 1,767 61 178 58 120 1,330 1,127 203 95 94 1 197 6, 150, 225 1, 439, 191 3, 711, 034 14 7 51 138 188 12 12 64 13 17 196 1,907 3,439 25,000 and under .50,000. 95 613 1,197 1,149 48 772 101 115 78 87 112 2,301,511 404, 791 1, 896, 720 19 9 49 195 166 10 11 59 20 33 201 6 1,178 2,239 10,000 and under 26,000. 33 42 302 678 542 36 12 28 118 28 90 154 128 26 17 1,252,408 925, 731 326, 677 14 11 16 286 11 1,147 742 Under 10,000. 9 146 184 184 280 232 48 8 7 1 4 363, 668 193, 203 170, 466 2 2 7 23 14 2 460 74 PER CENT OP TOTAL. 100,000 and over. 23.0 70.2 49.9 78.2 74.5 95.2 88.2 84.6 96.9 65.1 68.6 62.6 83.5 68.2 71.0 40.9 83.5 77.7 87.3 64.6 48.2 33.3 70.8 64.9 68.7 60.0 68.3 74.9 75.9 70.6 77.6 10.7 44.4 44.4 80.8 42.6 50,000 and under 100,000. 20.3 12.2 16.8 10.5 12.4 2.0 7.0 6.2 2.0 22.0 1.4 14.0 16.7 7.4 8.1 8.9 0.9 9.9 12.7 6.2 21.6 16.9 23.8 11.6 10.9 14.0 17.1 14.3 11.1 7.0 7.6 6.4 10.7 11.1 7.8 30.4 25,000 and under 50,000. 26.; 11.4 19.2 6.9 8.0 1.6 0.4 3.6 0.8 2.3 0.7 9.2 11.5 3.7 9.8 7.3 33.7 6.6 5.6 1.7 11.0 22.9 30.0 11.2 15.3 16.9 14.3 13.1 10.2 10.7 14.7 6.6 17.9 11.1 38.9 4.8 19.8 10,000 and under 25,000. 22.3 5.1 9.5 4.4 6.6 1.3 10.6 1.0 6.2 5.9 3.6 13.2 12.1 23.6 0.8 3.1 4.0 1.9 9.6 6.7 4.8 7.1 9.0 5.7 10.7 2.4 5.9 6.7 9.3 39.3 5.6 6.6 4.7 6.6 Under 10,000. 1.1 4.6 1.1 1.3 3.0 3.4 1.8 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.2 0.9 0.8 1.0 2.4 6.7 1.6 1.8 1.4 2.9 3.6 1.4 0.5 0.5 0.1 21.4 1.9 0.6 The 148 systems reported were distributed as follows: 34 in cities of 100,000 population and over, 30 in cities of 60,000 and under 100,000, 39 in cities of 25,000 and under 50,000, 33 in cities of 10,000 and under 25,000, and 12 in cities and towns of less than 10,000. These 148 plants had a total overhead wire mileage of 17,339 miles, comprising 14,296 miles of single wire and 3,043 miles of single wire in cables, and occupying 3,187 miles of leased pole line' and 829 miles of pole line owned by the respective departments. In addition to the over- head construction there were 9,011 miles of wire in underground construction, of which 264 miles were single wire and 8,747 miles single wire in cables. This wire and cable occupied 502 miles of leased conduit and 271 miles of conduit owned by the departments. The circuits thus enumerated were occupied by 9,476 signaling boxes, of which 6,747 were on poles or posts and 2,729 otherwise disposed. There were also 1,170 telephone boxes, of which 1,060 were on poles or posts, leaving 110 in booths, buildings, etc. The number of special telephones used by the departments was 1,998. Over all these instruments 40,626,505 police calls were received or sent, of which 23,393,812 were telephonic and 17,232,693 were of signaling and all other kinds. The central office equipment of these 148 systems comprised 83 manual transmitters; 30 automatic transmitters; 439 receiving registers; 1,272 receiv- ing circuits; 983 transmitting circuits; 70 telegraph switchboards, with a total capacity of 578 lines; 187 telephone switchboards in 224 sections, with a total capacity of 3,055 drops or circuits; and 28 single circuits, the nature of which has been previously explained in connection with Table 3 of fire alarm sys- ELECTRIC POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. 141 tems. The central station power equipment for the operation of this apparatus included 24,477 cells, of primarj' battery, 11,317 cells of storage battery, and 18 naotor generators and dynamotors, with a total capacity of 18 horsepower. As in the case of the fire alarm service, the underground construction is practi- cally confined to the larger cities, none of it being found in cities of less than 10,000 population, and only 365 miles out of a total of 9,011 miles of circuit, in cities of less than 100,000 population. The bulk of the signaling apparatus, as of the circuits, whether overhead or underground, is also concentrated in the larger cities, 6,496 signaling boxes, or 68.6 per cent of the total number, being found in cities of a population of 100,000 and over, while of the telephone boxes 798, or 68.2 per cent, were found in cities of the same popula- tion group. The work done by the service followed practically the same proportions, 77.7 per cent of the total calls received or sent being limited to the cities in the highest population group. The 10,646 signaling and telephoning boxes reported were distributed over 26,350 miles of circuit, or 1 box to every 2^ miles of circuit. For these 10,646 boxes, the total number of messages sent and received was 40,626,506, giving an average, per box or station, of 3,816 messages during the year, or a daily average use of more than 10 calls. This would appear to be a very extensive use of the systems, and will give some idea of their value and service as a means of increasing the efficiency of the police department and of furnishing aid at times of emergency. It is noticeable that the use of the tele- phone predominated, the number of telephonic messages being 23,393,812, as compared with 17,232,693 of all other kinds. The difference between the fire alarm and police patrol systems is here sharply indicated. In the case of the former, when a fire breaks out, the chief object is to notify headquarters and near-by engine houses, etc., of the exact location of the fire, which can best be done by having each box preadjusted to transmit a definite signal. On the contrary, in police administration, the occasions which arise for the use of the telephone, aside from locating an officer on his beat, are of a most varied character, requiring, both in transmitting messages to headquarters and in receiving them upon a beat, the giving of a number of specific details, which could not be conveyed by prearranged signals. The inference with regard to the telephonic service is not correct, however, if based upon the num- ber of telephoning boxes only, as it would appear that the 1,998 special telephones should be considered. If, therefore, the number of special telephones be added to the number of telephoning boxes or stations, it would appear that the 3,168 telephones are to be credited each with 7,384 calls sent or received, or about four times as many as the signaling boxes, a striking demonstration of the prominent part played by the telephone in the police patrol system. The variations in the service are further illustrated by a study of the percentages shown in Table 13. The systems were well distributed, 23 per cent being in cities of 100,000 population and over, 20.3 per cent in cities of 60,000 and under 100,000, 26.3 per cent in cities of 25,000 and under 50,000, 22.3 per cent in cities of 10,000 and under 25,000, and 8.1 per cent in cities and towns of less than 10,000. The table brings out very clearly the fact that cities of 100,000 population and over reported a large proportion of the equipment; and that, extensive as the use of the police signal box and telephone has been shown to be, they are still lim- ited»to the larger cities; 68.6 per cent and 68.2 per cent, respectively, of the total number of such boxes were located in cities of 100,000 population and over, while the corresponding percentages for cities in the- smallest population group are 3 and 0.7, respectively. Moreover, cities of 100,000 populationand over received and sent 77.7 per cent of all police calls, and no less than 87.3 per cent of all telephone messages. Thus there appears to be a large field for the introduction of telephones for police service in the smaller commu- nities, where they would be most useful, the number of officers being few and the population and dwellings being sparsely scattered over a large area. Table 14 may be studied in conjunction with Table 13, as showing the number of police patrol systems report- ing the different items of construction and equipment, grouped according to the population of cities. Table 14. — Electric police patrol systems reporting different varieties of construction and equipment, grouped according to population of cities: 190£. CHAKACTER OF CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT. Overhead construction; Pole line — Owned exclusively Leased exclusively Owned and leased Overhead construction exclu- sively Underground construction: Conduit — Owned exclusively Leased exclusively Owned and leased Both overhead and underground construction Boxes or signaling stations :i Signaling boxes exclusively . . Telephone boxes exclusively . . Both signaling and telephone boxes Special telephones Central office equipment: Manual transmitters exclu- sively Automatic transmittersexclu- sively Both manual and automatic transmitters Receiving registers, all kinds. Receiving circuits Transmitting circuits Both receiving and transmit- ting circuits Telegraph switchboards ex- clusively Telephone switchboards ex- clusively Both telegraph and telephone switchboards Single circuits exclusively Central station power equipment: Motor generators and dyna- motors Battery cells — Primary Storage Both primary and storage. NUMBER OF SYSTEMS, BY POPULATION GROUPS. 14 105 29 12S 19 36 18 12 115 120 112 112 24 56 14 28 100, 000 and over. 50, 000 and under 100, 000. 25, 000 and under 50, 000. 10, 000 and under 25, 000. 25 Under 10,000. 1 10 1 11 1 table. 1 One system reported only telegraphing boxes, which are not shown in this 142 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Of the 148 systems considered, 57 used both over- head and underground wires; of these, 28 were in the first population group, 11 in the second, and 10 in the third, or a total of 49 in cities of 25,000 population and over. There were 125 systems which reported signal- ing boxes only, 19 which reported telephoning boxes only, and 3 which reported both signaling and telephon- ing boxes. Of the 112 systems using both receiving and transmitting circuits, 28 were in the first popula- tion group, 25 in the second, and 33 in the third; and of the 12 systems reporting the use of both manu«-l and automatic transmitters, 11 were in the first three groups. With regard to the power plant, it is interesting to note that 94 plants reported the use of primary bat- teries, and 74 reported their dependence upon storage batteries; a much larger proportion for the latter than could possibly have been expected. Although, as Table 15.— UNDEEGROUND CONSTEUOTION OF ELEOTEIO already noted, only 19 systems reported the use of tele- phoning boxes exclusively, and 3 the combined use of signaling and telephoning boxes, 56 reported the use of telephone switchboards. It would appear upon the face of it, that such figures must involve discrepancies, but in many of the systems in large cities the boxes are of a combination signal and telephone type, and were reported as signaling boxes only, thus vitiating to a great extent a comparison between the number of telephone boxes and the telephone calls shown in the tables. This fact accounts also for xeports of telephone messages or switchboards in cases where there are no returns of telephoning boxes or special telephones. Table 15 shows the miles of conduit and the wire mileage for the police patrol systems using underground construction, 57 cities being enumerated in 21 states and the District of Columbia. POLICE PATEOL SYSTEMS, BY STATES AND CITIES: 1902. STREET MILES OF CONDUIT. WIEE MILEAGE. STATE OR CITY. STREET MILES OP CONDUIT. WIEE MILEAGE. STATE OR CITY. Owned, Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. United States 271 502 9,011 264 8,747 22 273 Detroit ... 15 15 193 43 160 20 2 2 260 13 358 Grand Rapids 6 10 16 28 165 62 28 15 58 Minnesota 23 San Francisco 15 17 150 4 368 2 3 20 10 200 158 605 Connecticut St. Paul 158 8 1 8 1 10 1 51 760 10 1 47 Missouri 4 506 16 6 4 760 10 50 455 22 St. Louis 4 455 Nebraska 3 22 56 2 646 2 644 Omaha 3 11 22 86 2 22 Illinois 84 54 638 2 4 2 58 2' 2 638 2 2 2 56 Newark 1 9 2 60 84 2 584 2' 84 2 Paterson 1 5 New York, . . 7 7 584 Albany Indiana 4 20 5 18 13 32 20 97 12 440 15 208 20 97 12 440 15 Fort Wayne 1 4 1 5 53 2 % 5 51 2 Indianapolis 7 7 Rochester Ohio 1 3 2 27 2 27 208 Akron 1 1 20 10 137 23 2 158 25 4,224 63 23 2 158 25 4,171 Wichita 3 4 27 16 27 16 Maine , Pennsylvania 8.5 Portland 4 50 16 200 16 200 84 262 3 3,905 64 68 53' 252 3 Erie 1 75 9 1 Maryland Philadelphia 53 3,852 64 50 108 200 583 102 200 481 Pittsburg Massactiusetts 22 Rhode Island 10 68 6 36 16 1 1 9 5 5 315 45 3 2 47 9 39 22 9 20 40 5 27 26' i' 6' 4 46' 26' 315 19 3 2 47 8 39 16 5 20 5 2 Newport 5 5 6 13 66 14 13 Providence 1 56 Cambridge Virginia Clinton 14 Tall Eiver , Norfolk 1 5 4 10 2 2 4 10 Holyoke Washington 2 New Bedford : 6 io' Seattle 2 30 2 120 2 Springiieid 12 2 19 Wisconsin Waltham 120 Worcester Milwaukee 30 120 120 I Has 4 separate systems. but is treated as 1 system. The 57 systems shown in Table 15 owned 271 street miles of conduit and leased 502 miles in addition. The total wire mileage underground was 9,011 miles, of which 8,747 miles were single wire in cables, and the remaining 264 miles consisted of single wires strung separately. Table 16 presents the statistics of police patrol sys- tems by states. % 144 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Table 16.— ELECTEIC POLICE PATROL STATE OE TEKRITOKY. Num- ber of sys- tems. 148 CHARACTER OF SONSTEUCTION. NUMBER AND CHARACTER OF BOXES SIGNALING STATIONS. OK Overhead. Underground. Signaling. Telephoning. Miles of pole line. Wire mileage. Street miles of conduit. Wire mileage. Total. Num- ber on poles or posts. All other. Total. 1,170 Num- ber on poles or posts. All other. Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables, Owned. Leased. Total. Single wire. Single wire in cables. 1 United States.... 829 3,187 17, 339 14, 296 3,043 271 602 9,011 264 8,747 9,476 6,747 2,729 1,060 110 t 2 3 2 6 1 1 3 4 12 4 3 1 2 1 28 5 3 3 214 11 11 2 2 6 76' 30 2 ■ ■■(■!■)■ ■■ 2 39 113 7 4 5' 17 34 18 80 62" 28 26' "'"'246' 1 2 4' 3 43 25 96 49 64 60 ^■'20 61 326 109 42 4 16 15 488 38 100 107 13 40 2 161 465 2 324 12 299 64 20 11 18 45 101 50 1,094 139 112 140 '^'53 165 1,753 275 65 11 46 300 1,145 397 673 2,101 25 74 2 2,772 1,651 2 721 24 2,934 186 55 35 52 93 294 50 1,069 139 108 136 "63 146 1,760 275 68 8 46 300 766 397 573 2,042 25 53 2 463 1,488 2 683 24 2,932 180 65 36 52 93 294 65 860 U7 147 44 307 54 106 1,327 165 43 66 760 21 143 44 261 54 86 282 144 26 s California 26 15 16 193 43 150 100 96 4 50 50 4 4 C) - 17 16 62 68 4 fi 7 District of Columbia. . . Florida 1 6 760 760 46 ""w 1,046 21 17 200 11 46 200 11 44 "i' q 20 3 7' 3 in Illinois 56 7 2 5 1 3 4 60 108 23' 10 646 68 2 27 16 200 583 273 368 505 2 2 ""■162' 644 66 2 27 16 200 481 273 358 505 I'' Iowa 26 10 26 10 IS 1-1 51 260 1,257 346 229 48 260 978 290 137 3 TS Ifi Massacbuaetts . . 379 59' 22 22 2 4 279 56 92 62 60 12 17 18 10 490 483 7 ''n 27 27 ''1 21 3 22 22 46 8 38 90 New Hampshire 7 457 938 7 452 653 ?3 2,309 163 7 11 60 86 584 2 84 684 5 286 17 47 8 82 17 44 7 62 '"'3' 1 20 ?4 New York '>'S North Dakota ?fi Ohio-. 38 32 208 208 680 25 1,228 168 64 18 27 153 327 530 '"'983' 168 54 17 27 146 94 150 25 245 ■>? ?R 2 6 85 1 137 10 4,224 68 63 4,171 68 26 23 26 23 ?<» Rhode Island fn South Carolina SI 1 7' 233 S'' 6 14 2 120 2' 14 """126' 28 28 ss 2 30 SI 1 Not reported. 2 New York city has 4 separate systems, but is treated as 1 system. ELECTRIC POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. 145 SYSTEMS, BY STATES: 1902. Special tele- phones. POLICE CALLS EECEIVED OR SENT. OENTEAL OYFICE EQUIPMENT. Single cir- cuits. CENTP.AL STATION POWER EQUIPMENT. Telephone. All other. Transmitters. Receiv- ing reg- isters, all kinds. Re- ceiv- ing cir- cuits. Trans- mit- ting cir- cuits. Telegraph switch- boards. Telephone switch- boards. Motor genera- tors and dyna- motors. Battery cells. Man- ual. Auto- matic. Num- ber. Num- ber 01 sec- tions. Total capac- ity. Num- ber. Num- ber ol sec- tions. Total capac- ity. Num- ber. Horse- power. Pri- mary. Stor- age. 1,998 23,393,812 17,232,693 83 30 439 1,272 983 70 84 678 187 224 3,065 28 18 18 24,477 11,317 1 15,800 782,131 2 13 9 4 2 3 2 4 101 4 6 10 50 9 69 3 30 6 16 101 16 32 10 6 43 114 25 160 58 4 4 7 61 123 4 28 2 69 3 14 6 10 22 3 32 10 6 24 121 24 147 27 1 6 2 1 61 8 120 20 100 75 5,665 47 484 50 ■■"145' 125 1,999 112 62 20 110 1,218 2,465 204 96 1,759 35 355 150 206 460 906 38 236 793 314 180 96' "i,'876' 561 220 To 150 2 50 12 29 2' 2 7' ii' 15 262 41 38 269 3 1 96,208 605,400 96,814 1,2M,400 13,961 247,055 4,224,866 60,384 158,768 56,039 2 7 1 2 11 1 2 61 10 8 3 1 1 4 269,010 212, 671 13, 735 426,873 250,490 453, 916 169,660 ' 3" 1 1 2 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 5 fi 3 1 250 4 i' 1 1 7 1 2 4 2 4 8 8 9 4 5 161 50 6 2 1 1 1ft 2 5 16 11 12 3 8 3 1 1 1 1 19 19 3 8 3 1 1 20 5 43 141 45 224 185 6 20 13 241,727 295,101 6,069,828 26,605 162, 375 538,216 ^'2,856 5,475 890, 584 3,819,003 1 3 18 54 27 11 9 1 5 1 18 39 14 876,000 1,673,872 1,254,020 157,634 1,610,288 219,000 1 7 1 7 8 29 15 15 1 1 9 1 5 1 i' 3 2 8 2 3 16 17 4 15 4 15 36 185 IS 1 1 1 19 2ft 21 22 29 279 7i' 231, 306 1,541,134 54,750 1,392,904 14 8 i" 35 113 8 4 8 7 50 46 3 11 3 24 30 719 1 2 1 1 1,268 3,678 474 1,292 23 2 2 24 771,534 175,200 705, 962 693,636 §7,424 73,000 892 71, 320 5,770 2 2 22 1 52 2 1 1 4 8 12 102 3 96 67 3 4 7 14 40 84 4 4 26 8 9 239 2 7 738 100 2,478 1,349 221 "i,'26i' 62' 60' 446 602 26 27 799 18 4' 1 40 32 6,901,355 106,382 2,778 9 7 2 4 86 64 3 4 7 14 31 9 10 76 44 1 1 1 1 1 1 47 1 1 1 1 5 3 397 4 4 50 6 100 105 2 1 9I>. 29 3ft 1 146 50 ■ 40 110 31 1,225 5; 444 680,835 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 12 10 3? 1 1 1 33 4 1 1 34 146 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. The 148 police patrol systems were distributed in 32 states and the District of Columbia. ' Massachusetts is credited with the largest number, 28; New York comes next with 14; but in the latter case it should be noted that New York city, which has 4 separate sysfems, is counted as only 1 system. Illinois has 12 systems; Ohio and Pennsylvania, each 11; New Jer- sey, 8; and Connecticut and Wisconsin, each 6. It appears from the table that the number of police calls sent or received by telephone was 6,901,365 in Penn- sylvania, and 4,224,866 in Illinois, the state next in rank. The large proportion in Illinois is due to the extensive use of the telephone in the city of Chicago. In 1902 New York had 938 signaling and 47 telephon- ing boxes, and 279 special telephones, with which 5,360,137 calls or messages of all kinds were sent or received; but, as noted elsewhere, since the time of tljis report the borough of Manhattan has contracted for no fewer than 661 police patrol stations, to be operated in conjunction with the local telephone system. It is to be noted, in fact, that the number of special telephones reported in 1902 was considerably larger than the num- ber of telephoning boxes specifically described as s^ch, but it has already been explained that a considerable number of systems reporting signaling boxes used a combination system of signaling and telephoning. The foregoing table indicates that most of the "police patrol systems are located in those states having the greatest number of large cities; but it is probable that the extension of the telephone throughout the rural districts has made greater progress than appears from the figures here presented, for it is a matter of record that the use of the farmers' telephones in rural districts has greatly lessened the labor of sheriffs and constables in connection with suppressing the "tramp nuisance." HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE. The utilization of the telegraph as an aid in the detection and suppression of crime, and also in connec- tion with other duties falling to the protectors of the peace, was quite early resorted to by the police depart- ments in various large cities. In fact, one of the very earliest instances of the use of the telegraph in Eng- land — and that which did most to direct public attention to it at that time — was the forwarding from one city to another of a telegram describing an escaped murderer, who was promptly arrested by means of the assistance thus given. In the leading American cities the practice early took root of employing telegraph operators at headquarters, as members of the force, to "transmit messages and receive signals over wires connected with the police stations in the various precincts. In 1858 the firm of Charles T. & J. N. Chester made for the New York city police department a dial telegraph, which soon afterwards was adopted also by Philadelphia. It is obvious, however, that this practice, if based simply upon Morse telegraphy with the use of the key and sounder, or even with the aid of the Morse reg- ister, would involve an undue and expensive staff of operators, and these conditions could not be greatly improved even by the use of the dial system, wherein the operation of an electrical apparatus with a key- board something like that of a typewriter enables a message to be sent directly in letters of the alphabet, thus avoiding the necessity of first translating them into dots and dashes and then having them translated back again. In the case of fire alarm telegraphs, a mere notification by numerals suffices to give the required alarm and bring prompt assistance; but in the case of police patrols, the facts transmitted in each case are so varied in character as to require specific details, and even the brief delay of putting a message into the Morse code or into a cipher would consume too much time. Under tbese circumstances it was natural that resort should be had to the telephone; and the evidence goes to show that the combination of the telegraph and tele- phone as an auxiliary to the police force was first introduced in 1880 in the city of Chicago by J. P. Barrett, then superintendent of the electrical depart- ment of that city. The system was first installed in one of the most turbulent districts of the city, and at once increased tremendously the efficiency of the force, chiefly in the way of making possible a rapid concen- tration at any troubled point. Its success was so rapid that by 1893 no fewer than 1,000 street stations had been installed all over the city of Chicago, and in addition sev- eral hundred private boxes had also been put in, giving instant communication, at any hour of the day or night, with all the stations of every precinct. Since that time the idea has been carried even farther in various waj^s, as the accompanying report shows, not only in Chicago, but in other cities. Milwaukee was the second city to adopt the police telephone booth, the installation being made in 1883. Brooklyn followed in February, 1884, with many improvements, which appear to have been made there for the first time. Upon the suggestion of Frank C. Mason, superintendent of the police tele- graph bureau, iron boxes, similar to those employed in fire alarm telegraphy, were used instead of the unsightly booth. Philadelphia, however, adhered to the booth, introducing it in July, 1884; since that time the system has been extended year by j'ear, and some of the more modern street boxes have been introduced. As the work in Chicago is typical, and is the funda- mental form from which the others have been evolved, a brief description of it may be given. A special fea- ture was the adoption, for street stations, of an octagonal booth or inclosure about 8 feet high and 2 feet 4 inches in diameter. For many reasons such sentry boxes are preferable to boxes on walls or lamp-posts, as the pa- trolman once within is secure from interruption while communicating with headquarters, and, moreover, the intelligence he wishes to convey can be kept secret — a ELECTRIC POLICE PATROL SYSTEMS. 147 matter of considerable importance on many occasions. Keys whicli will open any of the street stations and boxes are given to the patrolmen of the district, and are also placed in the hands of responsible citizens, the names of the citizens and the numbers of the keys being carefully recorded. The citizen's key only turns in a call for help, but the patrolman's kej' gives him access to the inner box, from which he can transmit calls, signals, and reports, by means of telephone receivers and trans- mitters and other apparatus. The private boxes placed in residences, banks, hotels, etc., enable the persons using them to call up the police at any time by simply turning in an alarm; by pulling the lever or handle attached to the box, as in the case of the district messenger bo'xfes, the nature of the trou- ble can be indicated roughly'. ^ A't the police station is kept, under seal, a key of the house employing the sig- nal box, so that upon arrival the police can immediately let themselves in and proceed to business. Each night, the renter of the alarm box can make a test of the sys- tem, an answering ring showing the line to be in work- ing order; in the same way, after an alarm has been sent in, a return tap signal of the bell gives assurance that the call has been heard and will be attended to immediately. Notwithstanding the advantage of being able to carry on a conversation by telephone, there is a certain advan- tage in automatic signaling, as there can be no variation, and no wrong idea can be conveyed by an excited dis- patcher to a confused operator at central who can not understand what is being said. In addition to the telephone system and the automatic signals, visual signals were introduced. Semaphores were used by day and flash lights by night, by utilizing either ordinary lamp-posts or lamps placed on top of the booths; an additional feature was the ringing of a large bell. Not only are the visual signals used as a means of registering the proper circulation of patrol- men on their beats, but they have this advantage — they can be operated on all the boxes on any one circuit. The systems of the present day are analogous to that which has just been outlined, the signal box being pro- vided with a telephone, by means of which patrolmen can communicate with police headquarters. The tele- phone is supplemented, however, by other apparatus for signaling and telegraph, purposes. For example, with one type of box the patrolman advises the central office of his being on duty by opening the box with a special key, thus transmitting the number of the box, which, with the time, is recorded automatically upon a slip of paper by an electric time stamp. These signals are transmitted at a higher rate than fire alarm signals, for the reason that no heavy apparatus, such as a gong, is used. These signals may be said to correspond in their nature to those of a watchman's automatic regis- tering system, being received by the central office mechanically, without intervention of. an operator. The mechanism of the box is so arranged that when a signal requiring immediate attention is sent in, a local circuit is closed by a bell magnet, thus calling special atteiftion to the incoming signal. A further modification makes it possible, in case an officer on the beat has requested the dispatch of a police wagon or ambtilance, to convey or transfer the signal to the stables; in this event the call is transferred by the operator to the dial mechanism communicating with the stables, a lever is pulled, and the number of the box is sent over the circuit to the stables, where it is both struck by the gong and exhib- ited vi'sually on an indicator. As already stated, police patrol boxes are sometimes fitted with two keys, and the boxes ordinarily in use in the large cities are of this type. Such boxes usually- have both an outer and an inner door, the object of the outer one being generally to limit the extent to which the private citizen can utilize the box. When the key has once been put in the ' ' citizen " keyhole and turned, it can not be withdrawn until the outer door has been opened, whereupon the signal is transmitted to head- quarters. The patrolman on his rounds opens the doors, and, if he wishes merely to report his presence there, places the point of the small dial at the top of the plate inside at the "report" section, when an an- swering signal within the box will inform him that his report has been received at headquarters and that he may proceed on his rounds. Should it be desired by " central" to hold him for instructions, a definite number of strokes on the bell notifies him to use the telephone, which hangs in the inner box. This signal can be sent to any box, even in the absence of the central office attendant, thus obviating the possibility of the police- man getting away before the special call can reach him. Another form of box is fitted with the keyless door, which can be opened by anj'' citizen desiring to use it, the turning of the handle sounding an alarm on a gong and thus notif jdng any policeman at another box on the same beat that it is in use. In some systems provision is made whereby the patrolman is unable to prevent the box from keeping automatically a faithful record of his movements; for instance, a policeman could not remain at one box and from there, at the proper time, send in false signals purporting to come from other boxes at different points on his beat. It is obvious that many other modifications and changes can be introduced, ac- cording to local requirements and conditions, but the features here outlined are those which are most gener- ally used at the present time. A remarkable proof of the enlarged scope given the service by the use of the facilities of the modern tele- phone exchange is afforded by the latest development of the telephonic police signal system recently put in operation in the city of New York. This system was determined upon early in 1903, after several confer- ences between Prof. G. F. Sever, consulting electrical engineer on behalf of the city, and the representatives 148 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. of the New York Telephone Company, held at the office of Police Commissioner Greene. It was decided to install in the borough of Manhattan no fewer than 661 police telephone stations, from 20 to 30 in each of the 29 police patrol precincts. After a careful and thorough investigation it was decided to eliminate from this system all signal appliances aside from the telephone itself, it being held that everything provided for in the ordinary combination signal and telephone box, and much more, could be done through the telephone station. A station consists of a telephone transmitter and receiver and a call bell placed in a cast iron box securely fastened to the wall of a building; six of these tele- phone stations comprise one circuit. Each patrolman is provided with a key, and is required to report to the station house at a designated time in each hour; if he is delayed more than fifteen minutes a roundsman is detailed to investigate the reason for the omission of the call. It is held that there is no possibility whatever of turning in an improper report, as the operator at the central station, who knows all the men, can alwaj'S recognize the voice of the patrolman, and can deter- mine from the signal the box from which the call is made. In the station house in each precinct there is installed a small switchboard operated by speciallj' detailed patrolmen. The operator at this switchboard records the box and the time at which each patrolman reports, as well as all other messages in the nature of ambulance and patrol wagon calls, reports of riots, and other exceptional occurrences; he also telephones to police station stables for patrol wagons and to hospitals for ambulances. One improvement which it is thought maj' be desira- ble is the abolition of the circuits having telephones in series groups of six, in favor of a system in which each instrument is on a separate metallic circuit, and is pro- vided with two individual wires, as is generally the case in the modern telephone system in every large city. This arrangement would absolutely eliminate the possibility, if there is any, of collusion on the part of patrolmen with regard to reporting at the proper time but at a different box from that at which the call should be turned in. "*" All the work of installation, maintenance, and oper- ation, outside of that of the operator at the switch- board, is looked after by the New York Telephone Company, the police department paying an annual rental for the use of the apparatus. This arrangement obviates the necessity for the maintenance by the police department of a corps of skilled men to maintain and operate such a signal system as would, under ordinary circumstances, be owned by the city; and it virtually places at the command of the police department all the resources of a modern telephone exchange with its engineering staff. It is impossible to make any esti- mate of the results obtainable with this system, which at the time of writing has been installed in but one precinct, and it still remains to be seen whether it is not better for the city to maintain its own apparatus and staff. With regard to the subject of ambulance alarm cir- cuits in hospitals and public institutions — a branch of the work still in a somewhat unorganized condition — it would appear that in New York city almost all ambu- lance calls are sent in from either public or private telephone stations; a patrolman sends the call to the central police headquarters in Mulberry street, whence it is transmitted to the hospital nearest the scene of accident or trouble. The city fire alarm circuits also are sometimes used for sending in ambulance calls to fire headquarters, whence they are transmitted by tele- phone either to the nearest hospital or to police head- quarters, as, for example, when a fire chief, being near the scene of an accident, avails himself of the facilities of his department in securing prompt relief. SPECIAL FEATURES. The tables and statistical matter presented in this' report deal with a great variety of apparatus; in the course of years, however, the essential features have been standardized, so that the differences in practice are of a minor character, such as belong rather to the minu- tiae of technique than to questions in which the public is interested, and hence need hardly be noticed in a report of this character. The apparatus referred to is essentially a manufactured product, bought in the open market, usually under competitive bids, but a great many of the departments have their own repair shops, manjr of which do work of an extensive character; for example, at San Francisco the repair shops under the department of electricity not only attend to all general repairs, but manufacture all the signaling devices used on the svstem. The statistics have also brought out the fact that the systems are so overwhelmingly municipal in ownership and operation as to render it unnecessary to make a separate classification of those under private ownership. It may be noted, however, that some of the systems have been installed under conditions of peculiar or special arrangement with local service companies. The system at West Chester, Pa. , for example, was installed and is kept in operation and repair by the Edison Electric Illuminating Companj^ without expense to the town. At Dead wood, S. Dak., the system was installed, without cost to the city, bj^ the Black Hills Electric Light Compan}'. In a great many instances current for operating the services is furnished by local lighting or street railway companies, either for the exclusive oper- ation of the plant or as a supplement to the power SPECIAL FEATURES. 149 plant belonging to the system. It is interesting to note that the current for charging the storage batteries of the Buffalo fire alarm system is obtained from the power company at Niagara Falls, over twenty miles away. At Carbondale, Pa., the storage batteries of the system are charged with 500 volts current from the Scranton Street Railway Company's power plant. At Lawrence, Mass., the current is reported as being furnished by the local electric light company. In connection with the fire alarm system at Detroit, Mich. , it is reported that a portable pocket telephone, plugging into a suitable jack, is used to communicate from the fire alarm boxes with the central office, the receivers and transmitters being in series. This device is stated to have been used satisfactorily for the past five years. In Atlantic City, N. J. , it is stated that 90 per cent of all night fire alarms are now turned in by the police ofiicers, as compared with 10 per cent previous to the establish- ment of the police patrol system. Of the 38 cities hav- ing 100,000 or more inhabitants, 20 did not use manual or automatic transmitters in connection with their police patrol systems. Rochester, N. Y., claims to be the first city in the United States to install on all police telephone circuits a central energy telephone system — that is, a system in which all the energizing and operating current is fur- nished from the central exchange, as in modern tele- phone practice in the larger cities; the signaling circuits of this system are operated without using ground con- nections, condensers, or other paraphernalia in the patrol boxes. Rochester claims also that it was the first city in New York state to adopt a police telegraph system. Its police telegraph boxes are supplied with a special system of cut-outs, as a protection against being burned out by abnormal currents. In this connection it may be noted that the fire alarm system at Ports- mouth, N. H., has obviated the blowing out of fuses,, frequently occasioned by the proximitj' of heavily charged cross wires, by detaching the ground wires from all boxes and other apparatus, excepting the one used in connection with the testing switches. At Mill- bury, Mass. , the trouble caused by lightning striking the fire alarm circuits has been obviated by a relay so adjusted that the least excess of current cuts in an emergency set of batteries. Other instances of varia- tion and of special effort to improve the efficiency of the two systems might be enumerated. 18407—06- -11 APPENDICES Appendix A— SCHEDULES Appendix B.— INSTRUCTIONS TO SPECIAL AGENTS (151) APPENDIX A. SCHEDULES. SPECIAL SCHEDULE NO. 19.— TELEPHONE COMPANIES. Name of company, State, _ aty, General offices at (give state, city, street, and number), United States Census Office, Washington, D. C, July 1, 1903. By section 7 of the act of Congress for the establishment of a perma- nent Census Office, approved March 6, 1902, the Director of the Census is required to prepare a report on the telephone companies of the United States, and the following schedule has been formulated for that purpose. Mr. Thomas Commerford Martin, of New York city, expert special agent, is in charge of the electrical branch of this inquiry. The information returned on this schedule should cover the business year of the establishment most nearly conforming to the year ending December 31, 1902. All questions that require a fixed time, such as cash on hand, etc., should be of the date of the last day of the year covered by the report. Answers to questions concerning financial operations will be held absolutely confidential. S. N. D. NOETH, Director of the Census. Extract from act of Congress, March 3, 1899: Section 22. — * * * "And every president, treasurer, secretary, director, agent, or other officer of every corporation, and every establishment of produc- tive industry, whether conducted as a corporate body, limited liability company, or by private individuals, from which answers to any of the schedules, inquiries, or statistical interrogatories provided for by this act are herein required, who shall, if thereto requested by the Director, supervisor, enumerator, or special agent, willfully neglect or refuse to give trueand complete answers to any inquir- ies authorized by this act, or shall wOlfully give false information, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fiiied not exceeding ten thousand dollars, to which may be added imprisonment for a period not exceed- ing pne year-" CERTIFICATE. This is to certify that the information contained in this schedule is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and it covers the period from ,190.., to ISO... (Signature and offisdal designation of the person furnishing the information.) 1. Doescompanydo telephone business? Telegraph business? (Answer Yes or No.) \ 2. Date when this exchange system was first established: 3. Date when present company was incorporated : State in which incorporated : i. Isthiseompany a combination of other plants or companies? i 5. States in which operated : 6. Cities, towns, or villages in which operated (companies will kindly Send list of exchanges and toll stations or write same on last page) :...:.. 7. Employees, salaries, and wages: (The average number employed during the year is the number that would be required, at continuous employment, for the twelve months. If any of the persons enumerated were employed at incidental times, explain meth- f. ods 'Of employment.) 8. Average number of employees at specified weekly rates of pay: Average number during the year. Salaries and wages paid dur- ing the year. ■GeneraJ 'Officers s_ Other 'Officers, superintendents, general managers, ex- change managers, electricians, and experts €lerks .ajid bookkeepCTs (and all others not indicated ! below;) _ - ' OpexaJjOTs : Male. ._ iFemale Foremen. l!nspe:Gtoj!s_ Linemen lof sll classes Wiremen and batterymen TroubJemien All -oth:eT employees (153) 154 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. 8. Average number of employees at specified weekly rates of pay: OPERATORS. Fore- men. In- spect- ors. Line- men. Battery- men. Trouijle- men. All other em- ploy- ees. Other weekly rates of pay. OPERATORS. Fore- men. In- spect- ors. Line- men. Battery- men. Trouble- men. AU other em- ploy- Weekly rates. Male. Female. Male. Female. 16 and over. Under 16. 16 and Under over. 16. 16 and over. Under 16. 16 and over. Under 16. ees. S3 5 6 7 ' 8 9 i 10 i 11 1 . : 1 12 13 ; 14 15 16....'.. 17 18 10 ! 20 1 1 Of the total number of employees, give number working six days in the week, ; seven days, Are employees allowed one day in seven for their own use? If Sunday labor is paid for extra, mention the rate per hour, Rate of pay per hour for overtime, How many hours constitute a day's work? For operators, ; for messengers, ; other employees, Explain method of working by shifts : 9. Construction, subways or conduits: OWNED AND USED BY THIS COMPANY. LEASED FROM OTHER COMPANIES OR FROM MUNICIPALITY. KIND. Miles of street oc- cupied by subway or conduit. Total miles of duct. Total wire mileage. Total miles of duct. Total wire mileage. Cable. Single wire. Cable. Single wire. Concrete • ' 1 ■ 1 Terra cotta and vitrified clay ^ i 1 Iron pipe, plain or lined with cement Wooden duct, etc i i ii 1 Miles of submarine cable, : miles of submarine cable circuit in wire, SCHEDULES. 155 10. Construction, overhead lines: Miles ol pole line for wires or cables ; miles of single wire on pole and root line, ; miles of overhead cables, ; miles of circuit in wire m overhead cables, 11. Poles: (1) Kind of wood : (2) Sources of supply; State: (3) Specifications and prices: 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. Average price per pole. DIAMETER. Butt. Top. Sound- ness. Average price per polo. S DIAMETER. Sound- Butt. Top. ness. 1897 1 1898 1899 1 1900 1901 ! 1902 ' ' 1 Remarks.— Please give any other particulars of interest regarding specifi- cations : (4) Seasoning — manner: Time required; Average weight ol poles, seasoned, ; unsea- soned Remarks,— Please give any further particulars of interest concejning sea- soning: (5) Preservative treatment. Average life of poles, treated, Describe process in detail : ; untreated, 12. Total miles of wire in operation each year since 1890: 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1900. 1901. 1902. 13. Total number of m.essages, or talks, handled by this exchange system during the year (except on private exchange wires) : Of these, how many long distance? Total number of subscribers December 31, 1902: 14. Total number of toll connections during the year, not including long dis- tance: What kind of rate, if any, flat, graduated, measured, or other, is compulsory under law or franchise? Charges for service — Flat rate, for residence, ; business, Meas- ured service — When adopted, ; rates, (Give full description on last page of schedule and furnish copy of tarifl.) 17. Num.ber of farmer mutual or cooperative rural lines, Wire mile- age, Total number of subscribers on such lines, (Included in answer to question 13, but here separated.) 15. Telephone switchboards, power plant, and batteries: 15, 16. Manual switchboards , battery u. Common system b. Magneto system. . . Automatic switchboards. Num- ber. Engines Dynamos Electric motors for tele- phone service Num- ber. Total horse- power. Total capacity of switchboards, ; number of auxiliary cross-connection boards, distributing frames, etc., : central office magneto-generators, ringers, etc., number, ; primary batteries, number of cells, ; stor- age batteries, number of cells, 19. Total number of public exchanges and public branch offices, ; total number of private branch exchanges, ; number of automatic or nlckel- in-slot pay stations, ; number of other pay stations, ; total number of part^ lines, ; total number of stations on party lines, Total stations (boxes or telephones) of all kinds in operation at the end of each year since 1890: 20. YEAR. Number. YEAR. Number. 1891 1897 1892 1898 1893 1899 1894 1900 1896 i 1901 1896 ' 1902 21. Capital stock, bonds, and dividends: Number ol shares or bonds. Total par value. DIVIDENDS AND INTEREST. Rate. Amount. Authorized capitaUzation: S $ Preferred stock Bonds \ Capital stock and bonds issued: Common stock Preferred stock ! , 1 1 i [ 22. Stocks and bonds authorized and issued since 1890, with dividends and interest : 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Au- thor- ized. Out- standing at end of year. Divi- dends. I 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. , 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Au- thor- ized. Out- standing at end of year. Inter- est. 23. Revenue and expenses : Revenue — Gross receipts from telephone business S-. Dividends from other companies or other sources , Leased telephone lines, wires, and condmts Real estate Interest , Miscellaneous (specify items) ^^ Total S- 156 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. 23. Revenue and expenses — Continued. Expenses — General operation and maintenance $. Legal expenses Rentals and royalties on instruments Rentals of offices and other real estate Rentals of conduits and underground privileges Telephone traffic (paid or due to other companies) Miscellaneous Interest on floating debt Interest on funded debt, paid or accrued Taxes of all description Paid for use of leased lines '. Dividends paid or accrued : Carried to reserve . , Carried to surplus Total 8. Cost of lines, real estate, eqtiipment, etc., added during the .. year (indicate whether by purchase or construction). 24. Balance sheet: ASSETS. LIABILITIES. Kind. Amount. i Kind. Amount. Construction and equipment (not including telephones) . Telephones , ' S S Bonds Real estate Reserves Stocks and bonds of other telephone or of telegraph companies Bills and accounts payable Machinery, tools, and supplies Bills and accounts receivable Total s s (To be used for list of exchanges and toll stations, and for description of tariff charges. See inquiries 6 and 16.) SPECIAL SCHEDULE NO. 21.— TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. Name of company State City. General offices at (give state, city, street, and number). United States Census Office, Washington, D. 0., July 1, 190S. By section 7 of the act of Congress for the establishment of a per- manent Census Office, approved March 6, 1902, the Director of the Census is required to prepare a report on the telegraph companies of the United States, and the following schedule has been formulated for that purpose. Mr. Thomas Commerford Martin, of New York city, expert special agent, is in charge of the electrical branch of this inquiry. The information returned on this schedule should cover the business year of the establishment most nearly conforming to the year ending December 31, 1902. All questions that require a fixed time, such as cash on hand, etc., should be of the date of the last day of the year covered by the report. Answers to questions concerning financial operations will be held absolutely confidential. S. N. D. North, Director of the Census. Extract from act of Congress, March 3, 1899: Sec. 22. * * * ' 'And every president, treasurer, secretary, director, agent, or other officer of every corporation, and every establishment of productive lndusl;ry, whether conducted as a corporate body, limited liability company, or by private individuals, from which answers to any of the schedules, inquiries, or statistical interrogatories provided for by this act are herein required, who shall, if thereto requested by the Director, supervisor, enumerator, or special agent, willfully neglect or refuse to give true ahd complete answers to any in- quiries authorized by this act, or shall willfully give false ii^formation, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceed- ing ten thousand dollars, to which may be added imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year." CEETIFICATE. This is to certify that the information contained in this schedule is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and it covers the period from 190 , to , 190 . (Signature and official designation of the person furnishing the information.) . Does company do telegraph business? Land telegraph? Ocean telegraph? Railway telegraph? Telephone business? (Answer Yes or No.) Date when this company or system began operations: Date when present company was incorporated: State in which incor- porated: Is this company a combination of other plants or companies? States in which operated: Cities, towns, or villages in which operated (companies will kindly send list of Employees, salaries, and wages: (The average number employed during the year is the number that would be required, at continuous employment, for the twelve months. If any of the persons enumerated were employed at Incidental times, explain methods of employment. Do not include operators, etc., employed at railway offices and paid by railway company under agreement or understanding with tele- graph company as to use of telegraph company's lines.) Average number during the year. Salaries and wages paid dur- ing the year. Corporation officers (elected or appointed) % General officers All other employees in general offices Operators: Male Inspectors or section linemen Linemen Messengers All other employees ' Total $ SCHEDULES. 167 8. Average numter of employees at specified weekly rates of pay: OPEEATOBS. Inspect- ors or section linemen. Line- men. Mes- sen- gers.! All other em- ployees. Other weekly rates of pay. OPERATORS. Inspect- ors or section linemen. Line- men. Mes- sen- gers.! Weekly rates. Male. Female. Male. Female. All other em- ployees. 16 and over. Under 16. 16 and over. Under 16. 16 and over. Under , 16. 16 and over. Under 16. $3 4 5 6 7 S 9 10 U 12 13 14 15 IB 17 18 19 T 20 1 1 For messengers paid by the hour, day, or month (reduce all to weekly rate) . If paid by the piece or message, give rates: day, ; night. Number so employed, Of all employees, give number working six days in the week, ; seven days, Are employees allowed one day in seven for their own use? If Sunday labor is paid for extra, mention the rate per hour. Rate of pay per hour for overtime, How many hours constitute a day's or night's work? For operators, day, . . day, ; night, Others, day, ; night, Explain method of working by shifts: Does the company maintain a school of instruction to teach telegraphy? Does company contribute to private school of instruction? 9. Number of messages sent during each year since 3890, together with average receipts per message; night, Messengers, YEAR. Number of mes- sages. Average receipts. TEAK. Number of mes- sages. Average receipts. YEAR. Number of mes- sages. Average receipts. 1891 S 1895 ' 1 $ 1896 ... ' ' 1899 S 1892 1900 1893 ' ' 1897 1901 1894 1 ' 1898 1902 1 1 10. Total number of telegraph offices (including railway offices, whether operated solely, or only in part, for the business of the telegraph company) : Total number of telegraph offices in railway stations: 11. Kind of rate, if any, compulsory under law or franchise governing this company: Any limit to charges? Maximum: Minimum: . . . 12. Construction, subways or conduits: OWNED AND USED BY THIS COMPANY. LEASED FROM OTHER COMPANIES OR MUNICIPALITY. KIND. Miles of Street oc- cupied by subway or conduit. Total miles of duct. Total wire mileage. Total miles of duct. Total wire mileage. Cable. Single wire. ■ Cable. Single wire. i 158 TELEPHONES AND TELEaRAPHS. Miles of submarine cable, ; miles of submarine cable circuit in wire, 13. Construction— overhead lines owned and operated, or leased and operated: (Including lines on railways if owned, or leased and operated, by this company.) Miles of pole line, Miles of overhead single wire: Copper, ; iron, Miles of overhead cable, Mileage of conductors in overhead cables, Number of miles of wire operated: Single, ; duplex, ; quadruplex, ; machine or automatic, 14. Total wire mileage operated each year since 18S0: Mileage. 1894. 1895. 1896. Mileage. 17. Power plants in ofBces: 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 15. Pole lines leased to other telegraph companies: Number, ; length, ; wiremileage, Pole lines leased from other telegraph companies: Num- ber, ; length, ; wire mileage, Circuit mileage of wire leased to exchanges, individuals, business companies, and press associations, Miles of pole line on railways: Copper, ; iron, Miles of other wire on railways, if any: Copper, ; iron, Wire mileage of pole line on railways: Copper, ; iron, Number of rail or railway systems (state which) embraced : 16. Poles: (1) Kind of wood: (2) Sources of supply: State, . (3) Specifications and prices: Average price per pole. DIAMETER. Sound- ness. YEAR. 1 DIAMETER. Average Sound- Butt. Top. P°"'- ^Butt. Top. ness. 1891 ^ 1897 s 1892 . 1 1898 1 1893 1899 i 1 1894 ' L 1900 1895 ' :::: 1901. ..1 - J 1896. . 1 1902 Remarks.— Please give any other particulars of interest regarding specifi- cations: (4) Seasoning— mannor: Time required, Average weight of poles, seasoned, ; unsea- soned, Kemarks.— Please give any further particulars of interest concerning sea- soning: (5) Preservative treatment: Average life of poles, treated, treated, Describe process in detail: Engines Dynamos Motor generators . Number of ofEces using dynamo current for telegraphy. Batteries in offices: Number. Total horsepower. Primary batteries . Storage batteries . , Number of cells. 18. Capital stock, bonds, and dividends: Authorized capitalization: Common stock Preferred stock Bonds Capital stock and bonds issued: Common stock Preferred stock Bonds Number of shares or bonds. Total par value DIVIDENDS AND INTEREST. Rate. Amount. 19. Stocks and bonds authorized and issued since 1890, with dividends and interest: STOCK. BONDS. TEAR. Au- thor- ized. Out- stand- ing at end of year. Divi- dends. R "^='^=- , Au- ; thor- i ized. [ Out- stand- ing at end of year. Inter- est. 1891 1892 . . . S S 1891 8 1892 S S 1893 1893. ' 1894 1 1894 |. . 1895 1895 1896 1896. 1897 1897 1898 1898 1899 1899 1900 t 1900... 1901 1901 1902 ; 1902 SCHEDULES. 159 20. Revenue and expenses: Revenue — GSross receipts, telegraph traffic (including traffic receipts $. from other companies). Dividends from other companies or other sources Leased telegraph lines, wires, and conduits Real estate Interest Miscellaneous (specify items) Total Expenses — General operation and maintenance Legal expenses Rentals of offices and other real estate t. Rentals of conduits and underground privileges Telegraphic traffic (paid or due to other companies) . Paid or due to telephone companies for traffic Miscellaneous Interest on floating debt Interest on funded debt , paid o r accrued Taxes of all descriptions Paid for use of leased lines Dividends paid or accrued Carried to reserve Carried to surplus Total S. Cost of lines and equipment added during the year (indicate whether hy purchase or construction), S 21. Balance sheet: ASSETS. LIABILITIES. Kind. Amount. Kind. Amount. Construction and equipment . S Bonds - . - graph or of telephone com- panies. Bills and accounts payable . Dividends unpaid Machinery, tools, and supplies Surplus. $ Total $ SPECIAL SCHEDULE NO. 17.— MUNICIPAL FIRE ALARM. Name of municipality, General office; street and number, . State, United States Census Office, Washington, D. C, April 15, 1903. By section 7 ,of the act of Congress for the estabhshment of a perma- nent Census Office, approved March 6, 1902, the Director of the Census is required to prepare a report on the telegraphs and telephones of the United States, and the following schedule has been formulated for that purpose. Municipal fire alarm telegraphs are an important feature of the development of the use of electricity, and to aid in insuring a complete presentation it is urgently requested that municipal authorities fill out and return this schedule promptly. The inquiry comprehends only police patrol and fire alarm systems operated by electricity. A return of systems othervrise operated, if any, is not required. If fire alarm telegraph and police patrol telegraph are operated under the same supervision, separate reports should be made on special sched- ules Nos. 17 and 18, respectively. If this is not practicable, a full report for the entire system should be made on this schedule. Mr. Thomas Commerford Martin, of New York city, expert special agent, is in charge of the electrical branch of this inquiry. The information returned on this schedule should cover the year ending December 31, 1902. If this is impracticable, the year covered by the report should be the last fiscal year of the municipality. All questions that require' a fixed time should be of the date of the last day of the year covered by the report. WILLIAM R. MERRIAM, Director of the Census. CEETIFICATE. This is to certify that the information contained in this schedule is complete and correct, to the best of my knowledge and belief, and it covers the period from ,190 , to ,190 (Signature and official designation of the person furnishing the information.) 1. Date when system was installed: 2. By what department, bureau, or board administered (give full particulars) : . . . 3. Is system owned by city? 4. If any part of system is leased from, or operated in connection with, a private company, give name of company, cost, and full particulars of the agreement or arrangement: 5. Are municipal fire alarm and municipal police patrol under the same super- vision? (If operated under the same supervision, separate reports should be made on schedules Nos. 17 and 18, respectively. If it is impracticable to separate accounts, a complete return should be made for the entire system on this schedule.) 6. Salaries and wages (electrical department only) : (For headquarters, central, and substation employees whose time is wholly occupied with the management, care, or operation of the electrical department of the fire alarm telegraphs, or the accounts thereof. The average number employed during the year is the number that would be required, at continuous employ- ment, for the twelve months. If persons are employed at odd times to care for line, batteries, or other equipment, please explain methods of employment.) 160 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. General managers, superintendents, electricians, and experts Clerks "and bookkeepers Operators of all kinds: Male Female Foremen and inspectors Linemen, wireraen, batterymen, etc All other employees of electrical department exclusively.... , Average num- ber employed during the year. Total salaries and wages paid during the year. 7. Character of construction: OVEEHEAD CONSTRUCTION. UNDEEGEOUND CONSTEUCTION. Miles of pole line for wires or cables. Total wire mile- age. Miles of single wire (other than cables). Miles of single wire in cables. Street miles of conduit. Total wire mile- age. Miles of single wire (other than cables). Miles of single wire in Owned. Leased. Owned. Leased. cables. If the poles or conduits are not owned by the city, does the city have perpetual right of way, without cost, covered by city ordinance? 8. Number and character of boxes or signaling stations: Signaling Telegraphing.. Telephoning. . . Annunciating . Total number of boxes. Number of boxes on poles or posts. All other boxes. Where boxes or signaling stations are equipped with more than one form of apparatus, please so state, giving description of equipment Number of special telephones, 9. Number of fire alarms of all kinds received during the year, Number of police calls received or sent during the year: Telephone, . all other, (When this schedule is used for both municipal fire alarm and police patrol, alarms and calls should be separated, as provided for in this question. When used for fire alarm only, police calls are not to be given.) 10. Central office equipment: Manual transmitters: Number, ; kind, Automatic transmitters: Number, ; kind, Receiving registers of all kinds: Number, Receiving circuits: Number, Transmitting circuits: Number, Telegraph switchboards: Number, ; kind, ; number of sections, ; total capacity, Telephone switchboards: Number, ; kind, ; number of sections, ; total capacity, 11. Central station power equipment for signaling purposes only: Engines Dynamos Motor generators and dynamotors. Total horsepower. Primary batteries . Storage batteries . . Number of cells. Please give full description of any peculiar features of the fire alarm electrical service of your city: SPECIAL SCHEDULE NO. 29.— RAILWAY TELEGRAPHS AND TELEPHONES. Washington, October 15, 1903. Sir: In order to comply with the requirements of section 7 of the act of Congress of March 6, 1902, providing for the collection of statis- tics relating to telegraph and telephone business, it is necessary that all railroad companies operating telegraph and telephone lines answer the following inquiries. It is of importance that these statistics be col- lected as rapidly as possible and that the reports be published at the earliest practicable date. I shall, therefore, be pleased to have your company answer the following inquiries and return this sheet at once to the Bureau of the Census in the inclosed official envelope, which requires no postage. Very respectfully^ S. N. D. North, Director. 1. Name of railroad company or system making this report 2. Location of general offices: State , City 3. Names of subsidiary or consoUdated companies embraced in this report. 4. Did the company or system making this report operate telegraph lines during 1902 in connection with the operation of the railroad 7 5. Did the company or system making this report operate telephone lines during 1902 in connection with the operation of the railroad ? 6. Total number of telegraph offices 7. Total number of offices equipped with telephones 8. Total number of telegraph messages sent during year covered by report for railroad business 9. Total number of telephone messages sent during year covered by report for railroad business Total number of telegraph messages sent during year covered by report for commercial business Power plants in offices: a Engines number ; total horsepower b Dynamos number ; total horsepower c Motor generators . .number ; total horsepower d Number of offices using dynamo current for telegraphy e Batteries in offices. .-!^^i°^^^y^^**®^ies- Number of ceUs ^Storage batteries: Number of cells 12. Number of sets of Morse instruments ; of other telegraph instruments 10. 11 13. Number of telephones in use . (Name and title of official giving this information.) APPENDIX B. INSTRUCTIONS TO SPECIAL AGENTS. Reports must be secijred on special schedule No. 19 (Form S-308) for all telephone companies and exchange systems thereof doing a public business that were in existence during any portion of the year ending December 31, 1902, whether owned by a company, firm, partnership, or individual, or operated as farmer cooperative or mutual rural lines. Many farmer cooperative or mutual rural lines or companies have no exchange offices or centrals of their own, but either connect with the exchange office or central of some other company or mutually maintain and operate an exchange or central. Where a farmer cooperative or mutual rural line connects with an exchange of another company, agents must be careful to inquire whether the data relative to such a line is included in the report of the company with which it connects, and, if not so included, a separate re- port must be secured. Where several mutual farmer lines maintain and operate an exchange or central jointly, one report should be obtained for the several Mnes, and the names of these lines must be given. In a number of instances companies that were doing an independent business in 1902 have since become absorbed by or merged into other companies. If in such cases the report does not include the statistics for the merged companies, they must be reported on a separate schedule or schedules. Reports must not be secured for proposed systems or for systems not in operation during any part of the year 1902. The schedule must be carefully prepared in conformity with the gen- eral practice of the division of manufactures in gathering statistics concerning manufactiures, street railways, electric light and power plants, mines and quarries, etc. All questions must be carefully an- swered, and amounts reported in answer to each inquiry should be tested individually and with the totals. All entries in the schedule must be made clearly and neatly in ink. Quantities and values must be obtained from book accounts, if such accounts are available. Each question is to be answered. If any ques- tion is found not apphcable and no amounts are reported, write the word "None." An exact answer to each item enumerated in the several questions is what is required, and is what should be given if it can be secured with a reasonable amount of labor. In all cases where the answers are esti- mated the amounts must be preceded by the word "Estimate." Each agent will be furnished with a list giving the names, locations, and addresses of all companies in the territory assigned to him which were in existence during the year ending December 31, 1902. This list has been carefully prepared from information received from the tele- phone companies and from other sources. It may not, however, be entirely complete, and the agents therefore must be constantly on the alert to discover other companies or exchange systems that were in operation in 1902. If any are discovered the Office should be advised of the names and locations thereof, and should any be within the terri- tory assigned the agent, he should proceed to secure returns for them in the same manner that reports are secured from exchange systems already on the lists, unless they are hcensees of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (Bell), in which case they are not to be taken, as returns for the companies controlled by this system will be secured from its central office in Boston, Mass. In forwarding the reports for unlisted exchange systems the agent must call attention to the fact that they do not appear on the official list. The agent is required to visit the different localities in the order in which they are named on the list, unless he finds that railroad connections and local conditions make a change necessary. In such cases the condition and character of the change must be stated on the agent's daily report. Reports have been secured from some of the companies by correspondence. In such cases the fact is noted on the hst, and the agent should not visit the company. The agents will be notified if additional reports are received by corre- spondence and will be furnished with a memorandum of the correc- tions, if any, required for such reports. In all cases where an annual report of the company is printed, a copy of the latest report should be secured and forwarded with the schedule. Copies should also be returned of any other printed matter that will add to the information contained in the schedule. Agents will transmit all schedules promptly, at the close of each day if possible, to the Census Office at Washington, D. C. They are re- quired to comply with all regulations governing fieldwork and to sub- mit daily reports on the blanks prepared for that purpose. The names of exchange systems and companies for which returns were secured, and also of those visited but for which reports were not obtained, must appear on the report for each day. Agents must also under "Re- marks,'.' on the daily report, keep the Office advised of the probable date on which they will complete their present assignment, with mention, always, of their post office and telegraph address. The relative effi- ciency of each agent will be determined, in part, from these dail}' reports. Give on the first page of the schedule the name of the company, firm, or individual owner, the state, city, and post office, and the address of the general office if different from that of the exchange system. Ob- tain also the signature and official designation of the person furnishing the information. The signature of the special agent securing the return should in every case be written on the lower left-hand corner of the schedule. Inquiry 1. — Nature of Business. The two inquiries, "Does company do telephone business? Tele- graph business?" are asked of all telephone companies, but it is prob- able that only a few will be found that do both a telephone and a tele- graph business. For these the answer will be "Yes" to both inquiries. Where a company does only a telephone business the answer will be " Yes " to the first and " No " to the second question. Where a company does both a telephone and a telegraph business, and the system of ac- counts will permit of the preparation of separate reports, such reports should be secured for the telephone and telegraph business, respectively. If separate reports can not be obtained, one report should be made on special schedule No. 19 for the entire system; but in the case of large telegraph companies doing a telephone business incidentally, the com- bined report should be made on special schedule No. 21, for telegraph companies. (161) 162 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. Wliere a telephone system is leased to and operated by another com- pany this fact should be stated in answer to inquiry 4 of the report for the lessee company, which should include the report of the leased system. It is the practice of some of the telephone companies to lease or rent some of their wires for the year or other specific periods for telegraphic work, as, for example, to stock brokers, provision houses, etc. In other cases the companies may employ systems which allow the successful transmission of telegraph and telephone messages at the same time over the same wires; and it is understood that these composite circuits are on the increase. Where the company leases its wires for telegraph work the fact should be elicited and stated. And if the company is using the same wire or wires for simultaneous telegraph and telephone work the fact should be noted as fully as possible. Inquiry 2. — Date When This Exchange System was Estab- lished. Give the date, if obtainable, when each exchange system owned by the company began operations, which will not necessarily be the date when the present owners assumed control. For census purposes, an exchange system is any number of exchanges owned by a company, corporation, firm, or individual, within one city, town, or village. Every telephone company must be accounted for, and a separate report made for each exchange system. The schedule covering the business of the exchange system in the city where the gen- eral oflBce of the company is located should include answers to inquiries 3, 4, S, 6, 21, 22, 23, and 24 for the company's entire system. If it be found impossible to secure separate reports for each exchange system, one report covering all the exchange systems of a company will be accepted. Inquiry 3. — Date and State of Incorporation. The year when the company owning the exchange system was incor- porated should be given, and the name of the state in which it was incorporated. Inquiry 4. — Is This Company a Combination of Other Companies? If the company has purchased, or in any other way obtained pos- session of, other companies or plants which it operates, the answer should be "Yes." If not, the answer should be "No." Inquiry 5. — States in Which Operated. In cases where companies operate exchange systems in more than one state, the names of the states in which operated should be given in answer to this inquiry. Inquiry 6. — Cities, Towns, and Villages in Which Operated. If the company reported owns or operates an exchange system in more than one city, town, or village, a complete list of exchanges and toll stations should be returned with the schedule, or written under "Remarks " on last page. It will be understood that the schedule does not require the enumera- tion of every station, but that the object is to enumerate every place to which telephone facilities have been extended. The toll stations wiU, therefore, in this sense, describe a place where the company does business, but the business is not large enough to warrant the establish- ment of a regular central office or exchange. The exchange or central office should be distinguished, with the number of each class, and also the toll stations, with the number of each. Inquiry 7. — Employees, Salaries, and Wages. This statement is required in order to obtain the number and wages for each class of employees. Account for all persons employed by the company, both in the management and in the operation of the line. The number of employees who were engaged on new construction work, and their salaries or wages, should not be included in the answer to this inquiry. The wages of such employees should show only in the amount reported for "Cost of lines, real estate, equipment, etc., added during the year," inquiry 23. Give the number of officers who receive salaries (not the number of stockholders) and the amount of their salaries for the period covered by the report. Report separately the number and wages of operators, foremen, inspectors, linemen, and other classes of employees specified. The salaries and wages should include board or rent furnished as part compensation. The average number employed during the year is the number that would have continuous employment for the twelve months. There should be no difficulty in securing this information from a company of ordinary size, but it may be that the large companies keep an itemized pay roll, the total only being carried forward from each week or month. In such cases it will be necessary either to add the pay roll of each week or month for each class of employees, or to compute the aggregate for each class, using a pay roll for a representative week, or month, as the base. Results obtained by the latter method will be accepted, and should represent the pay roll for the pe«od covered by the report. Inquiry 8. — Average Number op Employees at Specified Weekly Rates. This inquiry is designed to ascertain the number of employees for each of the classes enumerated according to weekly rates of pay. The distribution should be made according to the actual rates and not based on an average. If there are weekly rates other than those speci- fied in the schedule, enumerate them, and give the number of employees for each; also give the hour rates for overtime for each of the classes. Where the employees are paid by the hour, day, month, or year the rate of pay prevailing should be reduced to a weekly basis. Generally speaking, the wages may be for a seven-day or a seven- night week; yet, for some employees it may be six days or nights. It is important, therefore, to give the average number working each of these kinds of weeks. This is provided for in the first line under the table. The total should agree with the total in the table, and the total of operators, etc., shown under inquiry 7. Sometimes employees are given Sunday for their own use; sometimes they are paid extra for Sunday labor (if weekly wages are based upon six days ' work) . These questions, as well as those referring to hours of labor per day (or night) for various classes, merit close attention. Give a clear explanation of the arrangements, if any, for working by shifts. The last page of the schedule may be used for this purpose, if necessary. Inquiry 9. — Construction: Subways and Conduits. Underground conduits are generally owned by the telephone com- panies. There are, however, a few instances in which they are owned bj' an underground conduit company or by the municipality. In these cases the telephone company pays for the privilege of using the ducts through which its mains and feeders are drawn. Underground con- duits are usually manufactured so that when laid under the street they present several duct& to be filled with cable for carrying elec- tricity. "Total wire mileage in cables" means miles of single wire in cables. If a cable contains two wires running 1 mile, the wire mileage is 2. If there is 1 mile of single wire in each of four ducts the wire mileage of single wire is 4. "Miles of submarine cable" refers to length of cable laid under water across bays, harbors, rivers, and other bodies of water; and ' 'Miles of circuit in wire," the number of miles of single wire they contain. Inquiry 10. — Construction: Overhead Lines. "Miles of pole line" means the number of miles in length covered by the poles on which the wire is strung, whether these lines are cables or single wires. "Miles of single wire on pole and roof line" calls for the length of all the wires (except the wire in cables) and the answer will be the wire mileage on roofs added to the wire mileage on poles with the exception of the cable wires. "Miles of overhead cables " calls for the length of cables, and ' 'Miles of circuit in wire in overhead cables," the total length of all the wires inclosed in the cable. INSTRUCTIONS TO SPECIAL AGENTS. 163 Inqdiey 11. — Poles. The kind of wood, such as chestnut, cedar, Norway pine, etc., should be stated. Give the name of the state where the poles were cut. The questions under specifications and prices should be carefully answered for each year since 1890, during which the exchange system has been in existence. Manner of seasoning refers principally to whether poles are seasoned by the natural process of drying or in a dry kiln. The preservative treatment refers to the process by which the life of the pole is lengthened. Inquiry 12. — Miles of Wire in Opebation. The total miles of wire in operation are required for each year since 1890 during which the exchange system has been in existence. Inquiry 13. — Talks and Subscribers. In reply to this inquiry the total number of messages or talks — originating calls — should be given, except those over private exchange wires. Long distance messages should, while included in the total, be separately reported. The total number of messages or talks should include all toll connec- tions and subscribers' talks, but not "service" messages, or talks by telephone officers or employees, nor free talks. The total is the whole number of messages or talks during the year covered by the report, and should be equal to. the sum of the total exchange connections and the total long distance and toll connections. A long distance connection is one between exchange systems of differ- ent companies, but this definition is subject to modification, and the practice of the companies submitting reports may be accepted. In securing information for the schedule it will be found that a wide variation will probablj^ exist in the application of the terms "long distance connection," "toll connection," etc., and the object is to sep- arate or distinguish the long distance and toll connections from the regular conversations within the central office or exchange district for which no extra charge is made. This point is alluded to again in the instructions under inquiry 14, where it is explained that all talks or messages from pay stations within the same central office or exchange systems are to be counted as regular subscribers' talks, as these do not imply any exchange of business between separate companies or separate exchange systems. It will happen, however, that pay stations are very often used for long distance service, and in this event it is believed that all companies will have records bearing upon this point and giving the separate figures, enabling the separation to be made between simple exchange connections and the "extraterritorial" work. The total number of subscribers should include subscribers of all kinds, whether having single stations or private branch exchanges, as of record for the last day of the year covered by the report. Inquiry 14. — Toll Connections. For census purposes, a toll connection is one between exchange systems of the same company. All talks or messages from pay stations of any kind within the same exchange system are to be treated as exchange connections. Inquiry 15. — Is Rate Compulsory? In some states and cities it may be found that the statute law, or an ordinance, or the charter under which the company operates, requires the company to charge a certain kind of rate, and not more than a cer- tain sum, for use of its line. Rates are usually ■ divided into flat, graduated, and measured, but there may be other kinds. Some one, or all, of these may be required or permitted, and it is important to mention them with accuracy. A fiat rate is a fixed sum per year. A graduated rate may be fixed for a series of years, but may vary in amount, as $40 for the first year, $30 for the second, $25 for the third, and so on to the end of the term. A measured rate is one in which the subscriber is entitled, for a certain sum, to a definite number of calls, say 600 per year. If he exceeds this number (and the record is kept in the exchange) he is charged a certain rate for each additional message or talk. In many places this is becom- ing the prevailing method. It is hardly likely that it will be required by law. It is probable that the flat rate will sometimes be required, with a fixed maximum, differing, perhaps, for business places and for residences, in which case required rates should be carefully noted. It is probable that in some cases compensation is required for franchise or charter, as, for instance, free telephones for municipal purposes, or use of poles or conduits for municipal wires. Such provisions should be described fully on the last page of the schedule. Inquiry 16. — Charges for Service. The various kinds of charges, as set forth under inquiry 15, are here provided for. Rates, flat and measured, should be given in the blanks left for that purpose, with the year when measured rates were adopted. Specify whether the rates given represent month or year. Rate cards, if in use, should always be obtained and attached to the schedule. Full explanations concerning replies to this inquiry should be given on the last page of the schedule under "Remarks." Inquiry 17. — Farmer or Rural Lines. The growth of farmer or rural lines, especially in the middle West and Western states is notable. The number of such lines, the wire mileage (length of all wires), and the total number of associated farmers or rural subscribers should be reported separately in answer to this inquiry. The wire mileage on such lines, when owned and operated by the com- pany reporting, must be included in reply to construction (probably overhead) — inquiry 10 — and the total number of subscribers, in reply to inquiry 13. Many farmers have associated themselves in mutual or cooperative companies, building the circuits at their own expense, and connecting them with a regular telephone exchange system. The number and names of such lines, together with the total wire mileage, and total number of associated farmers or rural subscribers of these lines must be given by the telephone exchange system with which they are connected, the names being given on the last page of the schedule. Cooperative or mutual companies operating independently of other exchanges should be reported on separate schedules only. In case the company reporting owns farmer or rural lines,.and also has cooperative or mutual lines connecting with its exchange system, hoik should be reported in inquiry 17, but the figures for each should be given separately. This is considered one of the interesting features of the present inquiry as bearing upon the development of a novel branch of cooperative work, and as eliciting the extent to which the telephone is modifying rural con- ditions. In some cases it will be found that a farmers' group is simply a network of intercommunicating telephones with several on a single wire, and probably without a central office. But these cases should he regarded as one central office or exchange system and treated accord- ingly, even if the network should have no outside connection with other places. Inquiry 18. — Switchboards, Power Plants, and Batteries. Switchboards are, as a rule, classed as "manual," that is, they are operated by the hand of the operator, who connects the jacks with the proper numbers as the calls are received. Occasionally an automatic switchboard will be found by which the subscriber, using a. device attached to his telephone box, can make connection with the person with whom he desires to converse. The number and horsepower of engines, dynamos, and motors or motor generators (for telephone service only, not for lighting or other purposes) are asked for. The horsepower of these machines is easily ascertainable, being usually found on the name plate of the machine itself; if not, the engineer or electrician should be able to give it of his own knowledge. Electric motors are often known, in this connection, 164 TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS. as motor generators. They are used to convert the current to a lower or higher voltage. This current is sometimes put directly on the wire from the motor; sometimes it is fed into storage batteries, from which it is used as occasion requires, ilotors may be used under both local and central energy, or common battery systems; in the former case, they are used only to enable the operators to ring up subscribers without the use at the switchboard of a magneto-generator; in the latter, not only for this, but to furnish the current, either directly or from storage batteries, for the conversational use of the wires. The number of switchboards operated by the common battery sys- tems and the number by the magneto system are required to bo given. A common battery is often called "central energy." It is a battery, either storage or primary, located at the exchange for operating all the subscribers' stations. In a magneto system a primary battery is at each telephone station or box. This furnishes the current for conver- sation; the current for the ringing up of central is created by a magneto- generator attached to the telephone. The subscriber, by turning a little crank, sets the electro-magnet revolving, and thus sends in his sig- nal. Under the common battery system the removal of the receiver from its hook closes a circuit and lights a lamp or operates a drop at the distant switchboard in the exchange. The number of magneto-generators, ringers, etc., is required. This is the number at exchanges, not those attached to subscribers' telephones. The total capacity for which switchboards are equipped is the num- ber, not only of subscribers already accommodated, but of those that, with existing equipment, may be connected. Auxiliary cross-connec- tion boards and distributing boards should not be confounded with switchboards. Auxiliary cross-connection boards are those to which, in some large exchanges, wires are trunked out or connected with out- lying exchanges that are very much in demand. Distributing .frames are the main distributing frames by which the wires are received into the exchange from the conduits or otherwise and distributed to the operating rooms. Tester boards, by which the wires are tested for defects when complaints are made, may be attached to them. But there are also auxiliary distributing frames in operating rooms; these should be included. Through them the wires are distributed to the switchboards. The number of cells of batteries is the number of jars. Primary bat- teries generate electricity by the action of acids upon metallic plates (the ordinary method); storage batteries are those in which electricity is stored by means of an electric current. An engine, dynamo, and motor generator — or a motor generator only (sometimes a motor generator may be called a motor only) — may correctly appear in a schedule without either storage or primary bat- teries, but this will seldom be the case. Storage batteries may appear without engine, dynamos, or motor generator, for the electric current may be furnished by an electric lighting or power company. If there is a magneto switchboard, there must be magneto-generators, ringers, etc. Inquiry 19. — Exchanges and Stations. A public exchange is a place where wires are interconnected by means of a switchboard for the use of the public generally. The number of these is called for. Public branch oflBces are also to be included with public exchanges. A private branch exchange is an exchange office within a business building, apartment house, hotel, etc. — sometimes in a residence — through which wires running from one building or depart- ment or office or room to another are connected by a switchboard, thus establishing interior communication. Conversation with the outside world through the private exchange is had by connection with the pub- lic exchange. The number of these private exchanges should be given by the company owning them, each trunk line being counted as a sub- scriber. The object in counting a trunk as a subscriber is that it is believed to be the invariable practice to charge for each additional trunk, the trunk being the basis of charge by the telephone company rather than the fact that the subscriber has a private exchange con- nected with central. It should be noted, however, that the use of the word "exchange" is more particularly a practice limited to the Bell system. With the inde- pendent telephonists — i. v., those who are not operating as licensees of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, which is the parent company of the Bell system — it is quite a common practice to call the exchange a central office, and to use this phrase to the entire exclusion of the word exchange. The function of the two is, however, identical, the exchange being a central office and the central office being an ex- change. Branch central offices should also be included in the same way as- public branch exchanges, their functions being identical. It will be found that both among Bell telephonists and independents the exchange, or central office, is colloquially called "central," this being also the descriptive epithet used by subscribers. The number of automatic or nickel-in-slot pay stations (which in- clude all in which coins of any denomination, or tokens, are deposited) is to be entered separately; likewise the number of other pay stations. In entering the number of stations (or boxes or telephones) of all kinds those attached to private branch exchanges, as well as those connected with public exchanges, should be taken into account. The total number of party lines is also called for. A party line is defined as one having two stations or more upon one circuit. In this case, as in others, the company definition of party line should be ac- cepted. The total number of stations on party fines is also required. Inqoiky 20. — Total Stations (Boxes or Teleehones). The total number of stations (boxes or telephones) of all kinds in operation at the end of each year since 1890 ( or for each year since the estabfishment of the exchange system) is required. Inquiry 21. — Capital Stock, Bonds, and Dividends. Only the capital stock and bonds authorized or issued for the estab- lishment by the company of a telephone business should be included here, unless the system of accounting is such that a separation can not be made, in which case one report on special schedule No. 19 must be prepared, as set forth in instructions under inquiry 1. Account for the entire amount of stock and bonds authorized and the amount outstanding at the end of the y^ar covered by the report. Give full amount of dividends declared during the year. In some cases companies have been reorganized or consolidated and the new company has issued stock, the new stock being accepted by the holders of the original stock, which was surrendered to the new company. The new company may also issue bonds and assume the debt represented by the bonds of the original companies, which may or may not be retired. In such cases there may be no cash realized on either the stocks or bonds of the new company, but the amount of stocks and bonds issued by the new company, and also the amount of the stocks and bonds of the orig- inal company outstanding, must be given, and the agent should attach a memorandum to the schedule giving a full explanation of the issues of both stocks and bonds. The amounts for the old and new companies should be given separately. Inquiry 22. — Stocks and Bonds Since 1890. The amount of all stocks and bonds outstanding at the end of 'each year, and the total amount of dividends declared each year since 1890 (or for such number of years as the company has been in existence), are to be given in answer to this inquiry. Inquiry 23. — Revenue and Expenses. This is what is known as an income account, not a cash statement, and is intended to show the earnings and receipts of the company for one year. Revenue. — The items under the head of "Revenue" generally explain themselves. "Gross receipts from telephone business" means total receipts for the use of telephones — subscribers' (including those having private branch exchanges) pay stations of all kinds, also gross receipts either for messages sent or received. "Dividends from other compa- INSTRUCTIONS TO SPECIAL AGENTS. 165 nies or other sources" should include all dividends received on stock owned by the company in other companies, whether such companies do a telephone or any other-kind of business. The amount received for the leasing of telephone lines and wires and conduits should be given in answer to the next subquestion. If instruments are rented with these leased lines — which may be a system — or with the wires — which may include a single wire — receipts for such should be included under this head. Sometimes conduits may be leased, in part, to another telephone company or to a city or to an electric light company. The receipts for this rental should be placed in this item. " Real estate " covers receipts from rental of offices, buildings, or land, and "Interest" amounts received as interest on money loaned. It is possible that some com- panies have a separate messenger service and that an independent revenue is derived from that source. This and all receipts from sources other than those enumerated should be included under " Miscellaneous." The items should be specified. Expenses. — All payments for the general operation of the company and the maintenance of the lines and business, except as indicated in the subquestions following, are to be placed opposite the first sub- question. This item should also include, among other things, salaries of all kinds, whether administrative or otherwise (except salaries that may be paid for legal services, which are provided for in " Legal expenses ") , and wages of all kinds, and the supplies of all kinds (wire, telephones, etc.), consumed during the year, etc. Expenses and wages incident to new construction should not be included. Legal expenses should include everything paid in settlement of claims for damages, law charges, and counsel fees, of whatever kind, whether for securing franchises, for reorganization, for funding processes, for securing right of way, etc. Interest is divided into interest on floating debt and interest on funded debt as bonds. Taxes of all descriptions should include taxes on real estate, franchise, licenses, wire mileage, gross receipts, etc. "Tele- phone traffic paid to other companies" means toll paid to other com- panies for the transmission of messages or talks. The amount reported as "Carried to reserve" should include the amount set aside for sinking fund to meet bonds and notes, etc., or for the purpose of providing against depreciation of plant or to create an insurance fund. Below the total expenditures is a question concerning the cost of lines, real estate, equipment, etc., added during the year, whether by purchase or construction. The amount reported for this question should not be included in any of the expense items. The term "lines" is intended to include all things necessary to complete a system for operation — poles, wires, conduits, terminal buildings, offices, etc., and all attachments not included in "equipment." "Equipment" con- sists of the power house plant, engines, dynamos, motor generators, batteries, switchboards, distributing frames, arrester boards, tele- phones of all kinds, telephone cabinets, desks, etc., and all else not included in "lines." The total expenditure for extensions during the year must be given in answer to this inquiry and should also be included in the amounts reported for the first three items under "Assets," inquiry 24.- In all this revenue and expenditure showing the statements as given by the companies ought to be accepted as correct, unless they are grossly inconsistent, containing irreconcilable statements. In such cases, after the agent or examiner has grounded himself in the subject so that he can make a clear statement from his own point of view, a friendly suggestion of apparent inconsistencies will generally clear up the difficulties and lead to corrections, if such are necessary. Inqhirt 24. — Balance Sheet. The first item of assets called for is intended to include the value (cost) of construction and equipment (not including telephone instru- ments) . While this item should not include telephone instruments, it ought to include telephone cabinets, desks, supplies, etc., if owned, either in use or on hand at the close of the year. The value (cost) of telephone instruments (if owned) is called for separately, both those in use and such as are on hand and not in use. The other items called for are self-explanatory. All these are to be given at the value carried on the books of the company at the end of the year covered by the report. In cases of unincorporated companies, individuals, firms, etc., which have no liabilities of capital stock and bonds the amount of cash invested should be entered under "Liabihties" to balance the "Cost of construction, equipment, etc.," of the "Assets." This amount should be written on one of the blank lines below "Surplus" and not shown opposite any of the items. 18407—06- -12 NDEX Administration, boards of, fire alarm systems, 123; police patrol systems, 139. Ainsworth committee, message rate plan com- mended by, 53. Akron, Ohio, underground construction of elec- tric fire alarni system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Alabama. See States and territories. Alaska, report of telegraphy in, 5, 6, 107; cable system, 108. Albany, N. Y., underground construction of electric fire alai-m system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Allegheny, Pa., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Ambulance alarm circuits, 148. American Bell Telephone Company, number of telephones in operation in 1880, 5; organi- zation, 66; improvements made by, 67. American District Telegraph Company, district messenger companies controlled by, 103; capitalization, 104. American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 67. American Speaking Telephone Company, 66. American Telephone and Telegraph Company, capitalization, 13; licensee companies of, 13; revenue and expenses of licensee companies, 18; traffic of, compared with independent companies, 28; American Bell Telephone Company absorbed by, 66. See also Bell system. Ampfere, discoveries in telegraphy, 112. Amsterdam, telephone development in, 68. Annunciating boxes, of fire alarm systems, 124, 126, 130. Arizona. See States and territories. Arkansas. See States and territories. Assets and liabilities, of telephone companies in given censuses, 5; balance sheets for all systems showing, 14; of commercial tele- graph systems, 101. Austria, telephone rates in, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Austria-Hungary, telephone development in, 68. Automatic pay stations, number of, for all tele- phone stations, 35, 86; how operated, 39; for commercial telephone systems, 90 ; for mu- tual systems, 94. Automatic repeater (fire alarm), invention, 137. Automatic signal box (fire alarm), invention, and improvements on, 136. Automatic switchboards, of all telephone sys- tems, 7, 88; definition, 44. Automatic transmitters, of fire alarm systems, 124, 126, 131. Auxiliary boxes, of fire alarm systems, 138. Auxiliary cross-connection boards, of all tele- phone systems, 89. Balance sheet, of all telephone systems, 14; of commercial systems, 15; of mutual systems, 15; of telegraph systems, 99, 101. Baltimore, Md., number of stations and aver- age population per telephone, 27; under- ground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127: of electric police patrol system, 142. Barrett, J. P., fire alarm signal box improve- ments made by, 137, 146. Battery cells, number and kind, by states and territories, 89; in central stations of fire alarm systems, 131, 137. Bavaria, telephone rates in, 76; long distance rates, 77. ' Bay City, Mich., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Belgium, telephone development in, 68, 70; telephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Bell, Alexander Graham, speech first trans- mitted over wire by, 5; invention of tele- phone, 52; specifications of patent, 64; first practical operation, 65. Bell system, general statistics for, compared with independent systems, 7; revenue and expenses of licensee companies, 18; traffic handled by, compared with independent sys- tems, 29; number of public exchanges, 45. See also American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Bell Telephone Association, 65. Bell Telephone Company, organization, 66. Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo (licensee company of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Bell Telephone Company of Canada, 75. Bell Telephone Company of Missouri (licensee company of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Bell Telephone Company of Philadelphia (li- censee company of American Telephone and Telegraph Companj'), capitalization, 13. Berlin, telephone development in, 68. Berliner, Emil, carbon transmitter developed by, 66. Bethell, U. N., vice president and general manager of New York Telephone Company {rwte), 52. Blake, Francis, carbon transmitter developed by, 66. Bloomington, 111., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Boards of administration, fire alarm systems grouped according to, 123; police patrol systems, 139. Boston, Mass., number of stations and aver- age population per telephone, 27; under- ground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127: of electric police patrol sys- tem, 142. Bourseul, Joseph, telephonic principle dem- onstrated by, 63. Boxes, signal, of fire alarm systems, 130. Bridging circuits, of magneto substations, 37. British India, telephone development in, 75. Bronx borough, N. Y., telephone rates in, 54, 57. Brookline, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of elec- tric police patrol system, 142. Brooklyn borough, N. Y., telephone rates in, 56, 58. Brussels, telephone development in, 68. Budapest, telephone development in, 68. Buffalo, number of stations and average pop- ulation per telephone, 27; underground con- struction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Bulgaria, telephone rates in, 76. Burlington, Vt., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Bumside, United States Signal Corps cable ship, 108. Cable ships, of Signal Corps, 108. Cables, submarine, Alaskan and Philippine systems, 108; manufacture ■ and laying of, 116; illustrations of, 117. Cables, telephone, paper cable described, 42. California. See States aijd territories. Cambridge, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Canada, telephone development in, 75; long distance rates, 77. Canton, Ohio, underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Capitalization, of incorporated telephone com- panies — all systems, 12; commercial sys- tems, 12; mutual systems, 13; Bell and independent systems, 13; the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and its licensee companies, 13; incorporated tele- graph companies, 101. Centennial Exhibition, Bell's invention, the speaking telephone, first introduced, 52. Central District and Printing Telegraph Com- pany (licensee of American Telegraph and Telephone Company), capitalization, 13. Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Central office (telephone) , definition, 44 ; equip- ment, 45; method of connection, 46; num- ber in Greater New York, 60; establishment of first telephone exchange, 66. Central office equipment, of fire alarm sys- tems, 131. Central station power equipment, of fire alarm systems, 131. Central Union Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Channing, Dr. W. F. , use of telephone for fire alarm purposes suggested by, 134. Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company (Ucensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Chester, Charles T., automatic fire alarm sig- nal box invented by, 136; dial telegraph for police department, made by, 146. Chicago, 111., number of stations and average population per telephone, 27; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142; police telephone booths described, 146. Chicago Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Christiania, telephone development in, 68. Cincinnati, Ohio, number of stations and aver- age population per telephone, 27; under- ground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol sys- tem, 142. Circuits, series and bridging, of magneto substations, 36. Cities (foreign), telephone development in given, 68. (167) 168 INDEX. Cities (of specified sizes), oonstraction and equipment of electric fire alarm systems in, 126; of systems used interchangeably for fire alarm and police patrol, 133; employ- ees and wages of fire alarm and police pa- trol systems in, 128; fire alarm systems having right of way on poles or in conduits without cost to city, 133. Cities (specified), number of telephones and average population per telephone in, 27; underground construction of fire alarm sys- tems in, 127; of police patrol systems, 142; special features of police patrol systems in, 148. • . . • . City and Suburban Telegraph Association (li- censee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Cleveland, Ohio, number of stations and average population per telephone, 27; un- derground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol systebi, 142. Cleveland Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitahzation, 13. Clmton, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Coil, induction, function of, 38. Colorado. See States and territories. Colorado Telephone and Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Colorado Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Columbus, Ohio, underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Commercial telegraph systems, general statis- tics for, 99; earnings and expenses, 100; comparison with the telephone, 100; chief features of data for, 100; capitalization, 101; salaries and wages, 102; power plants, 102; wire mileage, 102; on steam railroads, 104; lines owned by railway companies, 104. Commercial telephone systems, systems classed ' as, 6; general statistics for, 7, 90; average number of telephones per system, 7; statis- tics by geographic divisions, 8; by states and territories, 9; capitalization, 12; assets and liabilities, 14; revenue and expenses, 19, 92; traflBc, 23; physical equipment and messages, 24; wire mileage per system and per station, 41 ; employees and wages, 50 ownings of railway companies, 104. Common battery, description of apparatus, 37 equipment, 47. Common battery substation, when used, 36 source of electrical energy for, 36. Common battery switchboards, defined, 44 circuits employed in, 48. Conduits, telephone, method of building, 43. Congress, United States, appropriation for first telegraph line by, 113. Connecticut. See States and territories. Construction and equipment (of fire alarm sys- tems), varieties of, grouped according to population of cities, 126; underground con- struction, by states and cities, 127; charac- ter of construction, central office equipment and central station power equipment, 130; of systems used interchangeably for fire alarm and police patrol, 133. Cooper, Peter, associated with Field in laying submarine cables, 116. Copenhagen, telephone development in, 68. Coxe, Doctor, electro-chemical telegraph of, 111. Crane and Rogers, fire alarm signal box im- provements patented by, 136. Cross arms (telephone), 41. Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Cuttriss, , inventions of, employed in sub- marine signaling, 118. Cyrus W. Field, United States Signal Corps cable ship, 108. Davenport, Iowa, underground construction of electric police patrol system, 142. De Forest, Dr. Lee, system of wireless teleg- raphy established by, 120. Delany, , synchronous system of multi- plex telegraphy by, 115. Delaware. See States and territories. Delaware and Atlantic Telephone and Tele- graph Company (licensee of American Tele- phone and Telegraph Company) , capitaliza- tion, 13. Denmark, telephone development in, 68, 70; telephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Detroit, Mich., number of telephone stations in, and average population per telephone, 27 ; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Distributing board (telephone), 47. District messenger system, 103. Dividends, paid by telephone systems, 5, 12, 14; by telegraph and cable systems, 99, 101. Downing, Hugh, experimental work of, in telegraphy, 135. Duluth Telephone Company (licensee of Amer- ican Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Duplex telegraphy, 115. Dynamos, in power plants of telephone sys- tems, 89; in central stations of fire alarm systems, 131. Earnings and expenses, of telephone systems, 16, 29; of telegraph systems, 100. East Orange, N. J., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. East Tennessee Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Eau Claire, Wis., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Edison, T. A., work of, in early competition between telephone and telegraph, 66; wire- less telegraphy of, 119. Electric fire alarm systems. See Fire alarm systems. Electric police patrol systems. See Police pa- trol systems. Elgin, 111., underground construction of elec- tric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Ellsworth, Miss, message sent over first tele- graph line by, 113. Elmira, N. Y., underground construction of electric police patrol system, 142. Empire State Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Employees, of telephone systems, for given censuses, 5; general statistics, 49; pre- dominance of women, 50; impossibility of classifying, 50; statistics for states and ter- ritories, 50, 84; of commercial systems, 50; of mutual systems, SO; of commercial tele- graph systems, 102; of electric fire alarm and police patrol systems, 128. Engines, in power plants of telephone systems, 89 ; in central stations of fire alarm systems, ' 131. England, municipal ownership of telephone systems in, 74. Equipment, physical, of all telephone systems, 33; central oflace, 45. Equipment of fire alarm systems. See Con- struction and equipment. Erie, Pa., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Europe, telephone development in, 68; synop- sis of telephone rates in, 76. Evanston, 111., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Exchanges, public telephone, number of, in given censuses, 5; distribution by geo- graphic divisions, 45; by states and terri- tories, 45, 86; capacity of, 45; first estab- lishment of, 52 ; private branch, 55. Expenses. See Revenue and expenses. Fall River, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol ^stem, 142. Farmer, Moses G., electric fire alarm appara- tus invented by, 134; "village system" patent of, 137. Fessenden, Prof. R. A., system of wireless telegraphy established by, 120. Field, Cyrus, W., laying of submarine cables by, 116. Finland, telephone rates in, 76; long distance rates, 77. Fire alarm systems, municipal electric, boards of administration in charge of, 123; number installed each year, 124; grouped according to population of cities, 124; use of telephone for sending in alarms, 126; construction and equipment, 126; employees and wages in cities of 100,000 and over, 128; general sta- tistics for, by states and territories, 130; number having right of way on poles or in conduits without cost to city, 133; data for those used interchangeably with police patrol systems, 133 ; introduction of electric telegraph into service of, 134; history and development of, 134; schemes for use of wireless telegraphy, 139. Flat rate system of charging, 52, 54. Florida. See States and territories. Fort Myer, Va., school of instruction for Sig- nal Corps at, 106. Fort Wayne, Ind., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127 ; of electric police patrol system, 142. France, telephone development in, 68, 71; tel- ephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Franklin, Benjamin, crude telegraphy of. 111; early experiments in wireless telegraphy by, 118. Freeport Telephone Exchange Company (li- censee of American Telephone and Tele- graph' Company), capitalization, 13. Galileo, reference of, to electricity, 111. Galveston, Tex., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Gamewell, John N., fire alarm telegraph sys- tem extended by, 135; noninterfering signal box invented by, 136. Gardner, J. M., improvements on fire alarm signal boxes made by, 136. Generating plants, of commercial telegraph systems, 102. Geneva, N. Y., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Georgia. See States and territories. Geographic divisions, general statistics of tele- phones by, 8; mutual telephone systems by, 10 ; distribution of telephone stations by, 22 ; ' traffic by, 22; wire mileage by, 40. Germany, telephone development in, 68, 69; telephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Glasgow, inadequacy of telephone system in, 75. Governmental telegraph and telephone service, 106. Grand Rapids, Mich., underground construc- tion of electric police patrol system, 142. Gray, Elisha, apparatus for transmitting sound invented by, 66. INDEX. 169 Gray, Stephen, electrical discoveries of, 111. Great Britain, long distance telephone rates in, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Great Britain and Ireland, telephone develop- ment m, 73; Government purchase of tele- phone pending in, 74. Greely, Gen. A. W., Chief Signal Officer, United States Signal Corps, 106. Grove and Daniels battery, 137. Guarini, Emile, scheme for use of wireless telegraphy for fire alarm service, 139. Hartford, Conn., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Haverhill, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Hawaii, report of telephony in, 5, 6; fire alarm and police patrol system of Hono- lulu, 132. Heat coil, as a substation protector, 39. Hepry, Prof. Joseph, electrical discoveries of, 119. Hertz, Heinrich, discoveries of, in line of wire- less telegraphy, 119. Hesketh, John, telephone engineer for Aus- tralian Government, quoted, 69. Holland, telephone development in, 68, 70;" telephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Holmes Burglar Alarm Company, 65. Holyoke, Mass., underground construction of electric police patrol system, 142. Honolulu, fire alarm and police patrol system, 132. House, Royal E., experimental work of, in telegraphy, 135. House printing telegraph apparatus, 114. Hubbard, Gardner G., trustee of Bell pat- ents, 65. Hudson River Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Hughes and Phelps printing telegraph appa- ratus, 114. Hungary, telephone rates in, 76; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Idaho. See States and territories. Illinois, rural lines in, with wire mileage and number of telephones, 35. See also States and territories. Income account, of all telephone systems, 16; of commercial systems, 19; of mutual sys- tems, 19; of commercial telegraph systems, 101. Independent commercial telephone systems, summary and comparison with Bell sys- tem, 7; distribution according to year of establishment, by states and territories, 9; capitalization, 13; trafiic, 29; number of public exchanges, 45; history and develop- ment of independent movement, 67. Independent rural telephone lines, lines classed as, 6; number of, wire mileage, and num- ber of telephones, 7, 11, 34. Indian Territory. See States and territories. Indiana, rural lines in, with wire mileage and number of telephones, 35. See also States and territories. Indianapolis, Ind., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Induction coil, function of, 38. Insulation of circuits (telegraph), experiments in, 115. Insulators (telephone), kinds used, 41. Investment, total, of telephone companies for given censuses, 5. Iowa, rural lines in, with wire mileage, and number of telephones, 35. ' See also States and territories.. Iowa Telephone Company (licensee of Ameri- can Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Italy, telephone development in, 68, 71; tele- phone rates, 76. Jackson, Mich., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Japan, telephone development in, 75; num- ber of telephonic telegrams, 78. Journal Telegraphique, European statistics published in, 69. Kalamazoo, Mich., underground construction of electric fire altrm system, 127. Kansas. See States and territories. Keene, N. H., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Kelvin, Lord, inventions of, employed in sub- marine signaling, 118. Kentucky. See States and territories. Kimball, S. I., General Superintendent of Life-Saving Service, 110. Knox Telephone and Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Korea, Japanese telephone system in, 75. La Crosse, Wis., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Lamp signal switchboards, 47. Lansing, Mich., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Le Sage, , telegraphic line established by. 111. Lexington, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Liabilities. See Assets and liabilities. Life-Saving Service, general statistics and work of, 110; use of telephone in, 110. Line construction, of telephone systems, 87; of telegraph systems, 102. Lisbon, telephone development in, 68. Local messages, definition of, 21; average number per telephone, 23. London, telephone development in, 68; Gov- ernment purchase of telephone, pending in, 74; telephone tariff rates, 77. Long Branch, N. J., underground construc- tion of electric fire alarm system, 127. Long distance telephone messages, definition, 21; average number per telephone, by geo- graphic divisions, 23 ; rates in United States, Canada, and European countries, 77; in- fluence upon telegraph business, 100. Los Angeles, Cal., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of police patrol system, 142. Louisiana. See States and territories. Lowell, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Luxemburg, telephone rates in, 76; long dis- tance rates, 77. MacArthur, Gen. Arthur, quoted in reference to the Signal Corps in the Philippines, 107. Madrid, telephone development in, 68. Magneto substations, 36. Magneto switchboards, 44t , Maine. See States and territories. Manhattan borough, N. Y., schedule of tele- phone rates for, 57. Manhattan Island, pay stations on, .56. Manila, Signal Corps messages received in, 106. Manual switchboards, definition, 44; number in all telephone systems, 88. Manual transmitters, of fire alarm systems, 131. Marconi system of wireless telegraphy, 119. Maryland. See States and territories. Massachusetts. See States and territories. Maver, William, jr., 139. Memphis, Tenn., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Merchants' Association, quoted in reference to cost of improvements and net earnings, 17; in reference to telephone service and rates, 59. Messages (telephone) , number of, in given cen- suses, 5; relation to population, 8, 26; kinds of, defined, 21; local, long distance, and toll, number reported by all systems, 23, 80; by commercial telephone systems, 91; by mutual systems, 94 ; average number per telephone, 23, 28; per subscriber, 28; rate plan in New York city, development of, 52; advantages of, 53; special features of, 54; growth since adoption, 57. Messages (telegraphic), press dispatches, 103; district jnessenger service, 103. Metallic circuit, telephone improvements due to introduction of, 53. Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany, introduction of metallic circuit by, 53. Michigan. See States and territories. Michigan Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Microphone transmitter, introduction of, 5. Military telegraph systems, in Philippine Islands, 106; operation by Signal Corps in United States, 106; British South African system compared with United States, 106; establishment of, in Alaska, 107. Milton, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Milwaukee, Wis., number of stations and aver- age population per telephone, 27; under-- ground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Minneapolis, Minn., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of elec- tric police patrol system, 142. Minnesota. See States and territories. Mississippi. See States and territories. Missouri, rural lines in, with wire mileage and and number of telephones, 35. See also States and territories. Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. MoUo, Signer, scheme for use of wireless teleg- raphy in fire alarm service, devised by, 139. Monaco, telephone rates in, 76. Montana. See States and territories. Montclair, N. J., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Moore, Dr. Willis L., Chief of Weather Bureau, quoted in reference to use of telephone by Bureau, 109. Morristown, N. J., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127, Moree, Prof. S. F. B., inventions and discov- eries in telegraphy, 112; discovery with the relay, 113; experiments in wireless teleg- raphy by, 119. Motors, electric, in power plants of telephone systems, 89; in central stations of fire alarm systems, 131. Multiplex telegraphy, 115. Mutual telephone systems, systems classed as, 6; general statistics for, 7, 94; distribution according to year of establishment, by states and territories, -10; statistics for, by geo- graphic divisions, 10; capitalization, 12; revenue and expenses, 19, 95; traffic, 23; physical equipment and messages, 25; wire mileage per system and per station, 24, 25, 41 ; emplo3'ees and wages, 49. Nahant, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Nashua, N. H., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. National Bell Telephone Company, organiza- tion, 66. National Guard, Signal Corps of, 109. Nebraska. See States and territories. Nebraska Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Nevada. See States and territories. 170 INDEX. Newark, N. J., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. New Bedford, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. New Britain, Conn., underground oonstraction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of elec- tric police patrol system, 142. New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. New England Telephone Company, organi- zation, 66. New Hampshire. See States and territories. New Haven, Conn., first commercial exchange opened in, 5; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electri6 pohee patrol system, 142. New Jersey. See States and territories. New Mexico. See States and territories. New Orleans, La., number of stations and average population per telephone, 27. Newport, R. I., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Newton, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. New York. See States and territories. ■ New York city, number of stations and aver- age population per telephone, 27; message rate plan, 52; number of telephones in service for given years, 60; central offices and number of telephones, by districts, 60; telephone development, compared with for- eign cities, 68; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric pohce patrol system, 142; equipment of electric police patrol system, 148. New York and New Jersey Telephone Com- pany (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13; telephone systems of Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond boroughs operated by, 56. New York and Pennsylvania Telephone and Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capi- talization, 13. New York Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Norfolk, Va., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. North Carolina. See States and territories. North Dakota. See States and territories. Northern Telephone and Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company (hcensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Norton sound wireless telegraph, 108. Norway, telephone development in, 68, 72; telephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Oersted, , discoveries in telegraphy by, 112. Ohio, rural Unes with wire mileage and number of telephones, 35. See also States and territories. Oklahoma. See States and territories. Omaha, Nebr., school of instruction for Signal Corps at, 106 ; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Operating expenses, of all telephone systems, 16, 83; of commercial systems, 19, 93; of mutual systems, ' 20, 95; of commercial telegraph systems, 101. Operators, telephone, welfare work among, 50; class of women engaged as, 50. Oregon. See States and territories. Overhead construction of telephone lines, 40, 87; of fire alarm systems, 126, 130. Outlying districts, reports of telephony in, 5, 6. Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Paris, telephone development in, 68. Party line stations, of all telephone systems, 36, 87; of commercial systems, 36, 91; of mutual systems, 36, 94. Pasadena, Cal., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Paterson, N. J., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric poKce patrol system, 142. Pay stations, classification of, 35; installed in New York city, 56 ; number for all telephone systems, 86; for commercial systems, 90; for mutual systems, 94. Pennsylvania. See States and territories. Pennsylvania Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Philadelphia, number of stations and average population per telephone, 27; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric pohce patrol system, 142. Philippine Islands, report of telephony in, 5, 6; work of Signal Corps, 106. Pittsburg, Pa., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Plymouth and Campton Telephone Exchange Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Poles, telephone, 41 . Police patrol systems (municipal electric), em- ployees and wages in cities of 100,000 and over, 128; data for those used interchange- ably with fire alarm systems, 133; number having right of way on poles or in conduits, without cost to city, 133 ; introduction, 139 ; grouped according to boards of administra- tion, 139; number installed, by years, 139; grouped according to population of cities, 140; construction and equipment, 140-146; statistics of, by states, 144; history and development of, 146; special features in specified cities, 148. Port Huron, Mich., undergroimd construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Portland, Me. , underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Porto Rico, no data for telephone lines in, 6. Portugal, telephone rates in, 76. Postal Telegraph Cable Company, relation to district messenger service, 103. Power plants, of telephone systems, 88; of commercial telegraph companies, 102. Press messages, 103. Private branch exchanges, classification of, 35; service and rates, 55; number, in all tele- phone systems, 86; in commercial telephone systems, 90. Protectors, necessity of, in substation equip- ment, 39. Providence, R. I., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Providence Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Public exchanges, number, in given censuses, 5; distribution, by geographic divisions, 45; by states and territories, 45; first establishment of, 52; number, in all telephone systems, 86; in commercial systems, 90; in mutual systems, 94. Quadruplex telegraphy, 115. Quincy, Mass., underground construction of electric police patrol system, 142. Railway telegraphs and telephones, 104. Rates (telephone), business and residence, 27; measured rate system, 28; time basis for fijc- ing, 28; development of plan in New York city, 52; schedule of rates for boroughs, 57; report of Merchants' Association of N. Y., 59; synopsis of rates in continental Europe, 76; long distance rates in United States, Canada, and Europe, 77. Receivers (telephone), mechanism explained, 37. Receiving circuits, in central offices of fire alarm systems, 131. Receiving registers, in central offices of fire alarm systems, 131. Reid, James D., quoted in reference to the status of Morse, 112. Reis, Professor, apparatus for transmitting sound invented by, 63. Relay of current, discovery of, by Morse, 113. Residence rates, 27; in New York city, 55. Revenue and expenses (telegraph systems). Revenue and expenses (telephone systems), total for given censuses, 5; income account and operating expenses for aU systems, 16; outlay for new construction, 16; cost of addi- tional construction, 17 ; division of net earn- ings, 17; returns for licensee companies of Bell system, 18; statistics of large systems, 18; of all systems, by states and territories, 18, 82; of commercial systems, 19, 92; of mutual systems, 19, 95. Rhode Island. See States and territories. Richmond, Va., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of police pa- trol system, 142. Roberts, Marshall O. , associated with Field in laying submarine cables, 116. ■Robertson, Charles, Morse telegraph system in- troduced into Germany by, 135. Rochester, N. Y. , underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Rock Island Arsenal, fire alarm system of, 123. Rockford, 111., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127 ; of police pa- trol system, 142. Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Rogers, Edwin, automatic repeater (fire alarm) invented by, 137. Rogers and Crane, improvements on fire alarm signal boxes patented by, 136. Romagnesi, , electrical discoveries by, 112. Rome, telephone development in, 68. Ronalds, , discoveries in telegraphy by, Roumania, telephone rates in, 76; long dis- tance rates, 77. Ruddick, J. J., fire alarm signal box patent, 137. Rural telephone lines, systems classed as, 6; statistics of, by geographic divisions, 11 ; by states and territories, 34; compared with urban systems, 27 ; wire mileage of, 40. Rural substations, 33. Russia, telephone development in, 68, 71; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Sadler, L. L., 134. St. Joseph, Mo., underground construction of electric police patrol system, 142. St. Louis, Mo., number of stations and average population per telephone, 27; underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. St. Paul, Minn., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric pohce patrol system, 142. St. Petersburg, telephone development in, 68. Salaries, of telephone officials and clerks, 50, 84; telegraph, 102. INDEX. 171 San Antonio, Tex., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. San Francisco, Cal., number of stations and average population per telephone, 27; under- ground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127 ; of electric police patrol system, 142. Sanger, Gen. J. P., testimonial to Signal Corps of Philippine Islands by, 107. Schweigger, , discoveries in telegraphy by, 111. Seattle, Wash., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Semaphores, telegraphy by means of, HI. Series circuits, of magneto substations, 37. Signal Corps, United States, military tele- graphic system operated by, 106; school of instruction for, 106; scope of work in the Philippines, 106; Alaskan telegraphs estab- lished by, 107 ; wireless apparatus at Norton sound, 108; cable ships, 108; National Guard Signal Corps and other organizations, 109. Signaling apparatus (telephone), construction of, 38; lamp signals, 47. Signaling boxes (fire alarm), number and char- acter of, for all systems, 130; early inven- tions and modern improvements, 135. Smith, F. O. J., 134. Soemering, Professor, electro-chemical tele- graph rf. 111. South CaroHna. See States and territories. South Dakota. See States and territories. Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany (hcensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Southern Massachusetts Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Southern New England Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Spain, telephone development in, 68, 70 ; tele- phone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77. Spark gap, as a substation protector, 39. Speedwell iron works, Morse instrument made at,'113. Springfield, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127 ; of electric police patrol system, 142. Starred telephone subscribers, in Stockholm, 77. States and territories, independent commercial telephone systems according to year of estab- lishment, distributed by, 9; mutual systems, 10; cost of additional construction for all systems, 17; revenue and expenses, 18, 82; of commercial systems, 92; of mutual sys- tems, 95; trafiic shown by, 23, 80; physical equipment and messages, commercial, 24; mutual, 25; relation between telephones, messages, and population, 26; relation of trafiic to earnings and expenses, 29; rural lines, 34; public exchanges, 45; general sta- tistics for all systems, 80 ; for commercial sys- tems, 90; for mutual systems, 94; employees, salaries and wages, 84; exchanges, stations, and line construction, 86; switchboards, power plants, and batteries, 88; general sta- tisticsof electric fire alarm systems, 130; of electric police patrol systems, 144. Stations, (telephone), automatic, number of, 35; private and pay distinguished, 35; wire mileage per, 41; number of pay stations in- stalled in New York city, 56; number of stations for all systems, by states and terri- tories, 81, 86; for commercial systems, 90; for mutual systems, 94. Steam railroads, commercial telegraphs on, 104. Steinheil, , discoveries in electricity by, 112. Stock quotations, use of telegrajjhy in trans- mitting, 104. Stockholm, telephone development in, 68, 69; "starred" telephone subscribers in, 77. Stone, John S., system of wireless telegraphy established by, 120. Storage batteries, in central offices of fire alarm systems, 137. Sturgeon, , discoveries in telegraphy by, 112. Submarine cables, manufacture and laying of, 116; illustrations of, 117; apparatus for sig- naling, 118. Submarine wire mileage, of telephone systems, 40, 87. Subscribers (telephone), number in given cen- suses, 5; for all systems, 80; for commercial systems, 90; for mutual systems, 94. Substations, equipment, 33; mechanism of receiver and transmitter, 37; protection of , 38. Sunset Telephone and . Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Suren, M. H., fire alarm signal box improve- ment made by, 136. Surplus, net, from telephone operation in given censuses, 5. Sweden, telephone development in, 68; tele- phone rates, 76 ; long distance rates, 77 ; num- ber of telephonic telegrams, 78. Switchboards (fire alarm systems), 131, 137. Switchboards (telephone), total number in United States, 6, 7, 44; automatic and man- ual, 6, 7, 44; equipment, 7, 44; geographic distribution of, 8, 10, 45; capacity of, 45, 88; complete apparatus, 46; lamp signals, 47; the distributing board, 47 ; common battery cir- cuits, 48; toll line, 48; statistics, by states and territories, 88. Switzerland, telephone development in, 68, 71; telephone rates, 76; long distance rates, 77; number of telephonic telegrams, 78. Syracuse, N. T., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Talks. See Messages. Tariff, effect upon telephone service in various states, 26. Taylor, Moses, associated with Field in laying submarine cables, 116. Telegraph systems, comparison with telephone systems, 4, 100; general statistics for, 99; earnings and expenses, 100; salaries and wages, 102; wire mileage, 102; governmental service, 106; United States Signal Corps, 107; in Philippines, 107; Alaskan service, 108; the Weather Bureau, 109; first line constructed, 113; submarine, 116; wireless, 118. Telegraphy, methods of operation, 103; pio- neers of. 111; discoveries and inventions in the science of. 111; description of Morse ap- paratus, 113; commercial developments, 114; attempts to displace Morse apparatus, 114; Wheatstone system, 114; Buckingham sys- tem, 115; duplex, quadruplex, and multi- plex, 115; experiments in insulation of cir- cuits, 115; utilization for fire alarm pur- poses, 134. Telephone systems, comparison with telegraph systems, 4, 100; comparative summary for given censuses, 5; in outlying districts, 5; classification of, 6; general statistics for, 7; by geographic divisions, 8; by states and territories, 80; capitalization of incor- porated companies, 12; revenue and expen- ses, 16, 29, 82; distribution of stations, 22; traffic, 26; physical equipment, 33; wire mileage, 41; employees, salaries, and wages, 49, 84; first exchange established, 52; mes- sage rate plan in New York city, 52; ex- changes, stations, and line construction, 86; switchboards, power plants, and batteries, 88; governmental service, 106; lines, of United States Life-Saving Service, 110. Telephonic telegrams, 78. Telephony, dominance of , 4 ; general statistics of, 5; early inventors, 63; Bell's patent, 64; circular letter inviting public support, 65; first commercial lines, 65; companies organ- ized and their capitalization, 66 ; early com- petition, 66; independent development, 67; in foreign countries, 68. Tennessee. See States and territories. Texas. See States and territories. Thermostatic fire alarm telegraph, 138. Toledo, Ohio, underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Toll line switchboards, 48. Toll messages, definition, 21 ; average number per telephone, 23. Tooker fire alarm signal boxes, 136. Traffic (telephone), functions of ojievsttoT de- scribed, 21; method of computing yearly business, 21; total messages iu 1902, 22; average population per telephone station, 22; amount of, by states and territories, 23, 80; of commercial systems, 24 ; of mutual systems, 25; relation to population, 26; in urban cen- ters, 26; messages per subscriber and per telephone, 28 ; Bell and independent systems compared, 29; relation to earnings and ex- penses, 29; factors affecting, 30; methods of keeping records, 30; "load diagrams" showing, 31, 32. Ti'ansmitters, microphone, 5; substation, 38; of fire alarm systems, 131 . Trenton, N. J., underground construction of fire alarm system, 127. Troy, N. Y., underground construction of fire alarm system, 127. Trunk calls, 21. ,. i Underground construction, of telephone lines, 40, 87; of fire alarm systems, 127, 130, 139; of pohce patrol systems, 142. United Kingdom, telephone development in, 68. United States, general statistics of telephones in, 8, 80; of commercial systems, 9, 90; of mutual systems, 10, 94; telephone develop- ment in, compared with foreign countries, 68; long distance rates, 77; revenue and expen- ses of all systems, 82; of commercial systems, 92; of mutual systems, 95; employees, sala- ries, and wages, 84; exchanges, stations, and line construction, 86; telephone switch- boards, power plants, and batteries, 88; un- derground construction of fire alarm systems, 127; of police patrol systems, 142, 144. University of New York, Morse's telegraph apparatus exhibited in, 113. Urban telephone lines, 26, 27. Utah. See States and territories. Vail, Profs. Henry and Alfred, pecuniary and mechanical assistance to Professor Morse, by, 112, 113. Vermont. See States and territories. Vermont Telephone and Telegraph Company (licensee of American Telephone and Tele- graph Company), capitalization, 13. Vienna, telephone development in, 68. Virginia. See States and territories. Volta, discovery of voltaic battery by, 111. Waco, Tex., underground construction of elec- tric fire alarm system, 127. Wages, of telephone employees, 49, 85, 102. Waldorf-Astoria, number of telephones in, 56. Waltham, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol system, 142. Walworth Manufacturing Company, 65. Washington. See States and territories. Washington, D. C, number of stations and av- erage population per telephone, 27; under- ground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127; of electric police patrol sys- tem, 142. 172 INDEX. Watson, Professor, construction of telegraph line by, 111. Weather Bureau, use of telegraphy in, 109; "forecasts" and "warnings" sent by tele- phone, 109. Webb, H. L., testimony of, concerning teleph- ony in Europe, 75, 77. Welfare work, for telephone operators, 50. West Virginia. See States and territories. Western Union Telegraph Company, competi- tion with telephone companies, 66; relation to district messenger system, 103. Westfleld, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Wheatstone and Cooke, telegraph line estab- lished by, 112. Wheatstone automatic telegraph transmit- ter, 114. White Mountain Telephone Company (li- censee of American Telephone and Telegraph Company), capitalization, 13. Wichita, Kans., underground construction of electric police patrol system, 142. Williams, Charles, jr., first telephone line built for, 65. Winthrop, Mass., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Wire mileage, of telephone systems, 5, 7, 8, 10, 34, 40, 80, 90, 94; of telegraph systems, 102. Wire plant (of telephone systems), apparatus forming, 33; conditions governing, 40; wire mileage of rural lines, 40 ; underground, overhead, and submarine wires, 40; miles per system and per station, 41; telephone cables, 42; telephone conduits, 43. Wireless telegraphy, apparatus at Norton sound, 108; operated by Signal Corps, 108; early experiments in, by Franklin and Morse, 118; mechanism of apparatus used in, 119; as a factor in war, 120; schemes for use of, in fire alarm systems, 139. Wisconsin. See States and territories. Wisconsin Telephone Company (licensee of American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany), capitalization, 13. Worcester, Mass., underground coustructon of electric fire alarm system, 127; of elecfjric police patrol system, 142. Wurtemburg, telephone rates in, 76; long dis- tance rates, 77. Wyoming. Sec States and territories. Yonkera, N. Y., underground construction of electric fire alarm system, 127. Zurich, telephone development in, 68. o I' m^ 1 ^