The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-29

N-- the larger cities, was copsidered a lux ury and could be afforded only by the wealthy. The possibilities which It of- fered for the rapid transaction ot busi- ness soon brought the telephone into almost universal use by energetic bus- mess houses and soon the class of busi- ness men who always follow in any successful undertaking. found that In order to compete 1t was necessary that they should have telephone service as well.
 The very general introduction of tel ephones in commercial life resulted tn competitive companies being organized to manufacture telephone equipment and the cost was thereby reduced to such an extent that private residences in cities adopted their use.
 It Is only within the recent years that telephones have been Introduced on the farms. Their popularity and importance to the farmer cannot be better illustrated than by the fact that during the year just passed over 50 per cent of all telephones manufactured in the United States. were for nse on farmer lines.
 By the average business man in the city the telephone Is used but few hours during the day; by the farmer the telephone is used not only during the Qay, put III tn6 evenings. IlG bO- cures the latest market prices on all products. in which he ia interested and transacts such business with his neigh bors as is desired and together with the members of his family, enjoys It's social features. It Is not infrequent that all of the members of farmer & telephone system are enabled to hear concerts given at the home of some one | of the subscribers, and In response to .l.. ali ,tthS VI hal to the telephone, news of great import ance or local interest can be given si- l multaneously to all on the lins It Is obvious that the telephone offers tho greatest advantages socially and In the | transaction of business.
 In cases of emergency, the telephone is ever ready. Since telephones have | become very generally used by farm CTS, thousands of instances have occur red, in which through the medium Of l the telephone. fires have been put out I when but little damage was dons horse 1 thieves have been apprehended and in cases of accident, lives have been saved | as a direct result of being able to in- stantly call physician. | If the reader will but take a piece | of paper and pencil and note the varf- | ous ways in which he might be bene- | fited by telephone service, placing an
 
 | surprised to find that 1t will not take
 many items to more than cover the cost of securing telephone service. The greatest benefit of all, and one | on which you cannot place value, is the social advantage. Homes are more attractive to the young folks and es-
 pecially more attractive to the wife and mother, whose burdens are frightened bS
 a few minutes conversation with hei | friends during the day.
 | One of our greatest statesmen re- gently in a public speech. stated thai
 no better indication of the progressive | ness of any community could be giveu 1 than a rural telephone line; that tht | farmer, who Is q telephone subscriber | or owner, Is one who demands the
 highest prices for the products of his | farm.
 Competition in the manufacture oi
 telephones makes 1t possible today tt
 secure the highest grade of instrumonti at a verysreasonable cost. Farmer lines are almost universnll, grounded or single wire lines. Suit | able telephone poles, in & majority O
 cases, can be secured locally. Ths Ia
 bor of setting the poles and string.ns
 the wire Is usually done by the ownerI of the line. Aside from the poles ant
 labor for the main line, no other
 material Is necessary than wire. brack
 cts and insulators. In many cases, il place of the brackets and insulators porcelain knobs are used for fastening
 the wire to poles. The use of bracket:
 and insulators Is recommended by tht
 most responsible manufacturers anC
 telephone companies. sThe amount
 saved by using porcelain knobs Is no
 as much as the additional expense oi
 keeping up Q line so constructed.
 It is we'll in selecting telephone
 equipment to secure that which can b,
 used as successfully on long distanct
 lines as for local service.
 The wonderful growth of farmei lines within the last three years war.
 rants the belief that before long 4
 will be possible for the farmer In tht South from his home to talk to St
 Louis, Kansas City, New Orleans, anG
 other cities even at 0 greater distance
 There seems to be no limit to the ex.
 tension of telephone lines and In order
 that the farmer may secure his share
 of the prosperity made possible by tho
 universal use of the telephone, 1t is 1 necessary that he should take just as
 much interest in keeping his line in | good condition as is taken by the long
 distance companies, which have
 straight lines for from 500 to 1,00C
 miles in length.
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