The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-05-24
ENORMOUS income
FROM TELEPHONES
CENSUS OFFICE REPORT FULL OF
INTERESTING FIGURES.
PHONE MESSAGES IN LEAD
Over Five Billion Calls Are Attended
to in Local Offices, Ohio Being
First with Illinois a
Close Second.

Washington, May 21.-A special re-
port on telephones and telegraphs for
1902 has been issued by the census or
fce. 1t shows that in 1902 the tele-'
phone systems OF the country operated
more than three-fourths OF the wire
mileage reported for both telephones
and telegraphs, gave employment TO
seven-tenths of the wage earners, and
paid more than two-thirds of the
wages, received more than two-thirds
of the total revenue, and paid more
than two-thirds of the total expenses.
For the commercial systems the
mileage was 4,779,571, and the number
OF telephones 2,225, 9S1; for the mutual
systems the mileage was 7O,915, and
the number of telephones s9,316; and
for the Independent lines the mileage
was 1896, and the number of tele-
phones 55,747.
Ohio Had Most Messages.
The number of salaried employees en-
gagged in the telephone service was A.
124, and the average nusnber of WAGE
earners 64,62S. The amount paid in
salaries was $9,SS5,ss6, and in wages
s26,369,735. The number of messages
or t;-lks reported during the year was
5.t70554, 553, of which all but 12o,704,.
S44 were local calls, the remaining be-
ing long distance or tolls. Ohio led In
tne number of messages, with $751; 07,-
s3l, and Illinois was next with 541,-
160,932. In long distance and toll traf-
fc Pennsylvania was first with 20,4o9,-
gu messages, and New York was Sec
ond with 20,367,024. On the average
persons, and each person talked Sc
times year.
OF the 1,157 incorporated urban CEN
tiers reported in 1900, 1902 were pro-
vided in 1902 with telephone systems
of some description. San Francisco.
with one telephone to nine persons,
was the best telephoned city in the
United States in 1902, while Cleveland
ranked second, with one telephone for
every 16 persons; and Boston was
third with one telephone for every 19
inhabitants.
amounted to $3.50, and the average.
message to Ii cents; while the average
operating expense was $24.56 per tele-
phone and IL cents per message.
Europe Is Far Behind.
Incidentally the report shows that on
January l, 1901, the number of tele-
phones for the United States was g.
100000, and the number for Europe,
1,4S5,7S4. The report speaks of the eff.
feet of the telephone in reducing OF
checking the amount of telegraph bust
ness. 1t says that the rates of the two
systems for medium distances do not
differ greatly, and for very long dis
tances they are overwhelmingly in IA
yor of the telegraph, If the message be
taken as unit; but if the number of
words exchanged be taken into ac-
count, as well as the time required for
getting into communication, the tele-
graph is at disadvantage in case Of a
large amount of traffic.
The report says the public employs
the telegraph at the rate of only lit
tie more than once year per capita,
whereas the number of telephone mes
sages is already 65 per capita. The
commercial telegraph systems Of the
country owned and operated 1,31S,350
miles of wire in 1902. In addition there
were 1857 nautical miles OF submar-
inc cable. The rs systems had an in
vestment or capitalization Of stocks
and bonds of $162, 946,525 total reye-
nue. of s4o,930,O3S, and total assets OF
s195,5O3,775. A sum amounting to $751;
039,673 was paid, in salaries and wages
TO 1929 salaried employees and 26,79S
wage earners.
Railways Pay Out Millions.
The railway telegraph systems were
represented by sS4 companies. They
employed 30,336 operators and dis
patchers, to whom $20,040,730 were
paid in wages. The number Of mes
sages sent during the year for railroad
business was POI, 743,756, and the num-
Der Of commercial messages was 4,474,-
593.
The practice of putting fire alarm
wires underground has increased rap
idly during late years, and more than
one-fourth of the 1895 miles Of such
wire was underground in 1902. The
combination OF the telegraph and tele-
phone as an auxiliary to the police |
force was first introduced in 1880.
In 1902 the police patrol systems
were distributed in 80 states and the |
District of Columbia, most of the sys-
TENS being located in the states with
the greatest number Of large cities. |
Massachusetts, is credited with the lar
gest number, %; and New York ranked |
second, with IA.
Want Bryan to Lead.
n Haxr Il