Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-09-23
ADVANCE OF THE TELEPHONE

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The 100000 mark was reached |
and passed by this company dur
ing the week just closed, and the
event is an interesting one in the
development of the south.
These telephones are in addi-
ton to almost 30, go telephones
used by sub-lieenae companies and
connected with the lines of the
Southern Bell company.
The states through which the
telephones are scattered are Geor-
gia, Florida, Alabama, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
and West Virginia. The area
covered is very wide and the de-
velopment compares favorably to
the density Of population.
Georgia leads the seven states,
there being 81 ,651 stations in this
state. Atlanta has more Bell tele
phones than any other city in the
Southern Bell territory, the num-
Der being 1O,731. Savannah is the
second city in Georgia with 3,447
subscribers, and Macon third with
1852.
Alabama is second to Georgia
with %, O33 stations. Birmingham
leads all Alabama cities with CLOG
Bell telephones and is second only
to Atlanta and Richmond in point
of numbers. Montgomery has 3, 164
stations and Mobile has 3 JOG.
Virginia is third in development,
having 1885 Bell stations. Rich
mond is second only to Atlanta,
and leads all Virginia cities with
| ,268 subscribers. Norfork has
4 ,534 stations.
South Carolina is fourth in de-
veIopment with 10, 64S subscribers,
and Charleston with 2,86S stations
leads the otherSouth Carolina cities
Columbia has 1, 1894 stations.
| North Carolina is fifth with s.
1873 stations. Charlotte leads the
cities of North Carolina with 1,743
stations, Wilmington has 1,487
and Greensboro / ,452 stations.
Florida is sixth, having 5,145
Bell stations, There are 1855
Bell telephones in Jacksonville
and l, 494 in Pensacola.
In West Virginia the Southern
Bell company operates in only a
small portion of the state, and
while there are large number OF
Bell telephones in West Virginia
only 1871 are operated by the
Southern Bell company.
These figures represent a de.
velopment extending over period
of. twenty seven years, the first
Bell telephone exchange in the
south having been established at
Richmond, Va, in 1879. Slow pro.
gress was made at first, the tele'
phone having been considered q
luxury fit only for the rich. Later
improvements made it so adaptable
for business purposes that it be
came a necessity and has beer
placed within reach of all classes
of citizens.
After the establishment of the
Richmond exchange the lines Of
the company were gradually ex
tended throughout the seven states
included in it's territority. The
work and capital involved were
tremendous, improvements and
inventions following so rapidly
I that practically new exchanges
became obsolete within a few
months after their completion.
The progress and development
of the Southern Bell company has
, been identical with that of the
south.
One of the most important feat
ures of Bell telephone develop
ment in the south is that known
as Farmers Lines. This class OF
service which is particularly
adapted for use by farmers, has
been of great advantage in rural
districts and has placed the farm
er in close touch with the market
and news centers.
The entire south is covered with
lines of this kind and they are be
ing rapidly extended by the South
ern Bell company.
Thirty years ago when Professor
Bell was making experiments witt
/ the telephone Thomas A. Edison
declared that there woHld be 100,
900 telephones in the United State:
in 1900. Later he felt that he had
been carried away by his enthus
iaSnn and rndncnd his fipnrps ThI