The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1906-05-17
THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM
CenssS buresu Issues Special Report on
Telephones and Telesrsphs.

| report on the telephone ana
Telegraph systems and the municipal
electric fire alarm and police patrol
systems of the United States has Just
been published by the Bureau of the
Census. The statistics were collected
and compiled under the supervision
of Mr. w. NJ Steuart, chief statisti-
clan for manufactures, and the text
was prepared by Mr.. Thomas Com
lmerford Martin, of New York city.
lexpert special agent.
This is the last of a series of re-
lports on the generation and utiliza-
ton of electric current for the trans
mission of power, messages, and con
lyersation. Former reports relate to
street and electric railways, and CEN
tral electric light and power plants.
This report presents satisfies con-
cerning the physical equipment, ser
vice, and financial operations of the
commercial and mutual telephone
and telegraph systems Of the coun-
try, and the physical equipment of
independent rural telephone lines.
The statistics of the telephone and
telegraph industries of the United
States were first shown in the CEN
sus of 1880. At that time telegraphy
had been growing steadily for nearly
forty years and telephony was in the
formative stages of development.
Since then, however, telephony has
progressed to such an extend that it
has surpassed telegraphy in physical
magnitude.
In 1902 the telephone systems
operated more than three-fourths of
the wire mileage reported for both
telephones and telegraphs, gave en-
ployment to seven-tenths of the wage
earners, 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.
The telephone systems are divided
into three classes, as follows:
l. Commercial systems, including
tan systems operated by individuals
II firms, or corporations, primarily TO
revenue
,. Mutual systems, including al
systems operated through a mutua
arrangement among persons deriving
benefit from the service, primarily
for the benefit of the owners reve-
nue. being incidental to the operation
of the line.
3. Independent farmer or rural
lines. including all lines having no
~ gular exchange or central office.
In 1902 there were 3,1j7 COM
mercial systems, 994 mutual systems
and 1885 Independent rural lines.
For the commercial systems the
mileage was 1,779,571, and the num-
Der of telephones. 2.225,9S1; for the
mutual systems the mileage was TO-
915. and the number OF telephones,
lN9.316. and for the independent
lines the mileage was 1896, and
the number OF telephones, 55,7l7.
In connection with the commerci-
al and rural systems there were TO-
SCI public exchanges. The pay sta
lions numbered >V,>7o. of which &c.
AZ were automatic
! The number ot salarled employee
engaged in the telephon, service was
! 1t12t. and the average number OF
waee-earners. CtGeN. The amount
paid iu salaries was Sa,NN5.NNt. aud
iu wages. S2G.Gt9.125.
The telegraph systems are diyid-
ed into two general classes the
commercial land telegraph and thc
| ocean cable systems. including Jlt
systems orgauixed primaui, tor the
transmission ot messages for The
general pubt, aud the railway i0Ie-
sraphs lucludlnr all wires owned
and operated in connection With wii-
way stslems
Thc commercial tcIpEgaph ssrtems
o} thC souutr, uvned and operated
Il.stN.atg mls,s ot wtrp lu 1909 lu
addition fhefr wyFv tt.t1F HauUeai
miie- of sutmsrlue sabls ftr e'
stf.ms bad au Investment af Dap.-
tRlltai}2r uf Nosbs ans bonds nf
Ix8t..stt. Total grttuH. af
ItFe. *te.n#s. ana fnsal assets ot
yfpa tnH.frr n sam smDaHlius fe
tft.HnF s1a was patio Iu hlatH aua
aesa fu t~~ aaisft~t emplotr.f Hu3
r7t aaF..sarrt
rHt eaNwat tsitErsuh rrH
atrt f.gartt a $3.50 .Hwasntes.
rha amp.afat afau saA
HitHsfthfFs IH eheu f-HHtH.