Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-14
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
Consul Mansfield Furnishes Some Fig
ures From Switzerland.

In recent consular report, in stating
that the Swiss government owns and
operates all the telegraph and telephone
lines in the confederation, Consul r.
e. Mansfield. OF Lucerne, furnishes the
following details as to their manage
ment:
The telegraph and telephone service
extends to nearly every town and viii
lage in the country, and every railway
station is supplied with both systems.
The service is good and the rates low.
They are operated In connection with
the postal service, every postoffice be-
ing provided with telegraphic facilities
and practically all of them with pub
lie telephones.
Distances In Switzerland being short
the service prompt, and the rates low,
the telegraph and telephones are lib
trally patronized. LougNdistance con-
nections are made with all the local
or urban telephone lines, enabling pa
irons TO communicate with all cities
and towns in the country There are
also international connections with all
the countries bordering on Swiss terri
tory.
A feature OF the Swiss telephone ser
vice is that in addition to owning
and operating all the lines, the govern
ment manufactures all the instruments
used, makes the insulations. and con-
trolls the business absolutely.
The total length OF telephone lines
in Switzerland is 1054s miles. The
annual rental charge for Offices, bust
ness houses and residences is Si2.45
per year An additional charge of one
cent is made for each call in the town.
For interurban or long-distance calls
the rate is 2 TO II cents for three
minutes. according 10 distance, II
nainur ma vi n
distance In the country.
The number OF telephone subscribers
IN 1905 was SSH During the year
there were 32,07i 177 local, 1881, 1913 in
terurban, and 1882 international calls
over the government telephones. The
revenue from all classes of calls for 1906
was 1929, 1872 income from rent on 3d.
III telephones. s66S, 702 Total. l,49s.-
434
The total length OF telegraph lines
in Switzerland is 66,6S3 miles, The total
number of kilograms transmitted In
1906 was 4.9lS.679. OF which 1888 1856
were International and LOSSES local.
The total revenue from kilograms for
the year was 81 $3.50, 664
There Is government tax OF 30 cen
times, equal TO fraction under
cents American money, on each tele-
gram sent. In addition TO this charge
there Is a universal rate OF one-halt
cent word throughout the country
distance not being taken Into consider
alton. a telegram OF ten words costs
only II cents. The international rate
IL 30 cents per word To New York,
cents TO France, Germany, Italy, and
Austria s cents TO Spain, 8 cents TO
England, and Q cents 10 Russia. In
additiSn 10 the foregoing there ls
government tax OF 10 cents on each in
ternational telegram or cable.
taf InangtRa fTnTp IalgnhnnC md
telegraph service for 1906 was sS,09509s
expense. So ,23l ,2l7; profit 20 the govern
nent. $3.50 ssi. The telegraph and tele-
phone service, like the government
railways and parcels post, are econom-
ically administered. the object being IN
render the best service possible at the
lowest possible cost 10 the people.