Middletown transcript., 1909-06-05
TEIEpHONEs rOR RURAL DISTRICTS


One Of the great disadvantages of living
in the country is the part that one ia often
obliged to travel considerable distances to
talk with neighhor or transact some
matter of business which cannot be at
tended to in the immediate vicinity.
The rural free delivery has done much
to assist the farmer in attending TO his
affairs at q distance, bat this at best takes
considerable time and often matters which
need immediate attention cannot be set.
tied without Inconvenience and delay.
This drawback to the best condition for
promoting business in the country is read
lily realized by those living in such dis.
triets which have not a ready means of
communications and they are quick to ap-
preciate the great benefit and convenience
which the rural telephone has brought to
such sections. The fundamental princi-
pal Of success in agricultural pursuits as
well as other forms OF business is to &C.
complish the greatest amount of work in
the least possible time with the least labor.
As an approach to this condition much
has been done for the farmer in the de.
velopment Of various forms of machinery
for making each operation in farm work
less laborious and more speedily accom-.
pIished.
Even with such facilities at band the
farmer is still greatly handicapped If he
is yet without ready and effective means
of communicating with the outside world
and he finds that his business is hampered |
to an extent that cannot be estimated
when be compares the condition OF bis
community with those sections which
have the advantage of telephone service.
Aside from facilitating business, the tele-
phone in the rural districts has done
much to promote the social side Of
country life, Those who live short dis
tance apart do not always find it conyen.
lent to take walk across the fields or
drive through the country in order to ex.
change ideas or have social chat.
The telephone annihilates this incon-
venient distance; bringing an additional
comfort and pleasure into the home by
removing from county life the disadvan-
tage OF complete isolation The telephone
has done much service and is indespensi.
bic in cases Of sickness where q. physician
must be summoned without delay. The
time required TO dispatch messenger for
the doctor may result in the loss of val
uable life and the additional sense Of se.
curity, which the telephone gives should
in itself repay the small outlay necessary
to obtain the service. The Bell Telephone
Co. has done much towards promoting 4
the growth Of rural companies by
offering 10 the local co companies
rural lines, which are built and
owned by the farmers, connection over
their system at a nominal rate. III this
way the farmer 10 able 10 communicate
not only with those in his immediate Vi
cinity but with the country ct large as
well. The rapid growth Of the rural tele-
phone serves to show that the value Of
This class Of service has been much 10.
preeiated By those living 10 the country,
and that they have been anxious ia im.
prove the conditions Of their communisis6
BY bringing them in touch with The out. /;
lide world. The Western Electric ca
has been working On their rural prOpOai-
ion In this territory, and Il Is hoped IRE
results may be beneficial to she c0mmun
y.