The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-02-04
RURAL


livery from its start in 1897 has been
a great help to the farmers and in
eleven years according 10 the report
of the auditor Of the ~poStoffice, has
grown to a total OF 10000 carriers.
But the rural telephone starting since
that time is already outstripping both
of these in the number of farmers it
is reaching and the ways in which
it is benefitting them.
The rural free delivery carriers
route rarely exceeds - miles in Length
and serves on an average about 30
farms. A rural telephone will operate
as far as 40 miles with as many as
thirty or 10 telephones OF the line.
OF course in the we'll settled states the
farmers have both but in the vast
sections Of open country, it is obvious
that it will be some time before rural
free delivery can reach as many farms
as the rural telephone.
The low first cost of the rural tele-
phone puts it within reach of all. On
lines less than II miles in length the
cost is $4.9i per mile o including
pOles-the latter to be cut and furnish
ed by the farmer himself. On lines
over - miles long the cost is $6.S1
per mile: same arrangement about the
poles. In either case, the cost Of his
telephone set complete is $500. The
above figures represent standard
ground" one wire construction and
long distance telephones. 1t is a sim
pie matter to build Il line and 40 opera
tor is required. The annual mainten-
ance expense is not over seVenty-five
cents-the renewal of the dry batteries
in the farmers telephone. In addition
boring town and there connect with
the town exchange and long distance
service to the rest of the country.
The rural telephone in sickness or
enc gency enables the farmer to sum
mon immediate aid. 1t enables him to
learn TIE latest market prices and get
more money for his products. 1t re-
moves the isolation of country life:
it improves the conditions suiroun l.
ing the farmers Wife. During the day
and evening it is used a great deal for
social MISUNDERSTANDING being
able to get in" on the line at the
same time il they desire.
Down South it is the white woman's
protection in the country districts. In
many sections of the lifted States
where rural telephone lines exist it is
customary to furnish weather bureau
reports over them every morning. For
instance at . O'Clock in the morning.
the telephone company in town will
give three long rings over each rural
V no desire may. oil taking the receiver
off CT the hook, hear the operator read
the weather bureau report. The COM
panies often give out at the same
time, the prevailing market quotations.
The rural telephone certainly is the
farmers greatest servant In using
it to do errGndS, it saves time. In
dry seasons, he may be promptly no
tilted OF the approach of prairie or
fOres. fires, of not %infrequcnt occur
renee if his farm adjoins the railroad.
or in case of fire at his own home
he can summol aid without leaving
the farm himself. Il is hard to say
Iii what way it helps him the o
on the various things mentioned above.
Wherever he is, ask him if he would
be willing to do without it and his
answer is NO"
In the vast sections of open oun
try away from schools. churches and
other conditions improving country
life. the rural telephone is fast reach
ing out and removing one of the great
est disadvantages of living in the
country; namely, that one must tray
ell a considerable distance to reach a
market or to- talk with Il neighbOr.
1t is estimated that there are over
seven million farmers families in the
United States today. taking the wore
farmer in it's broadcast sense and in
Guiding all families living in the open
country. OF those it is estimated
that in the few years since the rural
telephone has been considered serious
ly, more than two million have adopt
ed it and it is rapidly being extended.
The rural telephone born of neces-
sity and of vital benefits to the farm.
err has as it's further recommendation,
its accessibility to the entire popula-
ton of farmers. many of whom can
not be reached by rural free delivery
or good roads for generations to come.
w. NJ. Cooke was here Thursday
and spent the day, having arrived from
Minneapolis that morning.