The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-08-13
OF GREAT BENEFIT
Improvements rlade in Local Eek.
change That flakes II Second
to None.

Improvements that are bound to be Of
inestimable benefit to Missoula and the
surrounding country have been undertak-
en- in the local Office Of the Rocky Mountain
Bell Telephone company. The Western
Electric company. which supplies all the
telephones and apparatus of the Bell sys-
tenn throughout the country. has installed
further facilities for long distance connec-
tons and has remodel-d the switchboard
which served Missoula in the past The
''cut-over." as telephone men term the in
auguration OF the service over a new board
was effected the first of the month This
town now has telephone exchange second
to none Of its size in point of effectiveness
The acquisition of better telephone ia
cilities should be looked upon as more than
merely step forward on the part Of the
| local telephone company. lust as sure a.
| prosperity follows the fag." as certainly
as great increase in business and a bet
ierment in living and working conditions
came within the invention and speed of
the phone itself, invariably it is found with
every effort to increase the effectiveness of
telephone communication comes better
times and a more universal feeling of the
satisfaction that always accomplishes pros
perity.
| There was a time not SO long ago when
| the phone was considered the luxury of
the rich man. Many fail to realize, though
they appreciate inlly the usefulness OF this
little instrument. the fact that the inven-
ton OF the telephone is a matter of recent
sccurance. Thirty-ihree years ago it first
came to the notice OF the American public.
some called II a toy, others denounced il a
fake. 1t was the usual experience OF a
novel invention, and differed not at all
from the reception first given the steam
boat. the locomotive and the aeroplane
But the fact that stands but most promi-
nenily is that whereas but few years ago
this telephone was something that osly the
well-to-do, the leaders, might possess, to-
day it is a universal necessity, in demand
among thousands and thousands OF plain
everyday people.
The phone easily grew popular in city
stores. offices and homes. This was lust
As had been anticipated for IN city limits
lines and extensions may be easily operst-
ed and maintained. But after the urban
growth came the development of the rural
telephone growth that was more mark
ed and OF greater lasting good to the ma
ton
The improvements here in MissouIa are
but one phase Of this movement. Tele-
phones are becoming more and popular in
the extensive agricultural aud fruit raising
sections surrounding this city. For that
reason, TO accommodate farmers and grow
lers who make their sales and transact
other business in town, better toll service
is assured by the addition OF two sections
OF switch board. 1t saves ''ihe man with
the hoe" many long trip into the town
and much valuable time. Ii is a real mon,
ey-saver for him when he markets hi.
produce by long distance.
There are some interesting figures in
connection with the statistics of rural tele
phones The telephone census shows thai
in 1904 there were but oil farm phones in
the entire state Of Montana. The mex
census year was 1907. and 1850 rura
phones were counted in the state. That.
big jump for five years. The compan,
. which is installing the improvements il
the Missoula exchange reports lhat in ths
past six months it has sold $4,000 Of tn.
newest type of telephones. This would
seem to Indicate that the tide is still run,
ming strongly in the right direction
Some of the middle western states have
,. about reached the acme of telephone de
veiopment. The highest point is Iowa
where i74,I5s oil, of 22o o2o farms hat
telephone connections at the end of 1907
J That means IS 9per cent Of all the farms
in the state talk and do business over the
. telephone. In Kansas 5s.7 per cent OF the
farms have telephones. the percentage in
Nebraska is sS.5. Kansas. Nebraska anc
Iowa are three OF the greatest and farthest
advanced agricultural communities one car
find in the whole world 1t would not be
. such bad logic to infer very compliment
tary reference for the rural telephone.
The remodeled and extended switch
board at Missoula will serve the farming
! country as well as the town. The n "
sections represen, the latest and most up
to date output of the inventors craft. The
Missoula exchange is no thoroughly mod
ern and should furnish the best Of service
The Missoula Herald.