St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-04-30
RURAL TELEPHONE IDEA
GROWING In THE
SOUTH.

q remarkable feature OF the de
velopment Of the south in the pas
in the past few years has been thu
growth Of the rural telephone idea
Extensive systems of farm telephones
are to be found today in all Of The
southern states, where but a com
paratively short time ago telephone
service was unknow.
On this subject the Georgia and
Industrial Index recently had the fol-
lowing to say:
The two states Of Georgia and
Alabama are being rapidly covered
with 2 great network Of wires, and
before long the farmers home that
is not a hello-house will be the ex-
ception to the rule. The rural tele-
phons idea gained in popularity
amazingly during the past year, and
indications are that the construction
record Of 1910 will be even more
gratifying.
In almost every section Of the
two states the building Of telephone
wires out into the heart Of the rural
districts, right to the home Of the
farmer, is proceeding steadily
This is Of course true not only Of
Alabama and Georgia, but Of Arkan-
sas, Oklahoma, Texas. Mississippi,
Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Georgia Florida, the Ga~rolinas and
Virginia as well. Everywhere
throughout the south the Develop
ment Of the telephone has been rapid.
During 1909, according to the state
ment Of the Western Electric Com
pany, the largest telephone manufac-
turer in the world, over 10000 Of its
rural telephones were sold il the
south.
The part which the farmers them
selves have taken in the telephone
movement makes it one Of consider.
able Importance. Il is a fact that
for very small trouble and expense a
group Of neighboring farmers can
buy, build and maintain d s~erviceable
telephone system. The work Of in
stallation is not 50 very different
from ordinary fenee-building opera
tons about the farm. Equipment
confirming with the best recognized
standards is at the disposal of pro-
gressive rural citizens for their tele-
phone-building.
It is not an unusual sight to wit
ness gangs Of farmers at work on
the roads Of the south, erecting poles,
stringing wires and installing the in
struments in the farmhouses along
the countryside. This work is usu-
ally done on a cooperative basis, and
is Of course Of great benefit to any
community.
Often some sort Of an organization
is formed. Sometimes six or eight
neighboring farmers start the move
ment. In case there are as few as
this, no switchboard is necessary.
Construction and maintenance are of
the simplest nature. A single pair
Of wires will suffice, and the party
line" system is found the most CON
%venient and useful. AS demands
grow and the little rural companies
branch out extensions are made, and,
usually, connection through trunk
lines with the rest Of the world.
It is interesting to note that the
adoption and development Of the tele-
phone in a rural locality is attained
BY . minimum Of expense. Of all
the agencies that help bring greater
opportunities TO the farms-the good
roads movement, railroad extensions,
the rural mail delivery and the farm
telephone-the least costly, and, be-
cause it reaches the largest number,
the most important is the telephone.
spread throughout the south is an
outcome If the educating Of farmers
TO its superior qualities.
cyoeto~a ~