South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-30
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
IS MOST READ BOOK
Nearly Two Million Copies Are
Used in New York and Sub
urbS in Four Months.
BY lothian Knicler,,ockcr.


NEW YORK, June 30.-What book
Is read most in New York city? The
Bible? Won Bernhardfs Germany
and the New WAR;"
No. the telephone directory. SO an
official Of the New York TEL hone
CO. told me today and after listening
TO some staggering figures 1 had TO
agree with him.
The telephone book has just come
out in an edition Of SOS. 900 copies; or
counting suburban editions. 100000
copies This edition will be used just
four months and then scrapped. An
other and larger edition will take its
place.
The three editions each year. II
there were no increase and this four
month gain reached 1880 for the
city edition alone the last time-total
5.25O.000 copies
There is not an hour OF the "a when
thousands or tens OF thousands Of per
sOns are not pouring over the pages OF
the city edition where 562.555 tele-
phones are listed. The book is con-
suited more than 100000 times a
day.
The writer's Of best selling novels are
cast into the shade by this work OF
which, even making no allowance for
gro With. at least 5000 tons will be
printed in the next twelve-mOnth
The first New York directory in
1879 contained 252 names. In 1884
the city used 1,7S6 telephones; in 1890,
1880; in 1895, 15.474; in 1900, az
S74; 1905, 1859; 1910, 365,S33, and
now 562,555, number which would
keep 10 times as many Europeans as
there are persons in this busting
town quite content.
A club without a name, with only
three members. but still an institution
in the citys life. Such is 10 De found
If YOU are one of the Is privileged
friends Of the members. r.. 35th 81.
a business man enters his Limousine
tired from a struggle with the world.
and says: Drive me TO Number 1917
lie is taken 10 g. broWnStOne house. ON
Entering the portals all is quiet and
restfulness. He can hear himself
think There is no jolly life here
for that he would probably go TO the
Racquet and Tennis or one Of his
other clubs-but there is cook of
established reputation and intelligent
servants
The club expenses are borne wholly
by the three members. but the p
friends Of theirs have standing lnNl-
tation to come here for rest.
II this be advertising, make the
most OF il.
New Yorks biggest borough is
Queens IL is also the most neglected.
The geographical center Of the great
or city lies across the East river in
this great stretch Of vacant lots with
here and there settlement.
New. IL a stranger who had been
away from New York i've years was
10 return here what would he notice
most? Probably that great new group
a
FIFTH av. In this district real estate
values have Ieaped like magic.
Walk one block east Of 42nd ST. and
Fifth av enter the SteinWay tunnel
Just opened. and in four minutes you
are across the river in Queens What
wooden buildings dOtting here and
there a miserable suburb Real estate
down 10 distress figures.
And vet this tunnel. which brings
thousands of acres into the heart OF
Manhattan. had lain dormant and
unused since 1900.
In that year more than 100 pounds
of dynamite which was being thawed
out exploded. FIVE persons were killed
so were injured. much more prop
erty was wrecked and the ensuing
deluge Of damage suits drowned out
the promoters and turned me stem
way tunnel into a curiosity, q srahd
example of New Nork's failure 10
grasp its opportunities.
Is is dissertation To eat your lunch
con on the grave OF some ones an
cestor2
4 Chinese would certainly answer
YES. but We are somewhat surprised
TO find a New York woman protesting
She is put ont that girl stenographers
have a habit Of opening their luncheon
baskets every noon in st Paul :
church yard. at Broadway and Nesey
st. and enjoying a little rest among
the greenery. while six feet below
doughty gentlemen of Revolutionary
times are trying To rest. too.
Our opinion. after inspecting the
,.oung women. is that the ancient
burghers. even if now dead ones
would not object 20 such company.
,nrnn nIMnI ADJ