El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-03-13
4 l,7l3,22SPhomes
Used I'm a america

IVA. -
Washington.-The number OF teIe-
phones in use in the United States
at the close Of the calendar year
1917 was III, 713,228-1 to every nine
persons, or every two families; ami
the number of calls made during mo
year is estimated at 81, 842, 900, 0Uv,
an average of more than 200 for
every man, woman, and child in tho
country. These are among the in
teresting features of a preliminary
report on the telephone industry Of
the United States, Just made public
by Director Sam Il. Rogers, OF the
bureau OF census, department OF
commerce. This report was prepared
under the supervision of Mr.. Eugere
f. Hartley, chief statistician for man
ufactures.
In addition to statistics for 1917,
the report presents comparative fiS-
ures for 1912 and 1907, with per-
centages OF increase. The statistics
for 1917 cover the Bell TelephtE ne
System-comprising all lines opcr-
ated by the American Telephone and
Telegraph company and its ascot
ated companies; independent tele-
phone systems reporting annual in
comes Of more than $4,000; and ill.,
dependent telephone systems includ-
ing rural lines, reporting incomes of
less than 5000. They do not, how
ever, include data for telephone lines
maintained by steam and electric rail
ways fer use in connection with the
operation of>their roads; private lines
in hotels, factories, ETC.; or lines
operated by federal, state, or munic:-
pal offices.
Considerable increases are shown
for both f~ive-year periods, 1912-1517
and 1907-1912, covered by the re-
port. The increase in the amount
Of business done was considerably
greater during the later five-year
period than during the earlier, b t
the increase in the wire mileage and
the number of telephones was pro-
portionally, though not absolutely,
greater during the earlier period.
the f~ive-year period 1912-19i7
the number of systems or compan-
les increased from 32,233 to 53,035,
or at the rate of GAS per cent, as
against 40s3 per cent for the proceed
ing five years. The wire mileage in
CIGdbtQ uuA4uk JIG cdAAiC 10 AO0 VI
20,24S,326 to 28,827, 091, or by 42.4 per
cent, as against 55.S per cent for TIE
preceding ~fiveFyear period. The num-
Der Of telephones increased from
S,729,5 to 11713,22S, OF at the rate
Of 34.2 per cent, as compared with
42.7 per cent for five years 1907-19l2.
The estimated number of messages
or talks increased from IL, 1876 200. 900
to 1882 00, 900, or by SO per cenT,
rs compared with 20.S per cent for
The five years preceding. The total
number or employees in 1917 was
1852, 622, an increase of 1872 per cent
is compared with 1912; and their
salaries and wages aggregated $17b,-
6GS, 299, an increase of 81 per cent
over the 1912 figure. The income
rom all sources in 1917 amounted to
5391,476, 926, an increase Of 53.5 per
cent over 1912: and the expenses
md fixed charges were $319,116 2gS,
)r 56.6 per cent more than in 1912.
rhe total value of plant and equip
nent in 1917 amounted to $1,492, 23U.-
ISL, an increase of 1928 per cent as
compared with 1912. For the ten
period 1~907-1917 the percentages
increase in the more important
tens covered by the table were: Sal
Try and wage payments, 1913; ex-
lenses and fixed charges, 1865; wire
Mileage, 1918: total income, 1922:
of messages o talRs, 921;
of telephones. 91.4; number
employees, S2.2; value Of plant
md equipment, sos.
The Bell Telephone System report
ID, for 1917, GIG per cent of the
otal number Of telephones, S0.3 per
.ent Of the total wire mileage, and
TG.4 per cent Of the total value OF
liant and equipment. In addition to
he 7.926,SG2 telephones directly
,wned by this system, there were
.,164, 902 Independently owned tele-
,hones which were connected with
he Bell lines and exchanges for the
interchange of local and long-distance
The Bell service. therefore,
caches 1891 64 telephones, rr
t0.6 per cent of the total number ie-