The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-08-01
Today Telephone
Properties Are
Returned

After a year of Federal control the telephone prop
erty. which makes up the Bell Telephone System, is today
returned to its owners by the United States Government.
While the property has been properly maintained it
is not the same property which the government took over
on August first, nineteen hundred eighteen. 1t is not as
adequate for its job, or as well manned as it was; that it is
not, is in no way the fault of Federal control which was
eminently fair. 1t is due to causes for which neither the
government nor the companies are to blame.
A year ago today, we were at war. Labor and ma
terials needed for both telephone operation and construc-
ton were turned to military uses. Some materials were
so vital to the carrying on of the war that even the work of
providing telephone facilities for the government was
retarded and no part of them could be spared for CONNER
cial telephone purposes.
No less vital was the government need for those
skilled to create, maintain and operate the vast intercom-
munication systems necessary in modern warfare and in
the conduct of the vastly increased government services.
Thousands of telephone men were already at the
battle front. Thousands more were under arms, and still
telephone experts and skilled operators went into the
service of the government and contributory industries by
the tens of thousands.
The reserves Of plant and equipment were drawn upon
until they were entirely used up, and the experienced
staff was gradually depleted. To find others to take the
places of those who had gone was difficult, to train them
takes time.
During the year came victory and the armistice, and
instantly the business world sprang into intense activity.
The demands for telephone service passed all former
records.
To replace the exhausted reserves which had been
carried for just such purposes and to replace the skilled
forces to meet this unprecedented emergency there began
a rush for construction, for readjustment, for high pres
sure repairs, for feverish extensions. All these must be
continued with increasing effort.
The return of the property comes in the very midst
of this race between and empowering demand, and an
upbuilding of a system whose growth was held back and
whose forces were scattered by the vital needs of war.
Much progress has been made III the upbuilding Of
this system, but far more is still required to meet the swift
growth of business, and also to give first aid to every
other business and every other service struggling against
an unprecedented demand.
The prosperity which creates this emergency in
service creates also a scarcity of those desiring employ
ment in the service.
Under such conditions telephone service generally
has not been and could not be up to the pre-war standard.
1t is beyond human power to Immediately overcome the
handicap which the situation imposes.
There are no people in any public or private endeavor
who are working more tirelessly or strenuously for the
common good than those of the telephone companies.
Service has always been given, more of it must be given
and it must be improved. That Improvement in some
cases will take months. Eventually service must win the
race with demand.