The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-12
100000 PHONES
N UNITED STATES
One for Every Nine Per-
sons and Calls Number
Billions.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 12.-
The number of telephones in use IN
the United States at the close OF the
calendar year, 1917, was 11,713,228-
1 to every 8 persons, or every two fam
flies: and the number Of calls made
during the year is estimated at 2l,'
842,000,00O, an average Of more than
200 for every man, woman, and child
81 the country. These are among the
interesting features of preliminary
report on the telephone industry Of the
United States, just made public by
Director Sam L. Rogers, of the Blu
reau OF the Census, Department OF
Commerce. This report was prepared
under the supervision of Mr.. Eugene
3. Hartley, Chief Statisttcian for Man
ufactures.
IN addition to statistics for 1917, the
feport presents comparative figures
for 1912 and 1907, with percentages OF
increase. The statistics for 1917 COW
sef the Bell Telephone System-com-
prising all lines operated by the Amer
lean Telephone and Telegraph com
many and its associated companies; in
dependent telephone systems report
ing annual incomes of more than So
600; and independent telephone sys.
TENS, including rural lines, reporting
incomes of less than $4,000. They do
not, however, include data for tele.
phone lines maintained by steam and
electric railways for use in connection
Wit hthe operation Of their roads; pri'
Sate lines in hotels, factories, ETC.; or
lines operated by Federal, state, or
municipal offices.
Considerable increases are shown
for both five-year periods, 1912-1917
and 1907-1912, covered by the report.
The increase in the amount OF business
done was considerably greater during
the later five-year period than during
tie earlier, but the increase in the
wire mileage and the number Of tele-
phones was proportionally, though not
absolutely, greater during the earlier
period During the five-year period
1D12:1917 the number of systems or
companies increased from S2,2SS to
58.OS5, or at the rate Of 64.5 per cent,
Is against 40.3 per cent. for the pre-
ceding five years. The wire mileage
Increased during the same period from
20,24s, 1926 to 2S,827,O 91, or by 42.4 per
cent, as against sos per cent. for the
preceding five-year period. The num-
he ROT telephones increased from g.
729,592 to 11,713,22S, or at the rate OF
$40 per cent, as compared with AT
per cent. for the five years 19O7-1912.
The estimated number of messages or
talks increased from 13,7S6,0 100000 to
q. $40 ,000, 900, or by SO per cent, as
Compared with EOS per cent. for the
five years preceding. The total num-
her of employees in 1917 was 262,622,
n, increase Of 43.2 per cent. as com.
pared with 1912; and their salaries
and wages aggregated S175,66S,299, an
increase of S2.9 per cent. over the 1917
figure. The income from all sources
IN 1917 amounted to 1891 ,476,926, an
increase of 53.5 per cent. over 1912;
and the expenses and fixed charges
were Ss19 1923, or $50 per cent.
more than in 1912. The total value OF
plant equipment in 1917 amounted to
,492, 2300S1, an increase OF S2.S per
cent. as compared VIII 4S1G' POl IHO
tenyear period 19O7-1917 the percent
ages OF Increase in the more import
ant items covered by the table were:
Salary and wage payments, 1878; ex-
penses and fixed charges, 1855; wire
mileage, 1918; total income, 1922;
number of messages or talks, 92.1;
number Of telephones, 91.4; number of
employees, 1922; value of plant ana
equipment, sos.
The Bell Telephone System report
ed, for 1917, 62.6 per cent. Of the total
number Of telephones, S0S per cent.
81, the total wire mileage, and 76.4 per
cent. Of the total value of plant and
equipment. In addition to the 1885,
s62 telephones directly owned by this
system, there were S,164,9O2 indie
pendently owned telephones which
we're connected with the Bell lines and
exchanges for the interchange of To-
cal and long. distance service. The Bell
service, therefore, reaches 1864
: Telephones, or S9.6 per cent. of the to-
tai number reported.