The sun., 1919-07-17
THEODORE VAIL Is
NOW IA YEARS OLD
Telephone Pioneer Passes
Birthday on His Farm in
Lyndonville, vt.
WORKS AS HARD AS EVER
New Post as Directors Chair
man Keeps Him Busy on
Big Problems.

Theodore N Vail, "the biggest tele-
phone man in the world physically.
mentally and financialiy, rested yes
terday. his seventy-fourth birthday,
from his labors in telephony by super
vising affairs on his big farm at Lyndon
telephone man. Mr.. Vail finds time to be
one OF the biggest farmers Of the Green
Mountain State.
Despite his years Mr.. Vail is gener-
ally very busy at his desk at 1s5 Broad
way but likes to pass his birthdays on
his extensive Vermont estate. He left
his office for this purpose last week
but probably will be back in town next
week to catch up with the telephone
work that is always piling up while he is
looking after agriculture. Yesterday
one gathered at the general offices OF the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany. at 1875 Broadway, his farming was
probably seriously lnterfered with by the
scores OF kilograms and letters of con-
graduation which poured in upon him
from friends inside and out OF the wire
business.
Although Mr.. Vail resigned the presi-
dency Of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company June IS 1t was not
to retire from active business. Instead
he became chairman Of the board of d.
rectors Of the corporation. In this way
he substituted for routine work larger
problems OF the telephone and telegraph
business. He Is In active direction Of
the company's policy and concerns him
self with work In tho line Of greater de-
velopment and wider usefulness OF cleo
trical transmission OF intelligence.
Mr.. Vail tried resigning once. back in
1904. and stuck to It for three years. but
at the end OF that time returned to work
and brought order and cooperation into
the business Of warning telegraph COM
panies. His wide experience and long
connection with the wire industry made
him the only man who could end the
chaos. In the last eight or nine years
he has worked harder than at any other
| time during his very busy life.
Mr.. Vail had already made a success
of life in another field when BELLS
toy" as Prof. Alexander Graham Bells
invention Of the telephone was called.
drew him into the wire business at its
very start. He was born in Carroll
county. Ohio. July le, 1s%5. OF old Eng
lish Quaker stock AS a youth he was
greatly interested in telegraphy, and
was for time an operator for the
Union Pacific Railroad. When twenty
four he was appointed TO a position in
the railway mail service, and at thirty
one was general superintendent OF the
service.
1t was about this time, in Washing
ton. that he became interested in Prof.
Bells invention, and in 1878 became
manager Of the American Bell Company,
formed TO exploit the telephone. Little
more than quarter OF century ago
he worked very hard perfecting de-
vice known then as Wallis Folly" Now
II is known as the long distance tele-
phone. Since his first position with the
pioneer company Mr.. Vail has been /
leader In the wire service. He is gen.
! orally credited with bringing the tele-
phone service OF this country to a state
OF higher efficiency than in any other.
Before the war the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company had be-
come the second largest corporation in
the world. with more than $1,000, 900
| 900 capital. $1,000 stockholders and TO-
| 100000 customers.
In appearance Mr.. Vail is as striking
as in performance. He stands about SIX
| feet two and weighs about ESQ pounds,
one but not the most important reason
why he is called the biggest telephone
| man In the world His curly hair and
closely cropped mustache are silver
white.