The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-01-16
PHONE INDUSTRY FACTS.
WHAT CENSUS BUREAU
SAYS OF BUSINESS
Figures That Have Been Cleaned
From Companies In the
O. Country
Especial TO Free Press. ]

stSpeClai rTee iTcSSJ
Washington, January 12.-Accord-
ing to the report about to be issued
by the bureau OF the census showing
the results of the census of tele-
phones covering the year 1917, there
are 1924 separate telephone sys-
TENS and lines These lines and sys-
TENS operated 2S,S27.1SS miles of wire
in the United SiateS-enough to Cir
die the earth at the equator 1,153
times-and connected 11,7I6,520 tele.
phones and Pitts public exchanges.
The messages or talks" sent over
these wires aggregated the stupen-
dous total of nearly twenty two bill
lion, or, to be exact. 21,S45, I22, 1856.
Figured on the estimated population
81 the country in 1917 this gives 211
messages per annum to every man,
woman and child.
The industry in 1917 gave employ
ment to 262, 629 persons of whom
III, 119, or over siXty-five per cent,
were women. The sum paid out in
salaries and wages amounted to SITS
670,449 These employees operated
plants and equipment valued at ST.
429, 329.015, which yielded operating
and incorporating revenues of 1891,
499.531. ..
The report discusses the develop
ment of the telephone industry, tele-
phone equipment and traffic; offers
interesting comparisons between the
Bell and other systems, and between
the telephone system as a whole and
the telegraph system: and gives i'm
portant financial statistics OF the in
dustry. Detailed figures are present
ed for 1917 by states and geographic
divisions and comparative statistics
for earlier years. The statistics for
1917 are believed to be more accurate
than for any previous census, due TO
the uniform system of accounts for
telephone companies by the inter-
state commerce commission, which
have been in use since January l,
1913. 4
The Bell telephone system controll-
ed over four fifths of the total wire
mileage, employed over three-fourths
of the employees of the industry,
paid over four fifths OF the total bill
for salaries and wages, and received
nearly four fifths of the total rev.
enue. .'
Over three fifths of all the tele-
phones in the United States bore the
BELL sign, and two thirds of all
persons who were wanted on the
wire" were wanted on ABEL wire
The dominating part that the Bell
system plays in the industry may be
further illustrated by the fact that
OF all the other systems. reported,
961 per cent reported annual incomes
Of less than $4,000.
Comparisons with previous censuses
bring out in striking way the re-
markable development of the indus
try. During the decade 1907 1917
wire mileage increased 129 per cent
the number of telephones 1923 per
cent, the number of messages 905
per cent, for system having incomes
of $4,000 or more.
A comparison by geographic diyi-
sions brings out the fact that con
siderably more than one-half of the
telephone systems reporting annual
incomes of $4,000 or more in 1917
were located in the Middle West
while systems and lines reporting in
comes of less than $1,000 were found
in the largest numbers in the west
ern states of the central groups.
The financial statistics Of the re-
port show that while the revenue OF
the telephone companies has more
than doubled during the decade
1907 1917, the expenses have increas
ed at an even more rapid rate. Much
OF the increase in expenses was due
to increase in salaries and wages
paid. These had advanced from Az
per cent of the total expenses IL
1912, to 542 per cent in 1917. Fol
systems reporting annual incomes o.
more than $1,000 in 1917. the average
total revenue per telephone wa:
1854, average net income per tele'
phone $613 and average surplus PEI
telephone STAG.
The report of the telephone indus
try is part of the Census of Electri
cal Industries which was taken il
1918. covering the operations Of TIT
fiscal year 1917.
The first census of the telephone
industry was taken in connection
with the decennial census in 1880
only two years after the first publi
telephone exchange was opened TO
business at New Haven, Conn, OF
January 25. 1878. In 1890 censu
or telephones was again taken will
the regular decennial census, but 70
1902 and for every fifth year since
census of Electrical Industries
which includes telephones, has beer
taken. The development of the in
dustry, therefore, is shown from it
infancy.
Mrs. Paul Walther is recovering
CO -.