Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide 1914 Page: X
433 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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X. ADVERTISING SECTION.
By J. E. Farnsworth
The story of the Southwestern Telephone Company in Texas It
one which makes manifest the magic power of a few determined men
to will into existence, as great obstacles are surmounted, a changed
condition-to bring about an improvement almost revolutionary in
character in the methods of life.
Today there are 281,274 telephones east of the Pecos River con-
nected in one system. Three million five hundred thousand out of four
million inhabitants of the State have been brought within the bounds
of a wonderful intercommunicating wire system. One hundred thousand
miles of long distance wire bind them together in one close association
of like ideals, similar characteristics and mutual understanding.
Towns, cities and farm houses are like the individual offices of a
great business organization. Those who consider their -affairs impor-
tant enough in the machinery of government and society to participate
in the benefits so accrued are "on the lines." Toll stations and pay
stations and public telephones are everywhere.
While in 1895 there were no exchanges in Texas with more than 750
telephones, today there are thirty-five with more subscribers than were
reported in any of the large cities of the State at that time.
It was when it was discovered that long distance telephony was a
practical success the development of the system of The Southwestern
Telegraph and Telephone Company became pronounced. Inventions and
improvements of physical conditions made this possible. Before 1888 no
more than one pair of wires could be placed on the same pole line. "Cross
talk" and interference could not be prevented until- the principle of
transposition or crossing of wires was evolved. The first modern (long
distance line was built by The Southwestern Company between Sherman
and Dallas in 1892. The same year another line was constructed be-
tween Fort Worth and Dallas. Today there are in the Southwestern and
connecting universal system in Texas more than 100,000 miles of toll
wire.
Over the tremendous system developed by The Southwestern Tele-
graph and Telephone Company within so few years, 437,134,154 local
and long distance calls were handled during 1912. This is in comparison
with the 200,000,000 pieces of mail matter handled through the Texas
postoffices. The Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company now
has 4,400 employes on the payroll, advertises in 400 newspapers, and is
endeavoring by every possible means to increase the number of sub-
scribers, that added value may be given to the service rendered.
The Southwestern (Bell) Telegraph and Telephone Company and its
connecting companies has intimate relations with and serves more peo-
ple daily than any corporation operating in the State. Its facilities are
used constantly by more patrons than all the railroads combined. It
is estimated that not .less than one million people talk over its wires
each day. It is one of the most potent factors in the development and
the life of the people of Texas, and its ambition is to so serve them
as to meet with their hearty encouragement, co-operation andapproval.
It is believed by the management that the policy..of the company in the
past has merited this, and it hopes to deserve the same in the future.
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Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide 1914, book, January 1914; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117157/m1/12/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.