Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1905 — Growth of the Telepl[?]o[?]e. [ARTICLE]

Growth of the Telepl [?]o [?]e.

The use of the telephone in this country is increasing nt a marvelously rapid rote. In 1900 there were less than 1,000,000 telephone subscribers in the United States; now there an> 3,000,000 or more. To provide for this growth requires the expenditure of many millions of dollars each year. 4a the past twelve months the big companies have spent over $35,000,000 in extending their service, a large share of this enormous total going to carry the telephone lines to araall towns and through rural districts.