Switzerland 379 



added definitely to the statute book. In this case it will come 

 into operation on January i, 1896, at the latest. Switzerland 

 will then enjoy the cheapest and, at the same time, the most 

 rational telephonic tariff in the world ; for after subscribing i/. 125-. 

 annually, a charge sufficient to maintain -his line and instrument 

 in good order, every man will pay exactly in accordance with the 

 use he makes of his connection. By the same law the existing 

 charges in connection with parochial telephone stations (see p. 386) 

 are abolished, and the parish councils put on exactly the same 

 terms those just cited as ordinary subscribers. The new 

 charges, like the present, are to cover lines not exceeding two 

 kilometers in length ; excess rates for longer distances, both single 

 wire and metallic circuit, are to remain unaltered. The present 

 charges for telephoning telegrams, telephonograms, and public 

 stations stand. It must be clearly understood that the new tariff, 

 like the existing, covers erection, maintenance, and all expenses. 



SERVICES RENDERED BY THE STATE TELEPHONE 

 ADMINISTRATION 



1. Intercommunication locally between the subscribers and 

 public telephone stations of a town or district. 



2. Internal trunk line communication. There is scarcely a 

 town or village of any size that does not participate in this service. 

 The system is at present somewhat wanting in direct trunks between 

 the more distant towns, intermediate switching i.e. the joining of 

 two or more short trunks to make up a temporary long-distance 

 line being requisite ; but this defect is being gradually removed 

 as traffic develops. The longest distances at present talked over 

 are (as the wires go, the mountains, and lakes, which are too deep 

 and uneven for cables, preventing direct routes in many cases) 

 1 66 miles, Geneva to Schaffhausen ; 178 miles, Geneva to St. 

 Gallen ; and 239 miles, Geneva to St. Moritz. One of the regu- 

 lations relating to trunks forbids the engagement of a line in 

 advance for a conversation at a specified time, which is directly 

 opposed to the Swedish practice of booking talks a long time 

 beforehand. 



