41 8 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



XXVI. WURTEMBERG 



HISTORY AND PRESENT POSITION 



THE ubiquitous International Bell Telephone Company tried 

 hard to win a concession for the telephone system of Wiirtemberg, 

 but the policy of all the German States was to preserve the new 

 means of communication to the Governments, and the company's 

 efforts made no more impression here than in Berlin or Munich. 

 But the Government, notwithstanding, had no idea of burking the 

 telephone, and soon set about the business themselves, with results 

 that cannot in any sense be deemed unsatisfactory. The rates 

 have been reasonable and the service fair, while the linking up of 

 the various towns to the capital, with one another, and with neigh- 

 bouring States, was commenced early and carried out systematically. 

 The consequence has been a very extensive exchange in Stuttgart 

 and a satisfactory development throughout the country. It may 

 be regretted that the single wire has heretofore been considered 

 good enough for the subscribers' lines, but the necessity of a 

 change is now recognised, and in future every development will 

 be effected with the inevitable triumph of the metallic circuit in 

 view. The extension of the trunks and the growing necessity, in 

 Stuttgart at all events, for underground work, leaves no alternative 

 possible to thinking men. 



SERVICES RENDERED TO THE PUBLIC 



i. Local exchange communication. The local rate is 5/. per 

 annum, including all charges, for any distance not exceeding three 

 kilometers from the central station. In the case of Stuttgart, 



