ign.] Telephones in Rural Districts. 



32; 



In the United States there are to-day more telephones in 

 use by farmers than the whole number in use by the commer- 

 cial and all other classes in the United Kingdom, and these 

 telephones are found to add to the profits and comfort of the 

 farmers to an extent which makes the cost of the telephones 

 seem negligible. 



The Postmaster-General is ready to provide lines of the 

 same kind in the rural districts of the United Kingdom. By 

 means of such a line a farmer can speak from his farm to all 

 the people who are telephone subscribers with whom he does 

 business, not only in the nearest town but also as a rule in 

 all places within a distance of about 100 miles. He can also 

 send messages and receive replies by telephone when his 

 correspondents are not telephone subscribers, or he can get 

 them to speak to him from a public call office. If a machine 

 is broken he can order a new part without the trouble of a 

 journey into the town or the delay of sending an order by 

 post. He can get the latest information as to market prices, 

 and arrange to the best advantage for the sale of his produce 

 and stock, and he can get any weather reports and forecasts 

 which he may want to guide him when crops have to be 

 gathered. In the case of illness a doctor can be summoned, 

 or a veterinary surgeon for his horses and cattle. If a fire 

 occurs assistance can be called. He can speak to any neigh- 

 bouring railway station and arrange for the despatch or 

 delivery of his goods and produce. He can despatch a 

 telegram without the trouble of sending a messenger to the 

 telegraph office, and he can receive his telegrams by telephone 

 without waiting for a messenger to bring them out, and he 

 can also call a messenger to take an express letter. In a short 

 time the telephone becomes the most valued implement of 

 the farm. 



Co-operative movements among farmers for the use of 

 central dairies and creameries, or for the collection and distri- 

 bution of produce, can only be worked to the best advantage 

 if a telephone service is available to bring the farms of 

 members into direct communication with the central estab- 

 lishments. 



If a farmer has a telephone he can in a few minutes, when 

 he is at home for breakfast, dinner, or supper, do business 



