1895 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
429 
COST OF TELEPHONE SERVICE. 
On page 393 was printed the following note : 
Cost of Telephones.—Tue R. N.-Y. of May 11, speaks of tele¬ 
phones to schoolhouses, etc. I think that the post office in a 
country neighborhood, ought to be the central office for the dis¬ 
trict, this to connect with the nearest town or village post office, 
and that to be the central office for the village, to be connected 
with physicians, freight and express offices, etc. While we would 
hail that day with delight, we fear that it is distant on account of 
expense. For the benefit of R. N.-Y. readers, I would like to in¬ 
quire as to the expense of connecting private individuals in the 
country, 1,200 feet apart, and a fair estimate of the annual cost 
of keeping such a line in good order. a. n. p. 
South Pittsford, N. H. 
In our opinion, this is a very important matter. It 
would be a wonderful help if country neighborhoods 
could be brought together in this way. The II. N.- 
Y. has such a wide circulation, that almost any ques¬ 
tion asked through its columns is pretty sure to find 
some one qualified to give an accurate answer. So in 
this case we are able to give the following estimates 
and experience : 
The First Cost for Telephones. 
The following estimate is made by Mr. Chas. N. 
Knox, an electrical contractor of Connecticut: 
The data given are not sufficient to base an esti¬ 
mate upon, as the expense would depend a great deal 
upon how many people in the town wished to go into 
the scheme. If there were 25 or 30 people who would 
share the expense of the telephone system, so that it 
could be arranged to have a central office at some 
convenient point where it could be attended to by 
parties who have no other business, wires could be 
run out from this central place, taking in three or 
four parties on a circuit, at a first cost of about $60 to 
each party. The operating expense, of course, would 
vary according to the size of the exchange; and in an 
ordinary town would be what was necessarily paid to 
the person who attended the calls at the central sta¬ 
tion, and what might be necessary to be paid to some 
young man in the village, who has some other em¬ 
ployment, who could spend time to splice up a broken 
wire occasionally, and replace worn-out batteries, 
and now and then fix a telephone out of order. This 
expense need be but very little. The recent decision 
by the United States Court of Appeals regarding the 
Berliner patent, might deter people from going into 
this scheme at present, but there are very good mag¬ 
neto telephones now manufactured, which would do 
fairly well for the village service above described, 
and do not infringe any one’s patent. 
Another estimate is made by the Nixon Telephone 
and Electrical Supply Company, of Rhode Island, as 
follows: 
We will furnish telephones, wire, insulators, etc., 
everything except the poles, for two stations, 1,200 
feet apart, for from $17 to $ 100 . We will guarantee 
our $17 outfit to give good service. With our magneto 
service, the cost of maintenance would be nothing 
unless the lines should be broken down in a severe 
storm, in which case the repairing of the line would 
cost from $2 to $ 10 , but private lines of that descrip¬ 
tion are seldom blown down. 
A Home Circuit in Operation. 
Of course we understand that the system with a 
central cii'cuit described by Mr. Knox, is more con¬ 
venient and extensive than the other. Here is the re¬ 
port of a simple system that is in actual operation : 
This community is blessed with a telephone outfit 
to be deprived of which would work a very severe 
hardship. There are three or four systems all con¬ 
nected by switches, so that we can talk with parties 
on the different lines six miles apart or more. If the 
weather is just right, the service is more perfect. On 
these lines are probably 30 or more farmers, three 
doctors, a drug store, saw mills and grist mill, milk 
stations, where milk is shipped over the D. L. & W. 
Railroad to New York, depots, express offices, minis¬ 
ters, blacksmith and three stores. One of the systems 
has been in operation over a year. The first cost to 
the 17 different patrons on this line of some eight 
miles was not far from $13. This includes the com¬ 
plete outfit of telephone, bells, transmitter, receiver, 
wire, poles (cedar 16 to 30 feet hign), and glass insula¬ 
tors. The work of putting up, digging holes for poles, 
etc., was done by parties interested. There have been 
some improvements added since the line was up, which 
would get the cost up to about $14. We have a set of 
officers elected annually. There is a general call 
which we understand ; at this call, each family votes 
over the wire yes or no. Motions by the chair are 
declared carried or lost. Each family has a call, and 
they become so accustomed to it that they notice it as 
quickly as though spoken to. For instance, the call 
may be one short and two long rings of the bells, one 
short and one long, one long and one short, in this 
way a great many calls can be arranged. The party 
desired answers by one short ring. The convenience 
of the arrangement cannot be estimated. For in¬ 
stance, I wished a certain kind of paint to complete a 
job I was doing. I called up the operator at the depot, 
dictated to him the order, he wired it to New York 
City, and the next day at 10 A. m. the paint was here. 
Oneida County, N. Y. j. e. head. 
FLOWERS FOR A SOAP FACTORY. 
The average factory building is a dingy looking 
affair—unattractive, if not repulsive in appearance. 
Its surroundings are frequently on a par with it, no 
attempt being made to beautify them, or to render 
them more attractive to the eye. Utility seems to be 
the rule. The effect of better suri’oundings upon 
employees, is not, appai-ently, considered. An excep¬ 
tion to this general rixle is pleasant to see. Our atten¬ 
tion was recently called to a large establishment in 
Jersey City which has introduced a feature that cer¬ 
tainly makes a great improvement in the appearance 
of the factory, and which undoubtedly must exert a 
refining and elevating influence upon, not only the 
operatives, but the whole neighborhood as well. 
Colgate & Co., occupy neai'ly an entire city block 
with their soap manufactory, several stories in height. 
They have just been fitting up the nximerous windows 
—hundreds of them in all—with window boxes, in 
each of which is an assortment of growing plants. In 
each window, two bent iron bars are securely fast¬ 
ened to the sill ; they are bent in a form to fit and 
hold the boxes securely. The latter are as long as the 
width of the window, about a foot wide, and perhaps 
six or eight inches deep. They may be of any desired 
dimensions. They are filled with rich earth, and 
different varieties of plants are put into them. These 
vary in the different windows, but consist of small 
palms, cannas, geraniums, fuchsias, petunias, nastur¬ 
tiums, ivies, daisies and other plants. The most of 
the windows are filled, and the rest will be soon. 
They are easily cared for, a copious watering every 
afternoon, being the main requirement. 
One of the members of the firm got the idea while 
traveling in Europe. The outlook is much more 
pleasant when thi-ough windows filled with gi'owing 
and blooming plants, than when through bare and 
dirty sashes. The incentive to cleanliness, too, is a 
stx-ong one. Employees are more likely to appreciate 
the importance of clean glass because it gives them a 
better view of the floral ti'easures outside than dirty 
panes. They appi’eciate the effort to beautify their 
suiToundings. Its influence seems to be beneficial, 
too, upon outsiders, for in some of the windows of 
neighboring tenements are boxes of plants and flowers 
which have been placed thei-e since the good example 
was set. 
Climbing vines like the ampelopsis, have been set 
in the court inside, but these have had a hax - d struggle 
for existence. Another commendable move has been 
the establishment of a free ice-water fountain on the 
block, adja< ent to some neighboring saloons, and the 
liberal patronage it receives testifies to the apprecia¬ 
tion of the thirsty. In these daj's of business push 
and corpox-ate greed, it is pleasant to note the spirit 
which prompts a large business establishment to such 
thoughtful acts for the gratification of its employees 
and the public. Its example should be widely fol¬ 
lowed. 
THE AMERICAN AND HIS JOB. 
The reports of the census of 1890, are very slow in 
appearing. That giving the statistics of the occupa¬ 
tions of Americans five years ago, is just out in bulle¬ 
tin form. From it we learn some remarkable things 
about the American citizen and his job. In 1890 there 
were in this country 47,413,559 pei'sons over 10 years 
of age. Of these, 22,735,661 were at work—earning 
more or less money. Ten years before, in 1880, there 
were 17,392,099 persons so engaged. Of the workers 
in 1890, 18,820,950 were males, and 3,914,711 were 
females--the latter having increased wonderfully in 
the 10 years. The statistics about agriculture in 1890 
are as follows : 
Total number. 
Male. 
Female. 
Agricultural laborers. 
. 3,004,015 
2,556,930 
447,085 
Apiarists. 
. 1,800 
1,755 
45 
Dairymen. 
. 17,806 
16,072 
1,734 
Farmers and overseers. 
. 5,281,557 
5,055,130 
226,427 
Gardeners, florists, etc. 
. 72,601 
70,186 
2,415 
Stockmen and drovers. 
. 70,734 
70,047 
687 
Other farm pursuits. 
. 17,738 
17,327 
411 
In the decade between 1880 and 1890, there was an 
increase of over 30 per cent in the total number of 
persons engaged in all occupations. Of those engaged 
in agriculture, this increase was less than 10 per cent; 
in the professions, over 50 per cent; in trade and 
ti-ansportation, over 75 per cent, and in manu¬ 
facturing, over 50 per cent. If the figures for 
1895 were obtainable, we believe that it would be 
shown that there are no more persons engaged in agri¬ 
culture to-day than there were five years ago, while 
all other lines of business have undoubtedly largely 
inci-eased their workmen. In the same way, while 
the bulk of agricultural products has increased, we 
believe the actual value is less than five years ago. 
The most remarkable thing about these statistics is 
the wonderful increase shown in the work done by 
women. There were 1,267,554 more females at work 
in 1890 than there were in 1880. The women, too, 
have entered every trade and profession except that 
of the army and navy. In 1890, there were 1,235 
women preachers, 337 dentists, 208 lawyex’S, 4,555 
doctors, two veterinary surgeons, and 2,825 barbers. 
We regret to say that there were 147 female bar¬ 
tenders, 2,273 saloon keepei's and 72 brewers. There 
were 21 female trappers and scouts, two auctioneers, 
36 canal workers, 237 teamsters, 24 hostlers, and 48 
stable keepers. Four stalwart women were engineers 
on locomotives, 29 were sailors, one was a full-fledged 
pilot, 12 drove street cars, 83 were undertakers, 30 
were sextons and 283 did police and detective duty. 
Fifty-nine women blacksmiths were shoeing horses, 
129 gentle souls were butchering and slaughtering, 
191 were doing carpenter work, 15 burning charcoal, 
54 coopering barrels for a living, 11 manufacturing 
fertilizei*s, and 37 working iu gashouses. There were 
42 female brick and stone masons, 99 millers, 23 plas¬ 
terers, 42 plumbers, thx’ee females working as roofers 
and slaters, six boiler makers, three ship builders, one 
wheelwright, nine white washers. In fact, one or 
more engaged in every trade or profession known to 
mankind—except the military ! The work that affords 
the best openings for women may be seen from this 
table, which shows the numbers engaged in different 
occupations : 
Artists. 10,810 Stenographers. 21,185 
Musicians. 34,510 Book haulers. 11,498 
Gov’t officials. 4,875 Boot anil shoe makers... 33,1509 
Teachers. 245,230,_ Cotton mill operatives... 92,914 
Boardinghouse keepers. 3a,593 Dressmakers. 288,155 
Housekeepers. 86,802 Knitting operators. 20,513 
Laundresses. 216,6y7 Mill hands. 41,850 
Nurses. 51,402 Milliners. 60,058 
Servants.1,205,876 Bhotographers. 2,195 
Agents. 4,875 Seamstresses. 145,716 
Bookkeepers. 27,772 Silk mill hands. 20,622 
Clerks. 67,048 Tailoresses. 63,611 
Saleswomen. 58,449 Woolen mill hands. 36,435 
Remember, these figux-es refer to a period five years 
ago. feince that time, probably 1,060,000 more women 
have gone to work at some recognized labor. it is 
certain that women are becoming more self-support¬ 
ing, and bid fair to diive men out of some branches 
of trade. 
THE EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 
Bulletin 107of the California Station (Berkeley, Cal.), treats of 
the Russian thistle in that State. This is intended for local dis¬ 
tribution, yet it gives an excellent account of the general habits 
of this plant. 
Bulletin 54 of the Kentucky Station (Lexington, Ky.), contains 
notes on vegetables, giving an account of the habits and merits of 
the vegetables tested at the station last year. Bulletin 55 gives 
the results of experiments with fertilizers on corn, potatoes, 
tobacco and hemp. 
Dn. J. A. Lintnek, Albany, N. Y., has issued a bulletin on the 
San Jos6 scale insect, which gives a detailed account of the his¬ 
tory and work of this dreaded pest. This is the most complete 
treatise on the scale that has yet been printed, as it gives a gen¬ 
eral review of all that has been previously written about it. Its 
price is 15 cents. 
Cornell Station (Ithaca, N. Y.) Bulletin 91 is by Michael Barker 
on “ Recent Chrysanthemums.” It gives in an interesting way, 
facts about new varieties, culture, insect enemies, etc., of this 
popular flower. Bulletin 92 is by Prof. Wing, and gives the results 
of feeding tallow to cows, with a view to increasing the percent¬ 
age of fat in their milk thereby. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
A Lonq Island farmer asks us where he could get a reliable 
man or boy to work by the month on the farm. We would send 
on any application that is sent us. 
Have you sent three two-cent stamps to pay postage on that 
free sample of Tuttle’s elixir ? If not, it would be well to do so. 
It is a good liniment to have around the house and stable. Send 
to Dr. S. A. Tuttle, 27 Beverly Street, Boston, Mass. 
There certainly seems to be a good opportunity for local agents 
in handling the Beveridge Automatic cooker. It is something in 
which almost every housewife is interested. While the agent gets 
good profits on the cooker he also has the satisfaction of knowing 
that he handles an article that gives satisfaction to his purchaser. 
W. E. Beveridge, Baltimore, Md., will send particulars, if you ask 
for them. 
We note a new enterprise in our advertising columns. An ex¬ 
perienced painter offers to instruct farmers, through the mails, in 
the art of painting and varnishing carriages, etc., at a cost of $1 lor 
the instruction. Other branches are successfully taught through 
the mails, and it would seem that many farmers, young and old, 
could get a dollar’s worth of information out of the instruction, 
even if it only stimulated them to use the brush more freely. 
Every man who owns a silo must necessarily have an ensilage 
cutter, and every man who has filled a silo, knows how important 
it is to have a cutter that does the work well and rapidly, and 
that is not everlastingly getting out of order or breaking down. 
We have used the Ross cutter on the home farm for several years, 
and have never had a breakdown. Our only trouble is to supply 
the fodder as fast as it can take care of it. We run it with a two- 
horse tread power. It is made by the E. W. Ross Co., Springfield, 
O. Send postal card and get full particulars. 
Before going into haying and harvest, many farmers will need 
mowers, harvesters, etc. In the hurry of other things, they may 
have let the purchase of machinery go to the last minute, 
and then will think that they must buy quickly and pos¬ 
sibly take what they can get of the local agent, whose tongue may 
be just as glib in praise of the most inferior machine, as of the best, 
if he happen to handle the former, or get a better discount on it 
from the manufacturer. The writer has been in just this situation 
himself, and has paid for his experience. To those who have 
already neglected it, we would suggest that they send a card now 
to the Johnston Harvester Co., Batavia, N. Y., and get a catalogue 
of their machinery. This is one of the oldest houses in the manu¬ 
facture of farm machinery, and they have always kept abreast of 
the times with modern iinpi-ovementa. In material and workman¬ 
ship there can’t be anything better. 
