BELL SYSTEM STATISTICS

Dec. 31, 1920 Dec. 31, 1925 Dec. 31, 1930 Dec. 31, 1935 Dec. 31, 1938
Number of Telephones[2] 8,133,759 11,909,571 15,187,296 13,573,025 15,761,095
Number of Central Offices 5,767 6,147 6,639 6,896 6,975
Miles of Pole Lines 362,481 394,529 428,212 407,454 399,368
Miles of Wire:
In Underground Cable 14,207,000 27,769,000 45,116,000 47,639,000 50,783,000
In Aerial Cable 6,945,000 12,835,000 23,777,000 26,425,000 28,072,000
Open Wire 3,711,000 4,339,000 5,231,000 4,562,000 4,590,000
Total 24,863,000 44,943,000 74,124,000 78,626,000 83,445,000
Per Cent Total Wire Mileage in Cable 85.1 90.3 92.9 94.2 94.5
Average Daily Telephone Conversations:[3]
Exchange 31,818,000 48,051,000 61,150,000 58,066,000 67,400,000
Toll and Long Distance 1,307,000 2,090,000 2,884,000 2,224,000 2,497,000
Total 33,125,000 50,141,000 64,034,000 60,290,000 69,897,000
Total Plant $1,373,802,000 $2,566,809,000 $4,028,836,000 $4,187,790,000 $4,489,078,000
Number of Employees[4] 228,943 292,902 318,119 241,169 257,443
Number of A.T.&T. Co. Stockholders 139,448 362,179 567,694 657,465 646,882