Trends in Telephone and Power Practise as Affecting Coordination

HE important benefits resulting from the cooperative handling of questions arising from the proximity of the physical plants of the telephone system and the electric power systems of the United States are emphasized when consideration is given to the extent and the rapid growth of these two industries. This growth is illustrated by Fig. 1 which shows that during the past decade, while the population of the country has increased 16 per cent annual telephone messages have increased 96 per cent and annual kilowatt hour usage of power 107 per cent. Another indication of the growth of these utilities is given by Fig. 2 which shows that during the past decade customers telephone * Part I of the Symposium on Coordination of Power and Telephone Plant. Presented at the Winter Convention of the A. I. E. E.. New York, N. V., J a n u a r y 26-30, 1931. Published in abridged form in Electrical Engineering, March, 1931. 159 160 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL stations have increased 88 per cent and customers of central stations 127 per cent. The leaders of both utilities confidently expect that, apart from temporary setbacks associated with recessions in general business, the recent rapid growth of these utilities will continue throughout the next decade.