Author:
Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Company.
Imprint:[San Marcos, Tex?] : Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Company, [1905?]
Physical Description[ca. 30] p. ; 23 x 13 cm.
Note:A searchable Adobe PDF has been made by digital scan. It may be found with the link, below.
Note:This Directory has no cover page, so the date is uncertain. It is later than the single-sheet 1899 directory, but earlier than the Bell 1910 directory.
Note:This Directory is for the "Bell" exchange in San Marcos. There were two telephone companies in San Marcos until they merged in 1919: Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone (the "Bell System") and the San Marcos Telephone Company. These firms were competitors--and callers could not reach the other firm's local phones without routing through the Long Distance operator. Many businesses, and some residences, are found in both early directories (which meant they had two lines, two different numbers, and two telephones); however, over the decade leading to the merger in 1919, subscribers leave Bell and join the local company. The advantage of the Bell subscription was access to more Long Distance exchanges.
Electronic Resource:Electronic resource:
http://www.hank.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/SMHC/DOCUMENTS/Telephone Directories/1905bell.pdf -- Note: Adobe PDF of the directory.
