Show TELEPHONE USE SHOWS GAINS Number in Service Less for Year but Is Higher in Last Few Months NEW YORK Jan IS 16 Walter JP-Walter ty Walter S. S Gifford president pre ident of the American Ameri can Telephone and Telegraph company company com com- pany in in a statement to stockholders has ins reported a net loss of ot telephones for lor the Bell system during dur during dur- dur ing lag 1933 against a net loss of ot in 1932 During the first eight months of 1933 Gifford stated the Bell system had a net loss of ot telephones but during t tha final four tour months there was a 3 gain totaling The number of ot telephones In service service ser ser- vice at the end of ot the year he said was about which watch is 16 per percent percent percent cent below tho the maximum development development development develop develop- ment reached in 1930 The total number of toll and long distance calls handled during the thear year ar 1933 said the statement was about 9 per cent less than for or 1032 1932 The last half hall of 1933 however showed an improvement total loll toll and long distance calls being only about 3 per percent percent percent cent under those for tor the corresponding correspond correspond- ing period In 1932 While final figures as to earnings are arc not yet available preliminary data indicate that treating the system system tem as a whole and including the Western Electric company the earnings earnings earnings earn earn- ings on American Telephone and Telegraph Telegraph Tele Tele- graph company stock were approximately approximately 5 30 per share compared with 5 96 per share in 1932 |