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zieds1mazs.gif (257 bytes)  Communication means in region of Latvia

 

 

The first more or less modern communication means in the Russia Empire was the optic telegraph St. Petersbourg - Warsaw that was opened 1839. The line crossed also the region of Latvia near Daugavpils.

An electrical telegraph line Riga - St. Petersbourg began to operate in 1855.

The first telephone net in the region of Latvia was opened in Riga city in 1882. To understand the pace of the progress in that time, you are informed that the first ever telephone net was set up in New Haven (USA) 1878.

Three years later than in Riga a telephone net in Liepāja [Libau] began to operate in 1885.

The number of telephone subscribers grew steadily and reached 9360 in Riga in 1914.

The progress in the communication technology was fast during the period of independent Latvia (1918-1940). At that time the state owned electrotechnical factory VEF began to work and it manufactured radio sets, telephone sets and telephone centrals for the local market as well for export.

The enterprise was the main factor why the telephone network developed normally in Latvia and in 1934 there were 3.3 and in 1937 3.6 telephone sets on 100 inhabitants /Latvijas apskats/ . The figures were of the average level for Europe of that time.

The telephone networks usually publish Telephone Directories (TD), which could be an additional information source for a family history researcher. The region of Latvia was not an exception. /TD/

 

© Bruno Martuzāns. 1995-2002