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Alexander Graham BELL
1876 - March 7 – Alexander Graham Bell is granted a United States patent for an invention he calls the telephone (patent 174,466).



Professor Bell tried his telephone on the telegraph line between Boston and Salem the other day, he remaining in Boston. Conversation was carried on with the operator at Salem without the slightest difficulty, even the voices of the speakers being easily recognized. Whispering was found to be perfectly audible, but was unintelligible. After a time, instead of grounding the wire at Salem, it was connected with North Conway, a distance of 143 miles from Boston, thus leaving Salem as a way station. After this change had been made there was a slight diminution in the loudness of the tones, but no difficulty was experienced in carrying on conversation.


Democrat and Chronicle
Rochester, New York
December 2, 1876

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