The 92 Code was first adopted by Western Union in 1859. The reason for this adoption was to reduce bandwidth usage over the telegraph lines and speed transmissions by utilizing a numerical code system for various frequently used phrases.
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1859 Western Union "92 Code"
Several of the codes are taken from The Telegraph Instructor by G.M. Dodge. Dodge notes:
"Other numerical signals are used by different railroads for different purposes, for instance, the signal “47” upon some railroads means “display signals”; while the signal “48” means “signals are displayed”. The numerals “9” and “12” are frequently used for “correct”. Other numerals are used for the different officials’ messages, agents’ messages, etc."Codes that are not listed in the 1901 edition of Dodge are marked with an asterisk (*).
1873 Telegraph Rules, Lake shore and Tuscarawas valley railway company
The following code was taken from 1873 Telegraph Rules, Lake shore and Tuscarawas valley railway company
Contemporary usage
Today, amateur radio operators still use codes 73 and 88 profusely and –30– is used in journalism. Radio-amateurs also occasionally use the code 99 for "Go to Hell", though this may be their own addition to the code-table. The Young Ladies Radio League uses the code 33, which means "love sealed with friendship and mutual respect between one YL [young lady] and another YL." The other codes have mostly fallen into disuse.