The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-28
!. .-acrrpnIY SINS clWr and
ruc TEnEpHONE SERVICE.
reclamation OF Recent Dtsi eultics'- :
Troubles ahat Subscribers Make cor
srh~susolvas.

Unusual and repeated dlim uilies h''uo
telenhope service have led 'hs To inquire
into the cause thereof.
SUPERINTENDENT McCluer says that 'ne!
bay,s arissn in consequence OF the necSsu.
he has been under OF utilizing ineXperi-
enced operators to FL vacancies caused by
deserved promotions. unexpected reslgna-
fions, and unavoidable dismissals. four
vacancies thus occurring In space OF
few weeks necesstated the immediAe ana
actire employment Of four new operators.
TALEEs REQuRED.
As n requires a peculiar array OF
talenis-scutenes OF ear. quickness OF eye
and HIND and tongue, entire absence OF
furry or excitement, calmness and SELF
control under frequent and eXasperating
proyoeation, retentive memory, great ia-
miliaritv with the location OF the numbers
ON the switchboard and the names and
pun}fsers Of the various subscriber, good
nature and cOuTtesy-it may be readily
understood that much time and practice
are requisite TO produce an expert tele-
pbone operator, even when the natural at
tributes are not wanting.
THE APPRENTICESHIP.
Young men are usually required to serve
m apprenticeship OF several months before
they are entrusted with the duty OF serving
subscribers at the switchboard, but va
cancies occurring with such rapidity,
forced Superintendent McCluer TO utilize
his apprentices for actual duty after only
n few DAYS coaching. While this has. as
Superintendent McCluer frankly admits.
seriously impaired the hitherto admirable
record OF his Exchange, it has been in
tensified by the impotence and non-for-
bearance OF many OF the subscribers and
their failure TO comply with the rules.
CAUSE OF COMPLAINT.
One fruitful cause OF complaint is the
failure OF subscribers and their employees
Ia order their lines disconnected when
they finish q conversation. A failure to
comply with this important requirement
renders necessary the response from the
-uperating-room 90 Engaged" or cline is
busy now" Operators frequently do not
have the time to repair this omission on
the part OF subscribers by calling out on
the lines thus left connected, care you
through talking! 7" and disconnecting them
in case they receive no response. They can
only answer an order for connection with
one of the stations thus connected on the
switchboard. "In use" or "Talking
now" even though the parties may have
finished their conversation and left their
phones long enough to have forgotten they
had been conversing.
ORDER FOR DIscONNECTIoN.
Subscribers can themselves remedy this
trouble by obeying the rule, framed eX-
pressly for their benefit and ordering their
lines disconnected Immediately they finish
their conversation.
This should invariably be done by the
party who orders the connection, and re-
peated until the bell is tapped in response
10 the order. Such an order given as the
subscriber places the phone on the hook
can rarely be heard by the operator, never
II the phone has been replaced or the lever
released. as the tranSmitter is then cut of
from the calling-wire."
INCONSISTENCIES BOTHER.
Another prolific cause OF telephone trou-
bles is the unauthorized and illegal Use OF
telephones by Inconsistencies, many OF
whom do not know how TO use the tele.
phones intelligently. Besides this, the fire.
Uuent and habitual Use OF the telephones
by non-subscribers greatly increases tho
labor OF the operators beyond Legitimate
requirements, and sometimes prevent.
them from responding promptly to the or
ders OF those who have prior claim and
an honest right to their services.
Again. while non-subscriber is engaged
in the Illegal use OF subscriber:
"phone," one or both Of the stations thur
engaged may be called for by another sub
scriber, who will fail to get the connection
because the line is Gin use.'
CRYING EVIL.
Superintendent Mcclure declares that tbi
illegitimate use OF phones by non-subscri
bers is n crying evil" which can only b,
remedied in FUN by the subscribers them
selves denying the habitual or frequent us,
OF their telephones to all non-subscriber
alike. This he thinks they should do il
Justice both TO themselves and other sub
scribers, as well Us to the company.
We have az well-managed an eXchang
as can be found anywhere. Manager Nc
Cluer and all OF his subordinates are dis
posed to give the best service possible, an,
they should have the hearty aid and cheer
full cooperation OF all subscribers.