The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-11-14
Telephone Items.

completed, and the work has been well
done. The foreman Mr.. John Protzman,
who has had charge, has shown himself
thoroughly posted in his business and a
capable and efficient workman. We doubt
| if any of his competitors can exhibit bet
ter job in any of the Exchanges recently
built. He went from here with his men
Tuesday morning to build a line at Ashland.
Since the work has been going on here
we have connected fifteen new subscribers
with this Exchange, giving, with the Ober-
lin line, seventy-four numbers in use and
only one waiting for a subscriber. We
have, however, ordered five additional
numbers for our switch board, and shall
expect to fill part of them before the close
of the month.
The new numbers to be written in your
cards connected since the last list was
published) are as follows:
96-S. X. Warner, Residence.
97-Milling Co., Office.
9S-Dr. E. G. Rust, Residence.
OH. o. Biggs, Residence.
1
was finished last week, and is all and more
than we expected. There is not the slight
est interference from the postal telegraph,
and we can converse with Cleveland and
other cities, with almost as much ease as
with any place in the village. After the ear
splitting and nerve-rasping time we have
had for the last nine months, we can hard
ly be thankful enough for the change.
In order to get the most prompt and eff
cient service, we again urge subscribers to
observe the following directions:
Look at your card and find the number
of the person wanted, and invariably call
by number, and then the name ofthe party.
Be careful to articulate so as to disting-
uish between words with similar sounds.
Twenties and thirties and sixties and seven
ties are especially liable to be confounded,
A single quick turn of the crank Of the
bell is as effectual in calling the Exchange
as any greater number.
After ringing take down your trumpet
| Immediately and press it hard over the left
ear, so that it shall fit closely to the bony
parts about the ear, and give no attention
to any other person or thing about you.
Inattention TO this last direction makes
more delay and vexation than all other
causes combined Most all are prompt in
answering, but few do not take down the
trumpet promptly after ringing, or having
| taken it down, hold it in their hand wait
ing to catch the concluding words of some
| fhaxv haa
or holding it to their ear, are trying to give
attention to both, and so oblige us to call
from two 70 five times. Please do not ring
till you are ready to drop everything else
and then give your undivided attention,
and you will be surprised at the promptness
with which you will be served. Then if the
party called will give equally prompt res
ponse there will be nothing further to be
desired.
When through talking let the party who
called "Ring Off" We wish We could ring
this into your ears till it would never again
be forgotten. We frequently get every cord
on the switch board in use and have to as
sumo that some are through and discOnnect
them before we can answer another call,
and in our uncertainty and hurry, We often
interrupt conversation not finished. With
the best of intention and effort there will
be some mistakes and delays.
| Seventy-ive numbers are about all one
person can manage, and if any one imag-
ines that there is no excuse for delays, we
invite such to call and sit in the Office ten
minutes and watch the switch board. In
two instances not less than a dozen num-
bers called at once, and half that many is
a common occurance. Add to this the ef-
fort to get message through to some dis
tant point to which the operator must often
give personal attention, it not being posi-
BILE to interrupt such a conversation, and
in the meantime ten or fifteen calls will
have accumulated, and it will be seen that
all is not as plain and easy as may have
been supposed.
We request that no social calls be made
at the Exchange. The operators hands are
full most ofthe time answering subscribers,
and ii there is any leisure it is needed for
the bookkeeping, and the necessary writing
to properly conduct the business of the Ex-
change. We desire that this hint shall also
apply TO all social intercourse with the
operator, either to test its workings or for
friendly gossip. 1t takes the attention from
legitimate business, delays answering calls,
and must be avoided. The operator does
not wish to seem discourteous or disoblig-
ing, but it must be understood that all
conversation not pertaining to business
must cease instantly when calls are made
that mean business, and such will under
stand the reason if they suddenly and
without warning find themselves talking TO
empty air.
If strangers desire to test the working OF
the telephone, or subscribers wish to use il
for social purposes, call up any of your
friends who have leisure to give you, but
never the operator. We hope our young
friends will stick a pin here and save any
further reference to this subject.