The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-26
Tho Telephone Service.

To Subscribers Richmond Telephone Er-
change:
There is at present an unusual amount
Of confusion and trouble in the Exchange
service much OF which can Justly be
charged to the subscribers themselves.
Their sometimes lack OF patience and their
frequent and persistent disregard OF the
printed rules interferes at times very Sc
riously with the efficiency Of the service
aud embarrasses the operators in the per-
formance Of their duties.
Nine times out OF ten, when subscriber
fails to secure prompt or correct re-
sponse to his order. it is either because he
does not articulate the numbers distinctly,
endeavOrs to reach the ear OF the operator
at the same moment that a number OF
equally misguided individuals are engaged
in the same futile attempt, or because Of
some other infractiOn OF the rules.
Nine times out Of ten. also, the too-fre-
quent response OF the operators, cline is
In use," is the result OF failure to order
lines disconnected. This neglect on the
part OF subscribers seriously depreciates
the value OF the service, as 1t often need
lessly delays or entirely prevents cOnnec-
tions that could otherwise be given
promptly; compels the operator to talk
back to the subscriber; and often neces-
| sarily distractS his or her attention when
compelled to clear the switchboard OF the
accumulated connections. Many, II not
| the most, OF these delays and inconveni-
ences result from the illegal use OF the EX-
change system by nOn-subscribers, many
OF whom do not know how to use the
telephone properly, or are careless and in
| different as to the trouble and loss to which
they subject the subscribers or the COM
pany.
Extended experience elsewhere has de-
monstrated the fact that, with sufficient
practice and experience, ladies usually
make excellent, reliable, and expert tele-
phone operators. On this account, and To
avoid the too frequent necessity Of putting
new operators on duty to the manifest dis.
advantage OF the service. it has been for.
mally decided TO employ hereafter lady
operators alone. 1t IS confidently antici.
pated that all telephone-users will treat
them with that courtesy and Difference due
to their sex.
Allow me to recapitulate.
II your bell does not tap instantly in re-
sponse to your order, don't fly into Il pas
sion. but repeat your order clearly and dis
tnctly, after waiting a reasonable number
of seconds to allow the operator TO make
the connection. BE patient; be reason
able.
Articulate your numbers distinctly, in
accordance with the instructions in your
catalogues, being especially careful with
the "twenties and "thirties" and
"tifties " and "siXties," which are so
| raod;Iv misunderstood
Never fail to order your wire disc0n-
nected the moment YOU are through talk
ing. And do il carefully and distinctly,
with the .'leyer" held down until your
bell is tapped.
Shut down hard on the telephone tlend
when he glides in with the stereotyped
phrase, 1.-THE use OF your telephone Il
moment, please" for your own and your
| tfelIow-subScribers' sake.
Finally, be reasonable in all things. We
are doing the very best we can to make
you content. G. L. MCCLUER, Manager.
Richmond. Va, March %, 1884.