The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-07-11
WORD FROM HEADQUARTERS
Views of the the Vice President of the
Central Union Telephone Com.
pany ON the Number System.

E0Itor ROCK Isfdnd argus.
CHICAGO, June 10, 1854 copy OF
your issue of July End has just been sent
me, containing your notice of War on
the Telephone" and as our superinten>
dents are all away at the present time
desire to give you little information
upon this point, trusting that you will
give it the same publicity taat your pre-
vious notice has had.
If our subscribers at Moline, Daven-
port and Rock Island were to travel ovei
the United States they would find tina,
every first class exchange in the country
has adopted the number system instead
of calling by name. will enumerate 9
few of the advantages secured by the sub
scrber as well as by the company In
the first place, if party desires to talk
with another party while others are pres
ent on business, by simply calling for the
number of the party desired it renders il
impossible for the other parties to know
with whom you are transacting youl
business.
Secondly, it also avoids the frequent
mistakes that are occasioned by operators
in busy office not Distinguishing the
names of the parties called for correctly
and giving you the wrong party.
Thirdly, By each subscriber having a
small card placed on the top of his bat
terry box, with the names and numbers of
the firms and individuals with whom
he transacts the most of his business, he
will find that the parties whom he needs
most will not exceed from ten to fifteen
subscribers; and it is very easy matter
when he needs anyone else to ascertain
their number from the directory.
On the company's part, it is of greaI
advantage from the fact that when an OPP
orator is sick, or leaves, or is removed, il
enables the company to put in a substi
tute, who in a few minutes practice. is
thoroughly competent to answer the calls
possible for new operator TO recollect
all the names of subscribers and theil
particular spring jack on the switch
board. This in itself would prevent any
strike or combination OF the operators, to
the detriment of both the subscribers anC
tuS OomphuN.
We have had similar instances aud re-
marks at other places when this system
was first introduced, but upon recelvins
tins information the subscribers have uni
fOrmly been satisfied that the company
was in the best position to Judge wha
was for the mutual advantage of both
aud after practically testing the plan they
have unanimously come round to see 1t il
the same light as the company
If subscribers will make up the list re
ferred TO, and tack it upon their batterl
box, they. am sure, will have no furthe
trouble. Yours truly,
ID. ii. LoUpERBACK,
Vice President.
From this communication it may be in
ferred, the telephone company inten(
continuing the number system, REGARDLESS
of the remonstrance from Rock Island
and if Rock Island had been alone in ii
endeavors to have the humbug rule abol
ished, there might be some reason for pay
ing no heed to the petitions of the sub
scribers here At Dubuque there is ais
great deal of dissatisfaction expressed
by the patrons of the telephone system
The Herald of that city says:
A great deal of dissatisfaction is bein
Expressed by the patrons of the telephon
System in being compelled to call by mum
Der, when desiring to converse with an
one. The practice seems to US a sense
less one as business men are invariably i
great hurry, aid the rule of compelin!
them to wade through big directory i
order to secure a number is anything bu
Just and right, and the rule should b
abandoned by the company at once.
Davenport and Rock Island are prnba
bly, only two of a great many cities whcr
the annoyance of the number system ha
been felt, and as movement is now o
foot to have the rule dispensed with
other places will follow in giving vent Il
condemnation of the arrangement.
But as to the advantages of the numbc
system as given by the vice president
He claims it an advantage when desirin
to talk with one party while others ar
present it may be done without thos
present having knowledge of to whor
the conversation is addressed, In such
case the number system would be tn
worst give way" in the world, for
there was any curiosity on the part {
chose present to ascertain the name G
the person communicated with, referenc
to the list would give it of course.
As to the present system avoiding mis-
takes, there is every reason to believ
more mistakes are made now than by th
former plan. The operator very often
IN fact generally-mistakes the call an
the caller is switched off in drcctio
wholly different from what was wante,
The card business too, might do very We
for persons having the telephone for
single purpose, and to be used in talkin
with the same place continually but ther
are times when connection is made wit
other stations, and then the abominabl
list must be referred to again. Lawyer
want the telephone for communicate
with the county building, but they degil
the privilege of using it for other pu
poses if they feel disposed, and will hay
nothing to do with the number systei
under any circumstances.
From the vice presidents communities
ton it is evident that the system of cal
ing by numbers was adopted with an idC
that it was for the best, but if the con
pany will follow the instructions give
the Rock Island patrons-to pursue an il
vestigation of the feeling in regard to Il
number rule-it will find the plan is nj
received with favor and that the populi