The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-14
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Tho Telephone Question.

Aho Aeiepnone xuesuon.
To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal.
Being unable to attend the meeting which was
held on Saturday TO hear from applicants for the
franchise Of our streets and alleys for telephone
business I have been very much interested in
your very full account Of the meeting and think
review of 1t would not be amiss. The matter
10 an important one to this city and I sure
our worthy City Council and Board of Aldermen
recognize and will treat it accordingly. If the
local company is going out Of the exchange bust
ness because il cannot operate successfully
under the present law let MS see If we get
company that can, but let our watchword be
mo wild cats need apply At that meeting
Mr. Leach, representing the Interstate company.
stated that he had no telephone TO show but
that a new one was being made in New York or
somewhere and that it would talk q long dis
sance. That looks very nice, Dir. Editor, but
what we want now is short distance telephone
for the city of Indianapolis. The statement of
Mr. Boley for the Cushman company might
need close scrutiny. Alderman Pritchard had an
Idea to business when he asked the question
HAS your company ever had any suits with the
Bell company Mr.. Boley answers 1--WE have
not and don't expect tor This consider
answer at all. The Bell company cannot bring
snit against person or corporation on account
Of talk. Mr. Cushman asserts that he has no
patent and does not claim to have a telephone at
work anywhere, and it follows that under these
circumstances of course no suit can be brought
His answer to Judge Martndale's question is
equally as evasive. Mr.. Safely represented the
Brown Telephone Company. Councilman
Rocker asked the question Is your telephone
I'm nse anywhere? Have you an exchangep Mr.
Safely answers neither question but goes on to
say that our second patent was issued week
ago Friday" Mr.. Vance looms up to speak for
the Wallace company and claims to have
ehange somewhere in Canada. His estimate of
the cost OF telephone plant and the value OF
poles does not show them to be worth the price
OF fence posts or cord wood. but judge of the
merits of the case when understand his propo-
sition that our people shall own the stock.
OF the West telephone nothing seems to be
known, probably because it has been patented
service yet But if it is not in the interest of
the Bell company in whose interest is it9 This
question is plainly answered by Judge Clay
pools remarks that '"rhere is money in it." and
the communication to the Council asking
franchise that may be sold.
Now, Mr. Editor, If the present company go
out which now seems inevitable, the city will
be at great Inconvenience; but since all these
schemes have come to the front either wanting
rs to take stock in their companies or grant
them franchise / am opposed to granting to
any OF them until they can demonstrate to our
people that their patent has been tried and
proven to be able to stand against the Bell
otherwise we may have much trouble ard no
telephone service either. Let our City Council
proceed carefully and if possible secure COM
pany that has withstood the test of infringement
suits, and serve notice on wild cats to seek a
greener field to operate in than the city Of Indi
annapolis XXX
Why So Much Sickness Among Our Teachers?
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Jou rnal:
First, an overworked brain will naturally
breed disease Our teachers are being literally
worked to death by inches What woman can
work from twelve TO sixteen hours per day for
ten months in the year, say for Ave years, and
be sound womana This incessant mental
strain wears out the body as well as the mind.
and to-day our schools are filed with invalid
teachers as we'll as pupils. Many teachers are
placed in buildings where most of the children
from illiterate parents, consequently dull,
and these teachers are expected to pull such
children up in their grades with those of
brighter parentage 1t can only be done by the
teacher giving her very life and strength, re-
CARELESS of the cost. This is being done day by
day. If such work is not done the teacher in
many cases is called upop to give up her school
There has been an increase of sick teachers in
the past year which Is alarming, and we think
this matter ought to be looked into. We feel
that if teachers had more time for recreation
this state of things would cease to exist Why
not close our schools at P. NJ? Then teachers
could leave the building by 4:30 at least. The
y
arc but half day sessions. Can it not be so ar
ranged that teachers may at least spend every
other half day away from the school building
This would only be justice.
There are very many reasons why teachers
are sick. The greatest of which is too many
school hours
Second, the work is far too heavy, the work
in many grades for ten weeks could not be
more than well done in twenty weeks. Give
fewer school hours, less work and less red tape,
and orr teachers will compare with those of
other cities. Professor Jones has aged ten
years in the past two that he has been superin-
tendent. Miss Cropsey has had to be out of the
schools all year on account of health, two or
three of our best supervisors on the verge of
breaking down from overwork while at least
one-third of our teachers are in poor health.
We feel to this cause is attributed the reason
so many of our boys dislike the school-room.
Can the teacher whose body and brain are
worn out by overwork make the school-room at
tractiveY Think of this School Board honestly,
earnestly and prayerfully, and see what can be
done. A FRIEND.