Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-08-07
poIons 500 NILE. BIZ wIas.

|
Defects ln the lorai system to be
Corroctsd-Promises of Better Ser.
vices.
Representatives Of the Long Distance
Telephone Company of New York gave
an extremely interesting demonstration
OF the Clayton House parlors on Monday
OF what their company is able to do ia
the way OF furnishing Wilmingtonians
with the opportunity OF talking direct
with friends or business correspondents
living 500 miles away.
The rooms were crowded. Almost all
the members of City Council, Representa-
tives OF the various departments, and a
number Of gentlemen, including Elwocd
Garrett, Drn. Shortlidge and Wales, on
scientific investigation bent, were pres.
emit, together with Chief SWiggett, who
gazed on the electric machinery as IL he
thought 1t inight be q valuable adj unot to
his department. Colonel Milo W. Locke,
Mrs. Locke and several young ladies,
jerome b. Bell, Mrs Bell and party of
lRdieH were also interested listeners.
All that was to be seen was the trans
mitter or Instrument into which the
sender talked his message and the
receivers about 100 or SO, placed in rows
along centval table for the use of the
visitors. Each of the latter took up one
of the receivers and placed it to his ear.
That was all that was necessary in
order for q crowd OF so or go Whining
tonians standing 10 the Clayton House
psrlors Monday night to hear distinctly,
what was going on in the front room OF
the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company at tie corner of Broadway and
Cortland street, New York City.
1t should be added that at one end OF
the long table upon which the receivers
lay was big trumpet like machine from
which the sound, whether talking or band
music was emitted in the same way but
usually with more volume OF sound than
that impaired frcm the receivers.
What was heard Mondaynight was selec-
slons played by small band of i've
pieces which rendered tho programme Of
airs recently given by OAppa's Band.
The music was very distinct, the tunes
and all the notes boins distinctly heard.
A Young lady guest OF Mrs. Locke held
conversation with friends in Philadel- |
phia, and gentleman in charge or the
instruments talked back and forth with
the head otiao In New York city. Facility |
OF conversation was thoroughly demon.
Htrated.
Manager James II. Mehaifey of the
Delaware and Atlantic Telephone and
Telegraph Company, who 10 also local
agent OF the Long Distance Company,
was present and gave aid in the evenings
Manager Mshsffsy had very busy but
not altogether pleasant time. A number
OF gentlemen headed by the medical men
suddenly surrounded the plausible talk
Ant F.ar |
Vag'aIies and IN good natured WY pro-
pounded the following programme:
Now, Mr.. H. .haffy," they said through
their spokesman. ''how ia il that We can
speak all the way to New York, or Buffalo
Or even Niagara Falls-all those hmm.
tredS Of miles without hearing that gentle
Inquiry through -tbrough'and
tho buzzing noise, and then get cut off (?
Here 1t is only half mile or so and we
are continually interrupted, shut out, or
become mutually unintelligible, often
With blasphemous intent. Why can't you
10 az well GU a short distance as these
people do ct long distance? ~
Manager Mehafy was not q bit nom
plussed, but immediately entered into a
lengthy scientific explanation which no.
body could exac.ly understsrd.
However, he promiass that by Eeptem.
Dor next everything will ba arranged on
business principle, that is, there will be
no inducement TO talk to the young ladies
II the telephone exchange. The central
1tfice will be responsible for bringing tie
to the phone. All the caller
will be- asked to sEg III IA wants 60 Sim
tho conversation commences
md there will ba no ringing whom the
message is through with.
Outside Of tbs pRlpabla commercial
Ialue OF the nightR exhibition the scien-
lto Significance of what WAS doao is that
was the first tims that Wilmington hes
leen enabled TO converse with people in
taw York city.
The music that was played en- Cortland
treet that night was heard simultaneously
t various points some 500 miles or 80
rom Wilmington, including North
dams, Mass. Last night the audience
istened to q lecture, descriptive Of the
cientitio and commercial advantages of
he long distence telephone, given by a
penker in the Cortland ssroGt Office in
Iaw York city. The music also from
ne OF Edtton'a phcnograph instru.
ients was distinctly heard.
Each Subscriber will be furnished with
long distance telephone apparatus. But
VIII hsye to pay the regular tolls. A
ye-minute conversation to baltimore .
ill cast 80 cents; New York, probably 4
l-bu, and so on. Tao gcbaduis of tolls