The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-12
TALK At GREAT RANGE.
The Assistance That Long, Distance
Telephoning Has Been in
a. All Business.
Affairs Settled in a Minute and q
Half Between Boston and
'hf New York.
Saving Money and Time in the Settlement
of Disputes Over Business Matters
Among Merchants.

A surprising feature of long distance
telsphonina is the remarkable amount of
business that can DO crowded into a very
short conversation. says a writer in the
Electrical Engineer. The fact that the
communication obtained ia in actual con-
versation at first hand between the persons
most directly interested in the matter un-
der discussion is what renders tho telephone
so far superior TO the telegraph for very
many purposes. Question and answer are
exchanged Immediately without the
annoying delays incident to telegraphio
dispatches. Propositions can be made
and commented on, modified or re-
iected, in a manner quite impossible BY
telegraph; in fact, all the advantages of a
personal interview are obtained without the
expenditure Of lime and trouble involved
in a journey. Numerous instances could
be given of the number of business ques-
tions that can be disposed of in a single
talk over tho wires within the minimum
time of five minutes. Probably the best on
record is that where two business men, one
in New York and ono in Boston, discussed
and settled four entirely distinct affairs
in one minute and a half. Two OF the mat
ters dealt with involved large sums of
money. but the men were able to lay
their heads together, fQuratively speak
ing, 30 we'll. although literally they were 80
far apart, that II took them but a few sec
onds in each case to decide on what should
be done. 1t can readily be imagined how
many teleRramR would have been required
to do the same amount of business leaving
entirely aside tbs question of time, which
il 80 often OF hrst Importance. Every day
cases occur whore the long-distance tele-
phone enables business to bu done that the
telegraph cannot aid, and where the only
alternative would be q long and expensive
journey.
For instance. not long ago a New York
man was notified that his draft on a house
In a town far up in the interior of the stats
had been allowed to 60 to protest, and in
order TO protect his interests he was on the
point Of undertaking a journey that would
have kept him away flom his Office for
thrss days. when a friend advised him to
telephone to the bank that held bis draft.
he did so immediately; the bank informed
him Of the state OF affairs and recon-
mended & lawyer in She town to take the
Job in hand. He had ar interview by tele-
phone with the lawyer and gave him
instructions TO proceed, and the same after
noon the lawyer reported that he had got
out an attachment and that the draft would
be fully covered. The time spent by the
New YORK man over tho affair might have
been an hour, and the total expense was for
three conversations. one with the bank and
two with the lawyer, as against an absence
from town of two or three days. and trav-
cling expenses amounting 10 $40 or
$bO. The sctual saving Of time and
money IL by no means the only
recommendation in favor of long
distance telephone communication. Often
1t yendels possible the transaction of bust
mesa which could be done in No otbav WAY
and many Z time I &vs-minuts converse