The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-26

cults to subscribers who wish to use the
line frequently so that they can hold con-
yersations from their own offices without
being under the necessity of always going
to the pay station. In America on the
contrary, the demand for telephone COM
munication between cities has sprung up
so rapidly that q large number of circuits
are in constant use between all the princ-
pal cities TO which the long distance svs-
tenn extends. Public pay stations are es-
tablished at convenient points in every
city-in New York there are about eighty
OF these pay stations, most OF which
are provided with sound-proof booths
that add greatly to the comfort
OF a talk over the telephone and ensure
perfect privacy-and every subscriber to
the local exchange system can be con-
nected directly to the long-distance wires,
so that he can be put in communication
with his out-of-town correspondents with
out stirring from his office. Many users
of the long -dstance system in New York
and other cities lease special circuits
which terminate at the main switchboard
of the system. This enables them to OBJ
tain connections with other towns and
cities without the Intervention of the local
exchanges.
To most people the charges for long dis
lance telephone communication seem ex-
pensive. The unit of service on which the
charges are based is conversation of five
minutes duration, and the rate averages
somewhat under 81 for 100 miles of line :;
thus between New York and Boston the
rate is 81 and between New York and Buff
falo 81 If the telephone be regarded as a
competitor of the telegraph, these rates
seem high; but the service that the tele-
phone renders is totally different from
that given by the telegraph-it gives all
the advantages of personal interview and
is rather q competitor Of the railway than
of the telegraph. To put it in another
way: If man can do his business by
writing letter he will not send
a telegram; if he can do it by
sending telegram he will not use
the telephone. and if he can do it by
telephone he will not take the cars for a
journey of several hundred miles. The
long distance telephone service really
saves business man many journeys that
he would otherwise have to take, and thus
saves him both money and time. Many
transactions occur every day that require
personal consultation between heads of
firms residing in different cities and the
telegraph is Of very little use in such cases,
but the telephone permits of the whole
thing being satisfactorily arranged with
out either party leaving his own Office.
Therefore, in comparison with the value
of the service rendered, the rates charged
for telephone communication are by no
means high, and the business men who
patronize the system derive so much
benefit from it that the cost does not cut
anv figure.
Among the first to appreciate the facili-
ties offered by the long distance telephone
were the large manufacturers having works
and factories in the country and business
offices in town. Instead of having to lease
private telegraph wire or dispatch special
messages every day, a daily talk over the
telephone between the head of the firm and
the manager of the factory kept the two
branches of the concern perfectly in touch
with each other. This class of service
rapidly grew i'll favor, and many firms rent
the use of line for several hours each day
Lawyers and brokers also use the telephone
a great deal for consultation with clients
and correspondents IN other towns. Few
people have any idea of how much business
may be transacted in a five minutes talk
over the telephone. AS a general rule each
knows beforehand what he is going TO talk
about. and also has in mind that the time
is limited, so no time is wasted in unnec-
essary parleylng. The transmission is so
clear that if the two speakers know each
other voices are recognized at once and
repetitions are scarcely ever needed.
Many observations have been made of
the number OF different subjects that have
been discussed and settled in five min
utes' talk, and it is generally found that
an astonishing amount of business can be
done in the time. Ii it were all tele-
graphed it would certainly cost more
than the telephone rate to pay for the
telegram. For instance, during one test
it was found that two men talking be-
tween New York and Buffalo discussed
and settled four different business deals
inside of minute and one-half. This is
perhaps a very favorable instance, but
many more could be cited. Over the Lon
don-Paris line n newspaper man has die