Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-30
NEW INFORMATION BUREAU.
Directory Operated by Electricity Exhibited in
Augusta. Saturday.

A machine was exhibited, Saturday, at
the office of the Augusta Gas and Water
Company which promises to completely
revo!utionize many Of the methods now
employed for giving information. There
seems 10 be absolutely no limit to the de
yelopmelIt which this machine may effect.
Its purpose is essentially to enable one
to obtain the greatest possible informa-
ton with the least possible Inconvenience.
The machine is constructed with dial
around the circumference Of which are
placed, alphabetically arranged in groups
matters on which information may be
desired. By rotating hand which works
similarly to the hand of a clock, any of
the subjects enumerated on the dial face,
the machine is set in motion and in few
seconds full information upon that sub
ject is shown in an adjacent face.
The particular branch of information
disclosed by the one on exhibition yester-
day, was that of a business directory; if
niture he turned the hand TO "F,' and
learned of Il number of places for that
purpose, what line Of cars to take to get
to them, their telephone numbers, and, in
any cases where guidance of exit and
safe return is necessary, it can be detailed
at the discretion Of the maker.
Any reasonable quantity Of any kind of
information desired can be contained in
these machines. The virtue of the system
and practicable. In the case of a time
table, for instance, tho stations on the
route can be represented on the dial-face
and the requisite information within
time of starting, arrival, accommodation
changes of cars required, and likewise
time of return, in fact anything which is
usually tabulated in a common time table
In a station of great size, like the
Union station in Boston, such method
is claimed to be invaluable and to those
people who are either through their own
slowness or the often indistinctness of
cnunciation on the part of the officers of
information, who are located at the
stations, it will be boundlcss source of
comfort and of real service.
These machines will, it is said, be
placed in the Boston Union station and
be put TO the test.
There is one serious drawback, how
ever and that is the obstinate refusal of
these bureaus to answer more than one
question at time, and on that account
will be seriously objected to by many.
1t will be Of service to many of the
tourists who flood the country, so blase Or
that they know and care less
where to go next These may approach |
one of these convenionces and by wbirling |
the hand around Il few times tempt the |
cycle of fortune to send them wheresoevcr |
it will. 1t is also claimed of it that, with |
future developments and cooperation with |
the photograph ana mcgaphonc. it will |
announce on Trains GDc arrivals al SUitlOEs |
in manner pleasing to the ear and intel |
ligiblc, which as yet has not been univer |
sally acquired by railroad officers provid |
ed for that purpose
The machine is a genuine innovation
and appears to be all that is claimed of it |
I. $ DAILY Of Boston, has been its repre-
in Augusta and this section,
and the company putting it upon the
market is said to be well represented here.
The company is known as the Electric |
Directory Company with Fred f. San
born, president; Timothy q. DAILY, treas
urcr; and for directors these two gentle |
men and also Edwin n. Peabody William |
s. Baldwin and james f. Wade. As its |
name implies it is operated by electricity |
which can either be generated within the |
or induced from an electric light |
int