Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-03-19

In few days Dover, Milford, George.
town and the intermediate towns will
be connected by telephone and each
town will have first class local tele-
phone system, such as Dover enjoys at
tho present time. There are now about
so telephones In operation In Dover,
50 are being put in position in Milford
and there arc 46 at Georgetown, which
will be operated as soon as switch
board is received. The work il being
done by Garrett, Miller & Co., Of this
city, with the exception OF tho wiring
between the tovn which is under
tho supervision OF Il. Il. Jones, an at
taclie Of tho Dover company.
Tho system Ia an excellent one and In
giving perfect satisfaction; that Is,
such as is in operation, and there is
no doubt but that the service between
the towns will be quite as efficient aa
tho local systems,
The entire system is owned and con-
trolled by the Dover Telephone Co.,
which started in very small way.
About last September several citizens
of the State Capital held conference
and decided to start a mutual tele.
phone system In the town. As result
30 phones and switchboard to accom-
modate 80 was ordered from Garrett,
Miller & Co., of this city. After tho
instruments were in operation persons
not connected with the system were at
tracted by tho success and convenience
of tho mutual service and US a result
the number at onco commenced TO
grow, until IL has now overeached the
facilities and about so are in use.
The first phones and switchboard
were shipped from this city on Decem-
ber 7th last and were in use about a
week after the shipment was made
Headquarters were established in the
store OF Slaughter & Bico, and tho
switchboard was operated AS sort Of
side issue, tho clerks in tho store at
tending TO the work. The service has
grown to such proportions that now il
requires almost the entire attention OF
one man during the day. Az soon as
the new Richardson Block is completed
lit now being in course of erection
quarters will be established in the
second floor of the building.
Harry A. Richardson has taken an
active interest in the Dover system and
it Is due in great measure to him
that it has reached such degree OF
efficiency. He is particularly desirouf
Of increasing and improving the facili.
ties and will have the new quarters
specially adapted for the use OF the OK
chabge.
The mutual system was very good foi
small number Of phones, but the
rapid growth necessitated the formation
of company and the stock was soon
subscribed, Mr.. Richardson becoming
president OF the company.
The telephones in use are somewhat
similar to the local phones in operation
in Wilmington, with the exception that
they are actually long distance instru
ments, and IL connected with metallic
circuit the voice could be distinctly
understood 500 miles away. AT present
the metallic service is not used, but II
is probable that it will eventually be
adopted. There Is not near so much in
reference from electricity in Dover at
there is in Wilmington and other cities,
and consequently at the present time q
metallic circuit is not necessary. The
telephones we're manufactured by Gar
rett, Miller & Co., at their shop in thiI
city, and they have given entire salts
faction. President Richardson of thu
telephone company is very well pleaset
with them and has complimented thu
manufacturers
Garrett, Miller & Co. Tuesday ship
ped switchboard for 100 phones Il
Dover. Ii will be put in position a
once, and the smaller one now doinl
service there will be removed to George
town, when the system in that tow
will be put in operation.
1t il altogether likley that the loca
phones will be used in talking from
ono town 20 another, but specia
long distance instrument manufactured
by the Ericsson Bell Co., of Stock
holm, Sweden, has been sent to Dove
and will be given thorough test. Th
local Instruments have been tried owe
long distance wires and a whisper cal
be heard for distance Of 80 miles,
For the local service the Dover Co
now charges ZIG per year for busines
houses and Sl2 per year for private resi-
ilences. When the exchanges in tn
several towns arc connected with eacl
other a small time limit rate will prob
ably DO charged to parties talking fron
one town to another.
1t is the intention OF the Dover Go
to connect all of the towns in the lowe
part of the State and eventually 7
reach north to Wilmington. At presen
the exchange is closed before midnight
but the matter of having an all-nlgh
service is under consideration.
Business men in Dover and the town
where the system is about TO be in
troduced are highly pleased with tn
prospect Of being in such close an
convenient communication with eac
other. The fact that the system is first
class in every particular is appreciate
by all present and prospective sut
,scribers.
TWO FIRES.