Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-02
OUR TELEPHONES.
The Progress that Has Been
Madein This Section.
Augusta, HalIowe|I and Gardiner
Closely Connected by Wire.
Over 400 Subscribers-kanaqe O'Brien Mas
improvements in View.

has the telephone a thousand ears and
a thousand mouths ready 10 serve the
wants of mortal man-busy, active, i'm
patient mortal man.
The telephone service between the
cities of Augusta, Hallowell and Gar
diner. is very extensive one, actually
and comparatively speaking. 1t has
undoubtedly grown more during the
past two years than in any other sim
liar locality in Maine. Two years ago
there were IS subscribers, when the
New England Company absorbed thu
Dirigo Company, for the reason that
the patent was awarded back to Bell.
Now there are between 400 and 500 sub
scribers in this section. They are all
connected with long distance service,
but the three cities are included free to
the regular subscribers. That is. with
no extra charge beyond the regular an
nual subscription. Augusta has go
subscribers: Gardiner, $50; and Hal
lowell, 40. Notwithstanding the great
number of telephone services, the low
rates of S24 and $50 win be retained,
Manager O'Brien says, with the ser
vice as at present as regards the cities,
but, with the opportunities of connec :
tion with added subscribers.
gusta is 200. AS is known, the section
of the city proper and the residential
part is we'll covered. and. through the
business section, most of the wires are
carried through cables. Mr. Brien is
expense. 1t has been found necessary,
as the present ones have about all been
taken up. In wiring buildings. he
proposes to have a practically new
system by which the wires are con-
veyed by rubber covered loops in ca
bles, which are thus attached to the
buildings. This cable, as subscribers
are added, can be tapped and wires let
into the offices and stores as desired.
The telephone business is a compli-
Gated one, ard experience has brought
to light some interesting features-an,i
some costly ones, in the way system
win in a short time outgrow its quar-
ters and equipment. Two years ago an
exchange board was put in, which, 1t
was thought, would be sufficient for 4
long time This had to come down
about a year ago to make way for 4
new one-a much larger board, with the
Western electric standard equipment
for both trunk and local lines, with new
principles, reducing the amount Of
labor as far as possible. Now. it seems,
there are cables to be renewed to make
room. and paradoXical as it may seem,
quite the contrary TO many lines of
business, the greater the growth, the
greater proportionate expense IS In
Cured. This, CT course, is the caso
when in winter disastrous storm
comes, which, by the way, the manager
saws. were most delightfully."- absert
last winter, a striking contrast with
the previous winter. when, as it will be
recalled, the wires suffered much da "
| age.
| The New England Telephone Co. has
| Just issued a map of its service II
Maine. 1t is indeed, surprising to SCI
| the extent of the growth so that now
all of the cities and larger towns ar
reached by its wires. A map has ais
been made up giving the outline of tn
system in the United States.
| There is now a force of three day and
one night operator at the Augusta e%-
change. where one used to be operator
general manager, bookkeeper, etc
There is now, besides the operators, :
hook keeper, with the manager to Su
pervise the general business and tax
what kicks that chance to come hl'
way.
A contemplation of telephonins
makes one realize that it is indeed
wonderful piece of business, ana
seems to lose nothing of its wonder
fulness with time. One gets very de
nendent on its service. Even the wal
of a minute will bring all KINDS .
thoughts into ones impatient soul Ii.
| its customary prompt work, one gets L
expect much. There are many thlhS
we would part with before the tele
phone-from a business and soci1
| standpoint.
Bath proposes to celebrate her soiueI
Jubilee on July 9Th in grand style. In
promised industrial parade With BANDS