Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-09
TESTING TELEPHONES.
STREET COMMITTEE ISvEsTrGA-
TING THE LoNG-DIsTANCE SYSTEM
PLEASANT DAY in NEW YORK.
Some OF Them Talk with Friends In
Distant Cities-Dinncr Given by
General MeanIey-WiI Visit PhiIn-
.delphin To-Morroyv.

G'rom a stah correspondent OF the Dis
catch)
NEW YORK, March S.-The success and
practlcabllty Of the long-dlstance tele-
phone have been fully demonstrated to the
members Of the Street Committee and
/ other gentlemen from Richmond who
came to New York by invitation of the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany TO inspect the practical operation
Of their system.
The party spent nearly half Of to-day
I'm the company's Cortlandt-street build
ing. and looked fully into every depart
ment from where the wires enter from
| underground to the operating-rooms. and
every man from Richmond had satlsfac-
tory conversations with people, some Of
them their personal friends, at points
as far away as Chicago. Baltimore, and
Bangor Ne The trial was. indeed a
revelation to those who had never be-
fore seen or used a long-distance phone
The voices Of those talking over 500 miles
away were as clear and distinct as II
they had only been a square or two Off.
THOSE IN THE PARTY.
The telephone party is rather larger
than IT was supposed on Saturday that
it would, be numbering fifteen all told. OF
The street Committee there came Sub
. Chairman s. l.. BlOOmberg, and Messrs
! James Bahen, T. G. Ebel, John j. and
John ". King, J. Harvey Lawder Gill
bert *. Pollock. and W II. Woody Of the
committee, and Captain r. S. Brock. a
I member Of the Common Council. a mem
/ Der Of the Board of Aldermen, though
not on the committee, Is also in the
company, which is in immediate charge
/ Of Mr.. George Q. Ruskell, than whom
there could not be q more watchful at
/ tentive and agreeable sergeant-at-arms
/ He has not let a man Of the thirteen
under his care get out Of his sight. ex-
cept when In their rooms, and will be
prepared upon his return to make a re-
port to Clerk August. OF course, It will
| be good report.
Colonel George Wayne Anderson senior
local counsel for Mr. Clarence T. Young
and Mr.. Hunt Chipley, special agent Of
the American company who has been
| looking after the franchise in Norfolk
/ did the hOnors as hosts coming up. and
! they could not have been more polite and
/ thoughtful OF the comfort of their guests.
| The press is represented by members
| OF the local STATS of the Dispatch and
/ Times. AS foretold I'm Sundays Dis
/ patch, Captain A. b. Gugon and Super
/ intendent Duval, Of the Richmond Tee-
| phone Company, did not come on the
| trip, as there had been some talk during
| last week Of their doing. This was due
! to the letter sent Nj. Guigon Saturday
! night by Colonel Anderson and Mr..
/ Young in which the local company's
/ counsel was advised that no provision
/ had been made for him and his electri-
/ clan as guests of the long-distance com
/ pany, and that no test Of the Richmond
/ phone could be made i'm connection with
! the American company's system. Cap
| tain GuigOn was at the station, as were
four phones that had been packed up
for the test, and he talked with the long
| distance representative. but their con-
versation, though pleasant and friendly,
did not result I'm any change from the
positions taken in the letter that passed
Saturday night.
ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK.
A chilling blast, and light. but piercing,
snow blew in the faces of the represen-
tatives Of the Old Dominion as they
alighted from their sleeper I'm Jersey
| City, Just before o'clock this morning
and walked on the forward deck of the
ferry-boat to take the first glimpse of
the metropolis and catch the stiff breeze
from the river; but the deck was not
popular place, and a warmer cline was
sought. The party were taken TO the
Hoffman House. where the Richmonders
are stopping while here and when a
bountiful breakfast had been enjoyed
the party repaired TO the American COM
panys headquarters, on Cortlandt street,
where nearly five hours were spent look
ing into the practical workings Of the
system, which embraced some seven
thousand cities, extending as far South
as Memphis, Tenn, and TO the North
west as far as Minnesota. The visitors
were received by General IL. y. Meanley
assistant general manager Of the long
distance company; +. j. HOvey. general
SUPERINTENDENT, and Engineer r. A. Pick
enneu, who prepares all Of the specihca-
lions, and works out the plans for all
extensions. The inspection was thorough
and minute in detail, both as 10 the long
distance and local exchange, the latter or
which is one Of the thirteen local eX-
changes. having capacity 10 operate 5lV)
of the 1850 phones on Manhattan Island.
It's switch board extending all around
big L-shaped room, has forty-four diyis-
ions. each Of which requires three ope-
rators and a ticket clerk during the busy
hours. The long-distance department IS
as perfectly equipped.
USING THE LONG DISTANCE.
The most interesting feature Of the day
was the trial Of the long -distance lines,
which worked perfectly, enabling a man
here 10 hear and understand conversation
i'm the far West, besides talking 10 the
company's offices at various places. Mem
hers of the committee and the Dispatch
representative talked TO f. W. Aver x
Co. Bangor, Ne; Davidson q Co., Balu-
more, and d. Lowe Donald Co, ana
/ II. Connant & Co., Boston. Sub-Chair-
man Bloomberg also called up MS prother
i'm Baltimore, and each recognized the
others voice.
The INSPECTION over General Mean
Low rendered the visitors an elegant
dinner at the Mahattan Club, which
81 domiciled IN the magnificent
home built by \. T. Stewart.
who died few years after its completion
The company sat in the same room IN
which Mr.. Cleveland was dined at the
notification meeting held there four
years ago. The occasion was delight
ful one OF informal hospitality. When
/ cigars were ordered General Meaniey
arose and said: while this is an informal
/ dinner. ] think / may be pardoned II DC
allowed TO offer sentiment that Will
am sure. be graciously received by you
/ all. that is. TO the prosperity of the clty
on the seven hills, on the banks or the
/ James. and that the CORY that 1t acquired
during the five years that the temple OF
James was open may De equalled by her
glory IN success on the gentle held5 Oh
peace"
sub- Chairman Bloomberg responded 10
his sentiment I'm very happy and IRA
ternal hve-minute speech. after which the
matter OF the American Company being
granted a franchise In Richmond was
talked over In an informal manner for an
hour or two.