Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-06-11


his business house would rather lose clerk
than a telephone. he has had to eat his slice
OF humble pie or else give place to better
and d!screeter man.
Forced 20 Apologize.
1--WE must and shall protect our operators"
says Mr.. Hlbbard. firmly.
There Is no doubt about that nor about
anything else that this remarkable young
general manager says. when he was put
at the head OF the Chicago exchange IN
1892 after making a striking record In the
cast. some of the older telephone men openly
disapproved. But the energy and clever
ness which made him one OF the pioneers
In the electrical lighting field. as well as
the telephone world. and which prompted
so many valuable suggestions and so much
practical work. has made him success IN
his present position. The Chicago Telephone
exchange II one OF the finest as well as the
largest In the world. Its conduct ~ above
reproach. That the general manager Is
practical musician. president OF the Apollo
Club. and IL an enthusiastic golf player as
well, does not make him any the less an
energetic man OF business and progressive
scientist. Moreover, he In a courteous gentle
me n, and through him the ways Of the Chi
caro telephone girls are ways OF PLEASANT
ness, and all their business paths are peace.
= = =
She Il to Be Envied.
\N1HEN Mrs. Florence Kelley made her
w report to the labor committee OF I'LL.
nois she declared that the telephone girls
received higher average compensation ana
were better taken care OF than those In any
/ other place which she had visited In the
/ state; that theirs. OF all avocations reported
on, was the most desirable.
or a truth, for pure air. perfect cleanli-
| ness and opportunities for rest, the tcle-
| phone exchange could scarcely be excelled.
| The girls are not regarded as 30 many ma
! chimes, to be kept running at the hE nest
| possible rate Of speed and to be chucxed
| aside when worn out and broken down. The
| management realizes that II ~ far better to
| keep able and experienced operators than to
| be continually initiating new ones, ana that
| the best obtanable class OF girls, well bred ard
| educated, is none too good for this impor-
| tant branch of the public service. So there
| IL a distinct effort to keep the girls In as
| good physical condition as possible, and to
| preyent their health from running down, To
| this add resting-rooms, relief operators,
| unchroom, comfortable sofas and chairs,
| plen,y of tea ard hot water, and two thor
| oughly efficient matrons are provided,
Given Frequent Rests.
No girl works more than two or two and
| n half hours without fifteen minutes rest
| Telephoning is a good deal of "A nervous
strain, and this Is recognized. .he relief
operator goes the rounds and STANDS behind
| the chair OF the girl to be relieved until thu
opportune moment comes, and then the busy
| operator slips from her chair, transfers thu
harness from her head to that Of the reliev
ing party, and goes for fifteen long, Lowell!
| minutes to lounge in the reading-room owe
| a new magazne--for the reading matter i
provided by the company, too-or else to re
| arrange her hair or to drink comfortln,
cup Of tea.
| Sometimes the girls take a tour around tn
| block in their lunch Interval, but not often
| The inside of the exchange Is more attrac
| tive than the outside. and the luncheon-roon
| IA very jolly There Is always any amour
| OF hot water and unlimited tea, and tn
matron Is there all day, k!nd-faced geniu
! of the simple medicine box, so that a cir
may wrestle with sick headache for al
| hour and be back to her work again. becaus
| she has had attention. remedies and plac
to rest in. whereas II she had been situate
out of reach Of these she must have sue