The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-03
TELEPHONE TIPS.
Worcester Exchange
May Be Made a Sep
arate Division.
BUSINESS MEN FAVOR IT.
Each Manager To Be Re-
sposible To the Main
Office.
BUSINESS MEN FAVOR II.

Officials of the New England Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company are con-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of making
Worcester and surrounding territory a
division by itself, instead of being in
cluded in the central division, with
headquarters in Lowell.
Rapid growth of the Worcester sta
ton and the smaller exchanges within
a radius of rs miles of this city, to-
gether with excellent facilities offered
in the way of office room, and the ad-
vantages to be derived from locating
the division headquarters here. all ar
que strongly in favor Of such action.
AT present the New England COM
pany's territory is separated into five
divisions, the division superintendent
being responsible to the general man
ayers office in Boston. The divisions
are classified: The Boston division, with
headquarters in Boston; central, with
headquarters in Lowell; eastern, with
headquarters in Portland, Me-; western,
with headquarters in Springfield; and
northern, with headquarters in Bur
lington, VT
Worcester and suburban exchanges
are at present directly responsible to
the division superintendent at Lowell.
All reports and acquisitions must go
through the superintendent office on
their way to the general managers Of
hce in Boston, or at least this is the
course which managers are supposed to
follow. Cases have been known, how
ever, where manager and the super
lntendent of his division were unable to
agree and considerable feeling has re-
suited. In other instances managers
nave attempted to go over the heads of
the division officers and do business
with the general managers office di-
rect Bad feeling. was encouraged in
TINS way and, as a result, employees
and subscribers have been obliged to
stand the brunt of delay and lack of
recognition
The matter of making Worcester a
division by itself has been under dis
cussion for years, and it is understood
on good authority that the question is
being given more consideration than
ever at the present time
1t is also understood that a move
ment is on foot to do away with the
division question altogether and make
each manager directly responsible to
the main office. Men acquainted with
telephone business claim that this
would be one of the best moves ever
contemplated by the New England
company, and one that could not help
resulting to the advantage of all con-
cerned
Men of more ability than some of the
present force of managers would be
required, and men who have a knowl-
edge of telephone business and a fac
ulty of doing business in a business
like manner would obtain the recogni-
ton they deserve. Such a change would
result adVantageously to subscribers as
we'll Managers dealing directly w1th
headquarters would be able to get
quicker returns on acquisitions and
quicker decisions in matters that come
up from time to time, in connection with
operation of an exchange.
Nor would the employee and subscrib-
er be the only ones benefited Accord
ing to the views of a practical man, who
has had experience in all branches of
the telephone business, the New Eng
land or any other large company would
be vastly benefited by such a course, ii
the fact that business could be handled
so much more readily and so much bet
ter satisfaction given the general pub
lie.
The Worcester division, as contemp-
lated, would probably include, in addi-
ton to the small suburban exchanges
such as Whitinsville, Westboro. Web
ster and Southbridge, such offices as
Marlboro, Gardner, Clinton, Fitchburg
and others, in Worcester county.