Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-07-12
TELEPHONE TALK.
Plenty of it at the Rock
Island Club Last
Evening.
COMPANY GAINS IDEA OF FEELING

supt. Ryder Asks for Three Weeks Time
to Demonstrate That System VIII be
Made all That 1T should be to the Pat
rons-An Phases Discussed and Action
Taken. SO
The Rock Island Club devoted its
regular monthly meeting last evening
to telephone talk. 1t was system
of wireless discussion that was en-
ployed, however. ventilation of
views which, while not involving
electricity as an essential to the
proceeding had the effect of
clearing the atmosphere to q
wond erful degree. There was large
attendance of memb ers and citizens
generally, and all were free to speak
without restriction or formality of
the conviction that was within them.
In the absence of President Bahnsen,
Vice President w. H. Marshall pre-
sided.
Supt. Ryder Asks Time.
At the opening of the meeting, j.
T. Stafford and b. ID. Connolly, of the
committee on securing a visit of the
president to the three cities during
his forthcoming western tour, j. j.
La Velle, of the committee on new
theatre, and w. S. McCombs. of the
committee on street fair, reported
progress on the part of these various
committees. Thereupon the telephone
subject was taken up, Secretary Stat
ford explaining the recent action of
the board of directors making the
mst tier one for special consideration at
the pending meeting of the club.
Mr.. Stafford spoke of the presence of
Col. W. w. Ryder, assistant superin
tendant of Illinois lines of the Central
Union Telephone company, and sug-
gested that he be heard. A motion
carrying out this suggestion pre-
vailing, Col. Ryder was invited to adj
dress the meeting in behalf of his
company. Col. Ryder went into ex-
tended explanation of the causes of
the faulty condition of the tele-
phone service, speaking of the effect
of the elements upon the wires,
giving dates of the most severe
storms and subsequent effects and
going back to the heavy sleet of last fall,
the consequent gripping 6s the service
which at the time of year it was i'm
u y
inds of the spring came on.
hen when the construction forces
were put on, it was with the inten-
ton that the work would be COM
pleted in 40 days. time, but that ow-
ing to disasters in other cities the
force of linemen and electricians had
been scattered, and the anticipated
improvements had been delayed.
~ 81
the club would not act hastily. but
would give the company time to
demonstrate 'i:s disposition and its
capa bility to give to Rock Island
satisfactory service. Col. Ryder, in
view of these representations asked
that the club defer action for three
weeks time. He gave assurance that
he had already adopted measures
looking to the promised improve
ments, having during the day in
stalled at the central office an in
creased working force, while he had
sent for the Illinois general foreman
of construction, who would forthwith
take hold of the line work and put it
through to speedy completion. In a
week, Cog 'vder said, the patrons of
the telepb system would begin to
realize Improvement, and at
the endf three weeks he would
guarantee that Rock Island would
have the best telephone serv-
ice in the state He asked that
agitation and Judgment be suspended
until the company be given the three
weeks trial.
Col Ryder found, however, that he
was standing upon the crust of a vol
cano, and that while his remarks may
have had tendency to temper the
impending eruption, it was not to be
entirely smothered. 1t required
hardly the opening of the oratorical
cannonade, so eager were those who
were present to express themselves,
that one grievance had scarcely been
expressed until another membe was
on his feet ready to add his part
1t was a voluminous indictment that
the representative of the telephone
company was required to answer to.
Causes of Dissatisfaction.
There were many specifications as
to the inadiquacy of the service and the
setting up of the demand for rebates in
view of the character of the service
rendered, the insufficiency of pay to
the operators at the central Office and
what were claimed excessive rates e.s
whole. Those who participated in
the discussion were Z. III. Guyer, i.
NJ. Lobenstein, Drs. C.. G.. Carter, j.
K. Hollowbush. and.G. L. Eyster, B. ID.
Coanelly, John WILDER, Never Levi,
w. G. Maucker and NJ. III. Sexton, the
latter two as representatives of the
Rock Island Retail Merchants asso-
citation. 1t the course of the remarks
the incorporation of a subscribers in
dependent exchange was proposed
and other radical measures suggested
as sans of insuring a proper de-
81 value returned for the rates
4 for service. There was at the
Sine time disposition on the part of
rnIr,a Of tho aroaa Eara rrhilo