Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-02
NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
Change to be Made by the Delaware and
Atlantic Co. on Saturday Afternoon,
March 4th


Atlantic Co. on Saturday Afternoon,
siarch 4th.
The equipment in the new building
of the Delaware & Atlantic Tele-
graph and Telephone Co., at Sixth
and Shipley streets. is receiving the
finishing touches and it has been ar
ranged to cut over into the new system at
o'clock Saturday afternoon, March 4th,
and it would be well for the company's
subscribers to bear in mind this fact
and prepare themselves TO lie governed
by the following mode OF calling after
that time: To make call place the re.
ceiver to the ear, no bell ringing being
required, and the operator will ask
what number is desired, and in few
seconds the person calling should have
o verbal response from the party called.
When the person at the telephone Is
through talking he Or she should i'm
mediatel, hang the receiver on the
hook. which will result in immediate
| disconnection of tho telephones.
The company will, prior to tho time
for making the change. issue new cards,
with full instructions, in order that all
| of the subscribers may become familiar
with the new system before it is put
in operation. New lists will be issued
at the same time.
Tho handsome new building, which
was recently erected at great cost by
the company. is one of the finest, most
substantial and nest appointed in the
city. The general business Office and
| long distance pay station offices are on
| the first floor. the entrance being on
Smiley street. Ali of the modern
equipments have been provided for the
| long distance service. In fact, every
thing has been provided for the accom-
mediation and comfort of the people
who find tho long-distance telephone
such great convenience for the quick
transaction of business between distant
points.
Manager Mehaffey's Office and the
offices of his clerical assistants will be
on the second floor. The general operat
ing room will be on the third floor and
the operators quarters on the fourth
floor. In the operating room, which i:
50 feet long and 81 feet G inches wide,
and is well ventilated and lighted. i:
located the operators switchboard
which will revolutionize the telephon,
system in this city. This board has ;
capacity of l,i00 subscribers, and tn,
room will accommodate at least l.G0i
more. Sixteen girls will be employed
at the beginning and the force in
creased as the business demands, I'm
usually convenient and luxuriant ap
pointments have been provided for til,
girls employed. Electric lights, steau
heat and modern plumbing will tend t,
increase their comfort while on dut,
and will make the MONDAY lunch
pleasure. Tiled toilet rooms, will
baths and other fixtures, are easily &C
cessible from the operating room, ant
each employee will be provided with
locker for wraps. &c.
The improved switchboards whicl
will be used are known as the "relay
SYSTEM" and are sometimes called til
. common battery system, because one o
the fundamental Improvements it in
PRODUCES is the Capitalization at tn
exchange of the batteries for energiz
ing the subscribers transmitters. TIL
wiring has been renewed in accordanc
with the fire insurance rules and regu
atoms.
The subscriber will no longer rim
the bell To attract ''Central's" atten
ton. When the subscriber lifts tn
, hook small light will appear in tn
switchboard under the number. Ger
trail will plug in and ascertain whH
: number is wanted and make the props
= connection. This will light anotht
: lamp, which will be extinguished whe
the called subscriber takes down b
receiver. This will enable central ,
I tell at once when the called subscribe
! answers As long as both subscriber
!, have their receivers off the hook tn
) two disconnecting signals remain e.
? tinguished When both hang up ii
receivers both lamps are lighted an
= central eytinguishes them in discol
. Meeting the cords. This system of sic
mails gives the operator full informatio
= as to the state of the wire without I'll
i necessity of listening. and much valui
y BILE time and many interruptions wi
7 be saved. Should the number desire
Z be engaged the subscriber will |
+ switched into another plug and a swel
6 voice will then say: 1.-THE wire is bus
= please call again. And it is no u
to get mad and talk back, for it is on
monograph, and will keep on repea
, ing the information until tho receiy
is hung up. These lamp signals W
! afford the most perfect supervision
y progress of connection, ard material
=; lessen the work of the operator. Wi
- proper cooperation on the part of Il
: subscribers this will quicken the Sc
> vice in no small degree. A little spr
!, ness on the part OF the called subscrib
= will 60 great ways toward this en-
= The pilot lamp of each section will g
y able the chief operator to see wheth
j. the calls are answered quickly or not
= This work has been done by t
~ Western Electric Co. of New Yor
u y Chicago, Paris and everywhere Ell:
!. under the direction of NJ. E. Canfiel
~ an electrician of experience and abilit
III The work of renewing the entire pla
-, !, was large and expensive one and
We accomplish it without interrupting t
l., present service required many month.
y The improvement Of the service
{. the introduction of this wonderful 81
~ tenn will no doubt be fully apprecia,
~ by the Delaware & Atlantic Co. IS ma
Il. subscribers, who have ever receiy
~ courteous treatment at the hands
H. Manager Mehaffey and his efficient
- sistants.