The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-26
GETTING READY TO OPERATE.
Mr.. Bisbee Has Let All Contracts
for Telephone Supplies.

Mr. William A. Bisbee returned yester-
day from Chicago, where he closed con-
tracts for furnishing all of the material
and appliances needed to complete the tel
ephone system OF the Georgia Telephone
and Telegraph Company. Just when the
new exchange will be ready to operate
cannot be said, but Mr.. Bisbees return
means that things will move along rapidly
until the call bell begins to jingle.
Chicago has telephones in proportion to
the large expanse of territory the city
covers 1t is said there is no city where
the telephone business has been more
thoroughly developed, and for this reason
the latest and best improvements are
adopted. AS the large sale of overalls is
looked upon as a sure index of general
prosperity, so the use of thousands of
telephones, as Is the case in Chicago, indi-
Gates the volume of business transacted
there, and consequently the need for quick
and reliable telephone. Mr.. Bisbee found
every sort of mechanism known to the
business, and In examining the different
things he went to buy, he exercised the
care necessary TO make any undertaking
a success.
What the Georgia company want is a
switchboard, and Mr.. Bisbee thinks he has
it. While the contract is closed and the
upphdhceS VIII PROBABLY arrive III a lew
weeks, there is an inclination TO say moth
Ing further than that subscribers will get
satisfactory service.
1t was thought for some time that the
Stronger system. now in use in Augusta,
would be adopted for Savannah, but after
studying its workings, the Georgia Tele-
phone people concluded its adoption here
would be an experiment to some extent,
since II had not been used with the same
number of subscribers 1t is expected to
serve here. The Stronger is recognized
by telephone men, however, as the cheap
est and most satisfactory method of max
ing connections known to the business
It is the same in appearance as other
telephones, except that the connections
are made on the spot by means of revolv-
ing round metal table, on which are
numbers from / to 9. A person desiring to
call No. So, for instance, would place the
niger in the five groove and pull the
table down to certain point, when il is
released and flies back to it's normal po-
sition. No. is then pulled down in like
manner and released. The person desir-
ing to speak then rings the bell, and the
response is from No. SO station The tel
ephone girl play no part; all connections
are made by little handful of machin-
cry that could almost be put In a cigar
box.
Understanding that the Stronger sys-
tenn had given general satisfaction where
ever used" said Mr.. Bisbee. ~ deter
mined to examine into its adaptability for
an exchange the size of that we propose
to operate in Savannah 1t has never
been tested in large exchanges, end for
this reason 1 did not care to adopt ii
here II may have proved a success, but
the Georgia company is not in the field
for experiments. We have contracted to
furnish our subscribers with first-class
service, and unless something unforeseen
do not care now to say what switch
board we will use, but IL has proven very
successful in Chicago, and If It stands the
test there, 1t should be able to do the
same in Savannah"
When the Georgia system is completed,
which 1t is expected will be within the
next six or eight weeks, il is the intention
Of the management to give an exhibition
at the new exchange, at Whitaker street
and York street lane, which will proba-
bly, be novelty for many citizens to wit
ness. Mr.. Bisbee viii invite all his friends
to visit headquarters. Where they will be
given a chance to see how central sta
ton Is operated. Experts will be on hand
to point out the Interesting principles of
the machinery The opening of second
telephone exchange has aroused general
interest which win doubtless be the means
of bringing out many visitors.
There is still considerable conjecture as
u INC turn the competition IN the IeIS-
phone business will take The Bell com
pany is making general improvements to
its exchange. All stations have been
equipped with long-distance phones, ad-
ditional facilities have been provided for
charging the service in the center Of
town, and the lines have been extended
throughout the southern section. The
company has been directing its attention
to obtaining subscribers in the residential
portions of the city, the object being to
add to the value of its service by making
general connections. The Bell people say
a directory that contains the names Of
half the people is valueless They also
urge that the same is true of the tele-
phone. For this reason both the Bell and
tho Georgia companies are stirring
stumps" for subscribers.
The quiet manner in which the two
companies have gone along so far is prob
ably an index to all the fighting there will
be. The belief entertained that one would
crush the other out of business seems to
be a task neither would care to under
take.