The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-17
SEATTLE, THURSDAY, MAY IT.
The Telephone Service.

The superintendent of the Sunset Tel
ephone Company IL making one Of his
regular visits OF Inspection on Puget
Sound and reports that the increase In
the number OF telephones In use in Sc
attic has been very large during the
past year. the percentage Of gain being
greater than that OF any other city on
the Coast with the exception of Los
Angeles. He observes that. in keeping
with the general growth OF the city. the
business of the telephone company has
gone steadily forward and the increased
use OF telephones by the community is
something that is very gratifying to
the company.
While the superintendent is inspect
ing the office. lines. instruments and
methods OF operation in this city. it
might be well for him to make study
of the general efficiency of the service
and ascertain whether in any particu-
lars improvements may be brought
about. There will be an inspection by
him of the company's property and a
good deal OF attention will be paid to
the mechanical equipment with which
the growing business has to be handled.
While these necessary examinations are
being made II might not be inadvisable
20 inquire into the details Of the ser
vice offered to the public, and ascer-
tain II that service is reasonably salts
factory TO those who are giving the
telephone company their financial sup
port.
II this inquiry Is made, the superin-
tendent will find that the service for
which the citizens Of Seattle are paying
good round rentals Is about as bad as
any other that can be found In any
place OF 10000 people. The subscribers
who have occasion to make daily use
of the telephone are in position to
know II they are served satisfactorily,
and IL the superintendent will confer
with these people and ask them to pass
judgment upon the service they are
paying for. he will be Informed by nine
subscribers out OF every ten that the
service Is wretched. II he Is fortunate
enough 10 encounter patron while the
latter IL attempting to make use Of the
telephone facilities the company is sup
posed to provide. the results viii speak
for themselves No questions need be
asked.
The public appreciates the difficulties
with which telephone company has to
contend In a ciW like Seattle. II re-
Allies that q business with unusual de-
mands upon 1t must put forth the most
strenuous efforts II the emergencies are
20 be met II can understand how
with the number OF patrons constantly
Increasing and the territory covered
forever widening, there may be din
Guilty In keeping the service always up
% the highest standard. There is no dis.
position to complain on this score. Lack
OF equipment. change Of devices. ex-
tension 81 lines. all may result In an
unsatisfactory service. but II Is always
well known that the resulting inoon-
seniences are only temporary.
wha, telephone subscribers complain
ct Is the general and persistent ineni-
elency shown by the company's en-
ploycs IN making use Ct Its present
facilities for handling business. some
o. these employees are no doubt alert,
attentive and oblisins. There are some.
however, who are not: and it is the
laziness, inattenuon. carelessness, per-
sistent derelieton and Inaccessible de-
oeit OF these that Is responsible for the
eXasperating annoyance to which tele-
phone subscribers are subjected. Me-
chemically the system in this city may
be perfect, but 1t Is only necessary 10
consult with the patrons OF that sys-
fem to find out that in Its operation