The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-16

GUM probably more than in any other
country Of Europe. says Consul George
W. Roosevelt. in a report TO the State
Department. On account Of dissatisfae-
tiOu with the present system Of telephone
subscription. by which all subscribers are
assessed alike FOR yearly local privileges
the Minister CT Railways. Posts. and Tel
egraphs has decided that il will be aban-
doned m favor Of the more rationaI mes
sage system, which is expected TO bring
about an enormous increase in telephone
communication. Seven years ago. at an
expense Of 100000 the Belgian Gov
eminent obtained a monopoly OF tele-
phonie communication, absorbing the in
terests Of the two main companies and
various smaller organizations.
Zones of Communication.
For telephone purposes Belgium is di-
vided into seventeen zones or areas, each
with large central exchange. These
zones are not arbitrarily assigned. but
allotted. and very successfully. TO obtain
the most efficient service. Nearly all the
local service Of Belgium is dependent
upon the single-wire non-retaIIic circuit
system, but the Government is slowly
making changes. The two zones Of Brus-
sells and Charler2i are now nearly en-
tirely equipped with metallic circuits: the
zones OF Antwerp and Liege are under
study.
A subscriber is entitled TO communi-
cation with any other subscriber in the
same zone. irrespective Of distance. also
to communicate over lOng-distance lines.
az the regular rate, If he deposits at the
beginning OF each month an amount COW
eripg his estimated monthly expenses.
He is entitled TO telephone delivery
OF kilograms which may come TO him. The
free delivery b, telephone OF kilograms
is great advantage and the privilege is
almost universally used. Mistakes are
very rare and are guarded against with
The utmost care. a key being furnished
whereby words rot unlike in sound may
be clearly defined.
The fat-rate system Of subscription va
ries considerably, in proportion to the
magnitude and Importance Of the local
ity. thus. the Brussels and Antwerp rate
is SiS.25; the "harlerOi rate. $3.50; this
is for a radius Of -62l5I mile, longer lines
in proportion 20 the length.
TeIeErauIS Delivered by Phone.
Some idea Of the extent Of the system
is conveyed by the following statistics;
Total number Of subscribers. 1880. an
increase over previous years of 1877.
total number OF messages. 1929. an in
crease Of 5.66S; kilograms received and
sent by telephone. 1.443.fI4 an Increase
OF lGj. 64S Total receipts SOLO 300. 6S.
total expenditures, $f62, 24e.5S. Net profits.
S14s. 05110.
The rate for interurban service IS 1913
cents per message OF five minutes ire
spective Of distance. The time may be
doubled for 20 cents. but for longer than
fer mir .4r-=
each additional five minutes.
Good international Service.
Intern tionaI trunk lines now connect
with France, Germany, Holland. and the
Grand Duchy Of Luxembourg There are
four direct lines between Brussels and
Paris. a line with England is under con-
slruction. The land lines are now quite
finished and the cable IS bein glaid. All
the international lines are OF the metal
Hc-circuit type
Rates for international service are for
five minutes. and are governed by dis
lance and the period Of day or night
The minimum rate rs % cents by day ami
= cents by night The total number OF
messages sent was 120.0I5. an increase
OF 30.565
Few Public Telephones.
Belgium is woefully deficient in public
telephone service. there being only 100
public phones in the whole country; often
in large town there is but one such con-
venience. The rate FOR sending local mes
ages is . cents for Ave minutes
The seventeen zones Of telephone oper-
alton cover abotu one half Of Belgium. u
is unlikely that these zones sill increase
their areas 10 any great extent. The pre-
dominance Of single wires will check any
great advance in the number OF c0mmuni-
cations AFT r the message system OF sub
scripJion is Instituted. and any increase in
the use Of the telephone viii make the
transformation In the matter Of metallic
circuits slower than ever
A Model Exchange
The central bureaus are. for the most
part, well constructed and along the lines
% the most recent American practice. The
great new exchange in Brussels. in par
ticular. is a model Of its kind. The sim
plicity OF telephone communication with
in given zone is marked. each zone has
one large central exchange. and. as a rule.
nearly all the wires Of the zone are df-
rectly connected with IL. In this the Bel
gian telephone system has a great adYan-
fage over the telephone systems OF the
United States. where the distances are
often 90 great that direct connection with
one great central exchange Is impossible
The absence Of a large number OF in
termedi3te EXCHANGES maks any increase
I'm telephone communication easy Of con
troll.
The Government has stated its inten-
tion 10 place all wires In the large towns
in underground cOnduits but the ad-
vance in this matter has been slight.
The conduits adopted for Brussels are Of
virihed clay pipes and are Of american
origin.
Permanent Fixtures in Use.
Az 10 the Out-oc-door work IN Belgium
as compared with that done in The United
States the only notable difference con-
Eists tn the use OF more iron structure
that is. more iron poles and iron fixtures.
In Germany. Switzerland. and Belgium
expensive AID ornamental iron poles are
quite general in the cities.
Nearly ali the Instruments. exchange
parsDhernala, etc, OF Belgium are man
utactured by a company in Antwerp. and
although this company is distinctly a
Belgian concern. its output is designed
with slight notifications IN accord
ance with the most recent American inn
prOyemeuts.
InviHciblcs' Auxiliary Reception.
The Ladies' Auxiliary Of the Blaine