Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-08-01

changes. the instruments were merely
rented to an individual and everybody
used every instrument without check
or regulation of any kind. AS the tele-
phone became more generally used
many persons found that one telephone
was not enough and many others found
that they did not have sufficient need
for one tclephonc-for a whole" tele-
phone as ii were. Contracts We're
made for the farming OUT of a tele.
phone. two or three people using one
telephone and each having the same
interest and liability in it,
Each year, however. the use of the
instruments increased and people who
used the telephone and paid for IL UNI
der this plan found that it was hardly
fair propositions; one person used II
too much and the others used ii too
little. aud it was at the best usually II
| one. sided arrangement that was un.
satisfactory to the users as well as to
| the telephone companies.
Then the so-called measured SER
vice" was installed. and for Il time 1t
appeared to work admirably. Under
this system lessees paid Il certain
| stated amount for certain stated ser
vice--so many calls. so much money.
| Each call was recorded and charges
were based on the number of calls
made. each call costing something.
For some people this was all right.
but for others 1t caused trouble. One
could not permit q neighbor or q cas-
ual caller to use his phone without
having to pay for II himself. He was
not able to know definitely the exact
charge for each call and therefore
could not collect for II. and he was
himself paying for something he did
not get and had 10 good reason to
give away.
Out of the experiences Of this and
preceding plans has grown the present
service and scheme. which Is. practi.
cally--pay for only what you get. at
the time you get it, and ut Il stated
rate.
Since the introduction of this system
in Chicago the number of telephones
In use has increased almost 100 per
cent. until at the present time there
are in use in Chicago nearly O,OCO
telephones, and President Sabin, has
ing his estimate on actual contracts
now in hand and the average number
of applications received daily. has pre-
dicted that within u short time Chica.
90 will he using not less than 100000
telephones.
The 5.cent slot machine has been
found very popular with all classes OF
telephone users. but its greatest sue
cess has been In introducing the tclc
phone TO the vast majority Of the PEG
pie who never dream of using II IN
their own homes or small bushes,
places.
Those people who used the telephone
once or twice n day heretofore hav,
had TO depend upon the nclghborine
drug store or residence and were nat
urally greatly nconvenicnced They
seldom wanted telephone, but when
they did want II. they wanted 1t I'M.
mediatcly and had To have II.
Such people are now able to have II
telephone installed In their homes OF
tlittlc shops and have 1t nt hand ut all
times for immediate use, and still pa!
for such accommodation only Il small
amount ut the time they actually us,
II. They pay for nothing they do not
get and pay for II In way that suits
them best, and affects their pocket
book the least.
The installation force of the Chicago
Telephone Company is being taxed
daily to its utmost capacity to meet
the Increased demand for this class o.,
telephone service. and II Is on this lie
mand, which has been increasing
rather than decreasing for months,
that President Sabin and his associ.
ates base their predictions for the fu-
. t,lr. of the tplpuhOnp I'm Chicago