Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-27
LIST
THE oTTUMWA TELEPHONE AND
ELECTRIC co. ISSUES NEW
DIRECTORY.
Largest Telephone Directory Ever Is
sued In the City-Now Has Over
$500 Instruments In Use-Very
Complete Toll System.

The Ottumwa Telephone and Elec-
trio Co. Is now distributing it's
new directory 1t is the most
comprehensive and largest publication
of its kind ever issued in this city. 1t
contains the rates charged by the
company, the toll stations and the
rates for them, alphabetical and CLASH
fled business lists for Ottumwa and
the lists of its subscribers on the coun-
try lines. The directory also contains
a double page map, showing the loca-
ton of the Independent telephone
lines with which it has connections in
Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Washing
ton. Monroe, Wapello Jefferson, Appa-
moose, Davis and Van Buren, counties.
The above ten counties comprise a
territory running east and west from
Mt Pleasant to Charlton and north and
south from New Sharon to the Mis-
souri, line. In this field there are more
than 10000 telephones, any one of
which can be reached by any subscrib-
er of the local company.
The telephones used by this COM
pany are all long distance instruments,
and subscribers wishing to talk over
toll lines can do so from their own
residences or business houses, and of
course all such service is charged to
the telephone used.
This company has nine country lines
running in different directions out of
the city, and there is no toll charge be-
tween these lines and the city tele-
phones. In the city of Ottumwa the
company has over 1900 telephones, the
alphabetical list of the subscribers
using them, occupying almost forty
pages of the directory
The farmers sub-exchanges at High
land and Batavia are very great con-
venience, allowing everyone having
one Of this company's telephones to
talk to any party who has phones at
the above places lat less than the reg
ular toll rates.
This company now has magnificent
plant-its three story and basement
brick building, modern in every partic-
ular; an elegant Stromberg- Carlson
switchboard of latest design, and a
first class outside equipment of the
most permanent material. The select
i've party lines, also of the Stromberg-
Carlson manufacture, are very salts
factory.
Mr.. Herr, the manager is making
an aggressive effort to intensity the
service in this and the adjoining coun-
ties. His object is to cover all the ter
ritory tributary to Ottumwa in the
closest manner possible.
On June 1 1908, when Mr.. Herr as
sumed the management of the com
pany it had. all told, a total of about
So subscribers. 1t now has over
1890.
This is certainly wonderful gain
and is the most convincing evidence of
the high class of service given by this
company to it's subscribers. The sys-
tenn and the operation of this tele-
phone company is good. Its service,
while very extensive, is also very
prompt.
The excellent condition. of this COM
pany's properties is due to the eff
cient and intelligent management of
Howard H. Herr This gentleman is
thoroughly familiar with and has par
ticipated in all the features of the tele-
phone business, from digging a post
hole on a country road to occupying
the managers desk in the main build
ing. That's the whole route and his
tracks are in evidence at every mile
post of the entire distance and he
worked his way on the trip. Mr.. Herr
superintendent the construction of
much of the present system of outside
equipment of this company. He is an
expert in that part of the business and