The San Francisco call., 1906-09-05
Ancient Rome Needs
Better Telephones.

~ ONSUL Paul Nash of Venice re-
ports that the telephone services
in Italy, both urban and inter-
communal. has hitherto been
almost entirely in the hands Of two
great comprehensive Societa Alta
Italia, operating in Milan. Genoa and
Turin. and the Societa Generate rtal-
lana pei Telefoni ed Application Elet-
triche, controlling Bologna. Florence.
Rome. Naples. and the Sicilian towns.
In the beginning of 1904 the ministry
Of posts and teIegraphs took over the
Venice telephone system. extending the
service. raising the pay Of the en-
pleyes, and reducing the rates. but.
in spite of increased expenses. putting
aside some $4,000 a year toward
fund for the changing of the entire
system The time has now come when
bids for this change are being made.
and already three have been received
one from an American. one from
French. and ene from German firm
These bids are yet to be submitted to
the ministry at Rene by the local di-
rector. and there is still time for other
American AFms to compete II they as
promptly.
The ministry of posts aRd teleRFaphs
recently appointed a commission to In
vestigate the Telephone service
throughout the country. with the re-
suit that in many places a complete
change was found to be necessary, In
Rome, for example, the service was
found to be extremely bad, and that
town will probably be one ef the first
to be modernized in this respect. The
appointment of the commission was the
first step in the PFejeet of the ministry
10 take over eentFoI Of the telephone
service OF the whole country. Thus the
moment seems most propitious for in
vestigatien by eur manufacturers. and
because the government will undoubt-
edly prefer uniform system through
out italy an immense business might
possibly be the reward of the success
full bidder fer the modernizatien Of the
service in the first large towns in
which it is undertaken under govern
ment control.
The director of the local exchange
tells me that the American system
known as the "batteria centrale.'
which | understand to be that in which
miniature electric lights are used in
the switch board. instead of the anti
quated drop Indicator, and the cOncen-
tration of the batteries at one point is
in use at Milan. and that as 1T gives
perfect satisfaction the tendency will
be to adopt it generally. He also says
that of the three propositions already
submitted to him for the new exchange
in Venice that of the American Arm
seems to be the best, and that although
the actual choice does not rest with
him he believes the Minister will award
the contract to this firm. provided. OF
course. nothing better is forthcoming
American desk telephones should md
a ready sale In Italy. The only thing
of the kind in use in Venice is a French
production known as the BaiIleux- Adler.
which, although excellent as far as
mechanism is concerned. is inclosed in
a large wooden box, and is too heavy
and cumbersome for convenience. It
has, however. one good feature-the
combination of the transmitter and the
receiver on one handle This is said to
maintain the lips at the proper distance
from the transmitter, besides having
the advantage of leaving one hand en-
tirely free