New-York tribune., 1908-08-24
TELEPHONES HERE AND ABROAD.


Mr.. Herbert Laws Webb a we'll known tells
nhone expert mentions in '"The London Times
two things which he observed during q recent
visit TO New York Telephone companies In
more than one American city, he says, each han
die four times many calls daily as does the
whole United Kingdom. Mr.. Webb also notices
a remarkable difference In the time required TO
secure a response 10 a telephone call. as between
New York and London He says that tests
made here last month after the initiation OF II
new system of conducting suburban calls show
that the maximum interval required to reach
subscriber In a country town twenty-five or
thirty miles away is only ninety seconds A
similar effort made by himself in London sue
ceeded only after lapse Of half an hour. Very
likely his experience was exceptional, but he
is convinced that for both city service and out
of town service New York is far more fortunate
than any large city IN Europe.
Mr.. Webb's own explanation Of the steady
gain In promptness In making the necessary
connections for telephone conversation on this
side OF the Atlantic is that the business here is
watched and stimulated by traffic superintend-
ents. These men are continually on the look
out for chance to improve both methods and
apparatus and are continually making recon-
mendations having that object In view. The
e1lperIntendents have a special training for
their work study the possibilities Of progress
and are handsomely compensated In Europe
the administration OF the telephones is con-
Quoted by the government n branch Of the
postal service It Is often intrusted, Mr.. Webb
SAYS, to poorly paid clerks who lack the tech
nicaI Qualifications needed 70 promote advances
IN the art.
However correct this estimate Of foreign
management Of telephones may he, II is GER
tainly true that Europe has been slower than
tn, u6p Ff
which have Increased the utility and popularity
of Bells great invention. The substitution Of
automatic means Of attracting the switchboard
operators attention for the crank formerly IN
vogue is only one Of the expensive innovations
adopted first in this country. The wisdom OF
the progressive policy was for time in doubt,
because there have always been persons who re-
garded the telephone charges In American cities
as too high. and managers hesitated to invest
! more capital in plant when uncertain about the
return Nevertheless, the experiment has paid.
II each increase in efficiency has not been fully
appreciated, the willingness Of most persons on
this side OF the Atlantic 10 pay a premium for
promptness has insured steady growth of
patronage.
Perhaps the wonderful expansion of the tele-
| phone industry here has been helped by another
infuence-national temperament. The rule
may not hold good for rural communities, but
the typical resident of the American city Is al
vays in n hurry Rather than wait for q street
car in which he can find seat he will board
the first one which comes along, If there is even
standing room in sight For business and social
matters which were once managed by mail, a
I messenger or n personal visit he uses the tele-
phone because Il saves time If he were more
| deliberate he might be equally happy-pOssibly
happier. But that's not the American way.