The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-01-10
BY WALTER w. BURGESS.

By WALTER w. BURGESS.
1t is my opinion based upon study
at first hand, that the state owned
telephone systems of Europe compared
with the telephone systems of this
country, both us regards development
and from financial and service stand
point are woefully deficient So ludi"
crous is the comparison that it puts me
In mind of the American gentleman
who, when travelling In Asia Minor,
insisted upon the similarity Of the riv-
ers in that country with the rivers In
Ohio--because there were salmon in
both.
/ have been greatly impressed with
what might term the telephone habit
Of the people in this country. The varl-
Gus telephone companies appear to
make every effort to foster and develop
still further this habit, both by attrac-
tive schedules Of rates, graded so that
they make provision for the most mod"
crate user and by adopting improve.
ments which will tend to make the use
Of the telephone more frequent. Con"
trasting this with the state Of affairs
in Eurcpe--take London, for example
1t is q common occurrence and within
my own personal knowledge that nine
months have elapsed between the date
Of the order being given and the actual
installing Of the telephone. In Ger
many there are two stated periods
during the year in which telephones
are installed. Should person require
telephone installed apart from either
OF these two set periods q special
charge is made. In addition to this,
all intending subscribers must first OBJ
tain written permission from their
landlords.
The rates for long distance service
in this country are much higher than in
Europe, but the service given, which
Is the real criterion, Is corresponding
y much more satisfactory. Although
the rates in Europe are low, you can
not get service. In continental Europe
especially the toll lines are so limited
that practically throughout the busy
hours Of the day up to late in the
afternoon the lines are continually
blocked. This has led to the establish
Ing of what are termed urgent rates y
For instance, If you require to COM
municate with subscriber promptly
by paying three times the amount OF
the ordinary rate your call takes prec'
edence over the ordinary message. In
Great Britain a toll line can only be
held for six minute period, when
the line must be relinquished, restric-
tlon which only ii government depart
lnent would dare to enforce and which
would not be tolerated by the business
men Of this country.
The contrast between the operators
Is most marked. I have been impress
cd with the intelligence, vim, snap, call
it what you will, Of the American op'
orator When I consider the number
Of calls they handle, their speed and
accuracy seem to me little short OF
marvellous I was astonished at the
length the companies go in Looking
after their physical welfare. After
looking through an exchange in Chlca
90 was shown over the operators re
firing rooms. | could not help con
trasting the pleasant surroundings
with those Of an exchange / visited II
Paris. There the switchboard was II
an extremely dirty condition, and The
switch. room had evidently not beer
cleaned for days. No retiring or luncl
rooms were provided for the operators
who apparently were doing just al
they pleased. Some were reading, ant
some were INDUCING in animated con
versatioy, the answering Of calls being
quite a secondary consideration. Ii
Berlin, Stockholm and London the sur
roundings were certainly much better
but nothing to be compared with wha
saw In Chicago, and the operating
was terribly slow. I attribute this dlf
ference to the fact that, whereas Il
America the operators position and &C
vancement depend upon her ability, /
Europe the operators, being a part
the civil service, cannot be discharge
and thus, having obtained n positio
for life, have no further incentive an
rapidly absorb the we'll known merit
Of that department.
AS far as my Investigations 80, til
telephone systems in this country al
managed along commercial lines. Kate
are fixed with regard to the actual COS
Of giving service, improvements al
adopted as soon as their efficiency Ia
been demonstrated, and plant whlcl
owing to improvements in the art, ha
become obsolete Is at once dlscarde'
This Is far from being the case in FL
rope. There the business is conducte
by methods that are neither pract1c
nor commercial. Considerations whie
are quite foreign to the business ent'
In. Rates are fixed without regard
the factors which should govern Their
For instance, in Switzerland the san
rate is charged In Davos, a city
5000 Inhabitants, as in Zurich, wi
100000 inhabitants. The tendency
also very great to oppose any improv
ment or any change which tends
make additional expenditure necessar
49, 4f,sfe $bs- rat