The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-10-13

connection and ring a party. Z
Billings can now boast Of having the
latest and highest type Of equipment
known to the telephone art, of any
town in the United States. The win
ming point OF the service over the
manual system is secrecy of conversa-
ton. Matters Of the most confident
nature can be discussed over the
phone without the slightest chance
of anyone hearing 1t, except the par
ties talking.
About eighteen months ago the com
pany seeing that Its present equip
ment was becoming inadequate ITO
handle the growing business at this
place, began a systematic investiga-
ton to ascertain whether 1t was adyis-
able to put in a switch board known
as a multiple manual type or an au-
tomato type.
Twenty cities were selected for in
vestigation ranging in locations from
Maine to California and Michigan to
Texas. "a letter Was addressed to- Sc
lected business firm in each city, the
chief point of which embraced two
vital questions, highly important to
the patron of the telephone, as fol
lows: y
Sa Questions Asked. y
LIST: Is the service of the automatic
telephone good and satisfactory to the
subscribers In your city?
End: II in your city there exists
a manual system, how do the two SER
vices compare in efficiency and which
do you use in preference?
Answers were received from all the
letters and strange to say not a sin
gle letter was received that did not
speak in the highest and most favor
able terms of the automatic system.
The management OF the company,
recognizing that whatever system
and equipment was installed would
have to be paid in coin of the realm,
decided to- investigate further as to
adopt the automatic meant d~iscarding
the present type Of telephones In use.
The Investment in these was large
and they are the type and standard
used on the multiple manual switch.
board. 4.&sS 3sss
About q year ago a second letter
was written to the manager OF auto
matte plants In thirty-fve cities Of the
United States and covering the entire
county from east to west and north
to south.
These letters embraced the salient
points Of these questions: X
LIST: How do cases OF trouble
compare with manual equipment?
~ End: y II you have competition are
you successful in holding your bust
ness and getting new business?
Bird: 1s your system increasing the
number Of subscribers over what you
had when first installed?
18th: II you were Installing a new
plant would you with your present
knowledge and experience buy the au-
tomato OF manual type?
The replies received from every let
ter written were unanimously in favor
OF the automatic or all points inquired
about and in a number of the compa-
MES addressed, they had exchanges
In their system operating. the manual
type, SO the comparisons were made.
under the most favorable conditions.
A number OF. the companies had In
stalled an automatic exchange q num-
berSof years ago and after experience
with 1t from an operating standpoint,
as we'll as a business getter, they had
added this type to other exchanges
In their system.
AS soon as the plant is in smooth
running order, it is the intention of
the management to hold a reception
at its exchange building, due notice of
which will be given and a cordial in.
vitation will be extended to the pub
lie generally to call and inspect the
working Of the central office equip
ment. al ~ ~