The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-05-28

who hitherto may have somewhat
neglected them, will help him to do
work enabling him to apply technical
knowledge in IL way which will most
pleasantly increase the earnings of
his system. Perhaps, aside from re-
ferrlng to common experience, which
has done much along this line, it is
well to point out thatthe true signifi-
canoe of Mr.. Fowle's article is empha-
sized in a statement contained in the
widely different article on cable con-
struction by MT. C.Toepleman. The
latter gentleman was not lOngin find
ing out that the improvements in his
plant which made it possible to give
uniformly good service were pri-
mary factors not onlyin the develop
ment of his subscription list, but
were essential elements contributing
to an early increase of toll receipts
by no less an amount than sixty per
cent.
To the quite general advance in
toll rates for evening messages which
has been put in force in many parts
of the country there have been made,
as was to be expected, not infrequent
protests. There is too much of a ten
dency in some quarters to overlook
one of the reasons forsuch objections
which is absolutely valid and is init
mately associated with the technical
problems of transposition. We have
altogether too many local and farm
ers' lines over which, if connected to
toll lines, conversation is either rem
dered uncOmmerciai or comparative
ly difficult. owing to induction from
rent is turned on for the evening il
Elimination. Such service is worth less
than that given during the hours OF
daylight, and it is no wonder that
people object to paying an equal
price for it. Obviously the proper
way to cause protests partly founded
on this feature to die away lies in the
application of correct transpositions
calculations to the plant, rather thar
in an appeal to the charity of users
of the service.
Giving the subject of Mr.. Toeple
mans contribution further consider
alton in the issue of May 9th the edi
tor Of the Journal yays our towns
man the compliment to make thi
additional editorial comment:
Men in the field seem to hold tn
opinion that not a few OF the state
ments in Mr.. Toepleman's article OIL
cable plants for small towns, s,publish
ed last week, come very close to thei
own business. 1t was decidedly il
the way of being a home talk from
one manager to another, and ha
stimulated quite number of com
panies to look for results of ittl
higher type than they now secure.
There are managers who hav
formed the habit of sitting steadil
: in their chairs,in order that they ma
e be on hand to give ear to the fire
quent complaints, and mollify thei
. subscribers by a few gentle word
e from the man at the head of tn
: office Such manager is likely t.
fancy that his own voice on sue
occasions is more effective than tina
l.. of the chief operator. s. 1t seems to b
one of the most natural things in tn
: world that these complaint-answel
ing managers will have at the viii
chiefs table a good theorist who
weak on inspection. and would neve
+ think of "nagging" the troublemal
to use the term he applies to th
exercise OF q reasonable supervision
The effect ofsuch managerial polio
in the long run is that the telephoT
company is not taken very seriousl
in the community. No matter whs
q valuable sentimental assets it po
sessed at the outset, it must win an
hold the respect of it's patrons and
the men whose financial strengt
should naturally lead them to su
port it by their investments. To
'e this it must constantly give eviden
not only OF skill in conducting tt
ordinary business routine, but
handling the engineering problem
which naturally belong to so techr
cal an enterprise as the supplying
telephone service.
While we now have literally hu
dreds of small systems which ha
been immeasurably benefited by t
consideration of the questio
brought out in Mr.. ToeplemaI
article, and the rebuilding of th'
plants so that they represent t
most advanced practice in constrt
| tion and operation, there are an ecu
| number whose officers who have iu
begun to consider this questic
They are by no means sure that
would be good business to make t
additional investment demanded
such a policy, and welcome all 81
gestions which will help them to col
to right conclusions. Probably
y shall see in the next two wears