The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-07-08
The Growth of the Telephone
A New Switchboard for Bar Harbor.

The Growth of the Telephone
A New Switchboard for Bar HarbOr.
Bar Harbor should benefit greatly by
the improvements which have just beer
made in it's telephone facilities. A com
plete switchboard equipment has beer
installed by the Western Electric Com
pany, which manufactures all the ap
paratus used by the entire Bell system
in the local exchange of the New Eng
land Telephone and Telegraph Company
The new board represents the finest ane
latest in the development Of telephone
apparatus, and makes Bar Harbor's
eouipment second to none of it's size II
the country.
Nothing is so essential to city of the
Importance of Bar Harbor as adequate
and up-to-date telephone service. The
fame of Bar Harbor as recreation spot
reaches every part of the country, anc
the local residents are making no mis-.
take in keeping abreast of the march OF
improvements. Prosperity follows in the
wake of advancement. Railroads, high
ways, telegraphs and telephones all fur
nish good examples of this. The most
striking object-lesson in the utility OF
scientific improvement is the phone, be-
cause of it's comparatively brief exist
ence.
Those who are accustomed to the use
of the telephone in their everyday life
do not always realize that it was but
generation ago when as new Invention
the phone was sneered at-called an i'm
practicable dream of the inventor. 1t
was in 1876 that Alexander Graham Bell
and his new instrument made their bow
| before an incredulous public. The people
stared at the thing some laughed and
others wondered, when it was put on ex-
bibition at the Centennial exposition in
Philadelphia.
/ Of course the telephone was bound to
share in the development and prosperity
of all American industries. Ii 1T had
kept pace with the march of this ma
TONS population it would have been hail
ed as a successful nvention-merely
that. But its growth so far outstrips
| the increase in the number of the nation S
| inhabitants as to make it unique and re-
markable.
Without exchange facilities this ire
mendous expansion of the phone indus
try would not have been possible. The
development of the switchboard was nee
essary for the growth of the telephone.
The newly installed equipment in Bar
! Harbor shows how marvellous creation
! Of inventive genius the up-to-date switch
board really is.
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
With the introduction Of common
battery telephone system in this ex-
change it is important, in order that sub
scribers may obtain the most efficient
service from the use of this system, that
they understand how to use their instru-
ments.
To assist subscribers in this respect we
take occasion to call attention to few
important features in connection with
the operation of the common battery
system.
In calling the central Office it is neces-
sary only to remove the receiver from
the hook. This action lights lamp in
front of the operator and signals her to
answer.
Do not hang up the receiver until
through talking, as doing SO will signal
the operator to disconnect you. If during
the conversation you wish to look up
some information or call someone else to
the telephone, allow the receiver to hang
! by its cord or stand it on end.
| To gain the attention OF the operator
at any time during a connection move
the hook up and down five or six times
slowly and repeat until the operator
answers. This action signals the opera
tor by flashing light in front of her.
If the hook is moved rapidly no signal
whatever will be given to the operator.
When the operator is ringing some
other party on the line, or when line is
being tested, subscribers will occasion
ally hear slight taps on the bell. These
should be disregarded and subscribers
should answer only clear and distinct
ring.
Do not remove the receiver from the
hook until the bell stops ringing.
Do not call by name. Always use the
latest directory and call by number. Ar
Information" desk is maintained where
list Of subscribers is kept and to which
all calls by name will be referred. When
telephone exchange becomes so import
ant as to warrant the new system, it is
obviously no longer possible to rely or
the memory Of the operators as to the
correct call numbers.
We desire to make our service the best
possible. You can assist US by observing
the above suggestions.
You are cordially invited to visit oul
central office. We will gladly explain
the working system to you. Bar Harbol
Record.
CLUBBING OFFERS. The following clubbing