Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-05-20

Is No Longer a Luxury But a Real
Necessity in Every Community.
GREAT IMPROVEMENTS MADE
In Recent Years, Enlarge The Scope and Ser.
vice Of The Telephone.

The Record-Appeal of Ludington.
Michigan, in special industrial
edition. in speaking of the installation
of new telephone switch board in
that city by the Western Electric
Company has an interesting apprecia-
tion of the telephone as public
utility. and deals with the many uses
of telephone. 1t says:
The telephone has long passed the
stage when it was luxury to be en-
joyed by the well to do and has be-
come a necessity not only to the pubic
institutions and enterprises but to the
home as well. The telephone of TODAY
is a servant to the city and the people
and a very useful servant it is. Every
building is equipped with telephones
which are ALWAYS busy taking care OF
the city affairs We find them in all
the departments of the city hall, in
the fire department S quarters. in the
schools. and hospitals, the police de-
partment. and in the Office of the
water and light companies and these
public institutions would be at sea if
their telephone connection were of an
hour. While the city finds 1t an
absolute necessity. the average citizen
finds it Just as essential to his welfare.
A few years ago if we found it neces-
sarv to call a physician 1t meant
walk of often mile or two. If he
was not in when we got there IL meant
another trip TO some other physician,
Today we reach his residence by phone
in few seconds and # he is out we
call up another one In the same length
of time, thus saving valuable time
and allowing us TO remain at home.
We find we need something from the
store or market In hurry and still
cannot find time to 90 for it, With
out phone we have 70 get along
without it. but with one we can call
up and have the goods delivered to us
without losing snv time. In case of
rain or bad weather the telephone
proves to be the housewives best
friend. One woman in speaking of
her telephone calls it her friend on
the WALL Our most distant friends
are always within call, in case of need
they can be summoned at a minutes
i notice. As social aid the telephone
is societys best friend. Every day in
vitations are issued over the phone
and arrangements made for these
delightful informal parties and
gatherings. Without a telephone these
little informal affairs would be
difficult.
The business man already knows the
value of telephone to him and it is
not question of having a telephone
but reliable telephone that interests
him. May important deals are now
closed over the telephone and import
ant matters involving thousands of
dollars are decided after a conference
or the phone between two men who
may be at the time hundreds of miles
apart A reliable telephone and good
service are necessary then. For public
convenience the telephone companies
now days have an information
bureau which tells you practically
ANYTHING YOU want to know. Every
question imaginable from what time
is it, please?" to "How did the game
come out?' is answered each day.
This is indeed great benefit to any
city.
The additions of the farmers lines
will not only be of great advantage to
the farmers but will also increase the
business of the city as we'll Only In
recent years has the farmer seen the
advantage of telephone line to MIN.
As business proposition he finds that
the telephone pays for itself in a very
short time bv enabling him to catch
the market at 'hightide. $50 to speak.
and not TO drive to town with a load
of produce to find that the market has
dropped since his neighbor went. Ii
is now but minutes work to phone
to the city. obtain the market price of
produce and even make the sale. If
the market is right he can then deliver
his produce at the price agreed upon.
The weather reports can be had by
the use of the phone. and other IN
formation essential to his welfare
obtained on short notice. Socially the
phone is great help to the farmer;
In cases of emergencies, such a. fre.
accidents and burglaries. its value can
hardly be estimated.
Continued on naCe fhraa