The Detroit times., 1909-12-13
BUSINESS
GROWS RAPIDLY
Michigan Co. Explains II Was Un-
able To Keep Pace With Expan-
sion, Hence Impaired Service.

In an investigation OF the telephone
service of Detroit. the aldermen com
posing the public utilities and ordin-
ance committees OF the common coun-
Gil were invited by the Michigan State
Telephone Co. TO inspect the plant OF
the latter Saturday afternoon. This
invitation was given by General Man
ager b. w. Trafford, of the company,
the purpose being to show the repre-
sentatives of the city just what the
company has been up against on ac-
count OF extraordinary conditions aris-
ing in this city.
Detroit now has more telephones
Leaving the Home sytem out OF con-
sideration entirely and considering
only the Bell instruments-in proper
ton TO its size than any other large
city in the United States, except San
Francisco. The increase In phone
usage has come here more suddenly
than in other cities. coincident with
the rapid growth Of the city. so that
Il has taxed the ability OF the tele-
phone company TO keep up with II.
1t Is admitted that telephone SER
vice has been bad. Now, the tele-
phone company contends. II is good
again, in fact, better than In any other
large city.
During 1909, the Michigan State
Telephone Co. has spent $650,000 In
improvements and extensions In It's
buildings and switchboards alone.
During 1910 IL is expected that $780,
900 will be spent In the same way.
Previous 10 1908. the greatest In
crease in telephones in Detroit In any
year was approximately 5000 instru-
ments. Last year 5000 was the net
gain. For 1909, the record of net in
crease Will total 10000 instruments.
the month of November setting new
30-day record with |. $40 new telephone
connections being made.
There are now more than $4,000
Bell telephones in Detroit. And 1t is
notable. further. that Detroit people
use their phones oftener than the citi-
zens OF other cities. The average for
the whole system is about 10 calls per
day for each phone. In New York the
average is only about five calls per
day. That is one element that helped
to cause the slump IT. service
IT was naturally figured that the in
crease In phones. coming mostly In
the outer portions of the city. would
day. the residences naturally having
fewer calls than business places. But
II has not worked ont this way 1t
was during the period when this great
increase OF business was running
ahead of the efforts of the manage
ment 10 provide more switchboard ia
cilities that the service fell away. The
beginning of this period was almost
coincident with the opening OF the
baseball season Both telephone COM
panies gave baseball returns. Toward
the close of the season this service
nearly swamped the exchanges and
during the worlds series il fairly over
whelmed the service at some periods.
In consequence, this baseball service
will be given up. in all probability, b.
the Michigan State Co. next year.
AS an evidence OF the desperate eff
forts made to accommodate the de-
mands of the subscribers and the in
crease OF the service. the aldermen
were shown that extensions were
made In seven Of the nine local ex-
changes. and an entirely new ex-
change. the Walnut, was built. The
trunk facilities; that Is, the number OF
lines connecting the exchanges, were
found inadequate and have been
greatly increased AT big expense In
money.
This process Of enlargement is by
no means complete; an order has just
been placed for additional switchboard
apparatus to the amount OF 100000
which will be installed as soon az pos
sible. And this is but the beginning Of
the 1910 program OF expansion. IL Is
the belief of the Michigan State Tele-
phone Co. management that Detroit
will soon be the greatest telephone
using city in the country for its size.
Wages of telephone operators have
been increased during the year, while
the wages OF linemen and other en-
ploves were increased Dec. |. the in
crease all along the line being about
10 per cent
There are - aldermen, thiId or
the council membership. in the joint
committee which is investigating tele-
phone matters. Aid. Albert \. Allan
is chairman. The visit to the Michigan
State main exchange was made be-
tween and o'clock Saturday after
noon The Home Telephone exchanges
will also be visited. This committee
will take up the city's claim TO con-
Quits and other property of the dis
solved Peoples Telephone Co. and
also take up the mayors plan for a
city and county telephone system.