Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-31
CONSOLIDATION
OF Augusta Office Of the
Western Union
With New England Telephone
And Telegraph Company.
Change will Become Operative on
Sept. i-.MgT. Walsh to Retire.

The operation of the Augusta Office
of the Western Union Telegraph Co,
beginning Sept. !, will be assumed by
the New England Telephone q Tele-
graph Co., ard the office handled as
jointly operated office at the present
quarters at 1S6 Water street This
change is in line with the policy of the
Western Union and the Bell Cempa-
MES In consolidating offices in such
places as can be done for the better
n1ent of the service of both It is the
local contamination of the idea Of
President Vail, widely published dur
ing the past year, for universal ser
vice; fer the making of broad high
way of communication.
The high standard of service main
taired by Manager William p Walsh
for Augusta people in the handling OF
telegraph business will be maintained.
Manager Edward l. Herbert of the
New England Telephone & Telegrap phi
Co. will have an expert operator, re-
Gently Of the Boston Office, as his as
slstart in charge OF the operation Of
the telegraph wires. Continuous f24-
hour} service. as has been maintained
in Augusta during the past year, will
be maintained in the future and an
attendant will also be on duty for the
public telephone pay station eontinu-
ously.
Not only does Augusta furnish ser
vice for Augusta people but, through
the joint arrangement in operation fof
several months past, other cities and
towns in this vicinity and as far dis
tant as Wateryille, Skowhegan and
Richmond are given telegraph ser
vice. at such times as the local Offices
may be closed by telephoning their
kilograms without any additional
charge above the regular telegraph
rate. Or by fling them at the LEGAL tel
ephone office. This latter arrangement,
recently inaugurated. is planned tc
be extended as rapidly as possible.
Manager William p Walsh of the
Western Union carries with hirn, in
his retirement from the Augusta Of
flee, the best wishes of host OF
friends ard acquaintance made in the
rs years he has been manager of the
local office. Close application to duties
with the best interests of the patrons
and the company in mind, has won
for him the commendatien of The bus
mess men of this vicinity and of the
officials Of the company he has Sc
long served With but little absence,
either or account Of Illness or pleasure
he hes we'll earned the rest which he
viii take before entering on a new po-
sition.
Mr.. Walsh has been manager of the
Augusta Office of the Western Union
from 1883 to the present time and pre-
yious 70 that had charge Of branch
Offices at the Augusta House and State
House when Frank \. Mlnsey. now
millionaire magazine publisher. was
manager II the Western Union in this
city. Ic was working under Mr.. Mum
sey during the exciting count-oHt days
at the close Of the Garcelon admins
tration and had become manager of
the local Office when the late James G
Blaine WAS nominated for the Presi-
dency Mr.. Walsh states that during
the Blaine campaign he received he
tween 1000 and COCO kilograms Of con,
graduation in connection with Mr.
Blaine's nomination and on the nigh
of election. when the early returns
seemed to MITIGATE that Mr. Blaine haG
been elected. He has in his possession
as treasured mementoes Of those days
a. set of Blaine's works containing the
autogra phi signature of the great
statesman.
Mr.. Walsh has already had offers Of
positions in several places in Maine
and Massachusetts, but has not yet de-
cide6 which one of them he will ac
cent