The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-11
Phone SERVICE
UNDER SCRUTINY
Corporation Commission Makes
Preliminary Examination of
Local Conditions.
OFFICIALS PROMISE A
Will Bring Local Service Up to
Highest Possible Point
Of Efficiency.

Preliminary investigation OF the tele-
phone service in Richmond by the State
Corporation Commission has been in
progress for the past three weeks
conferences have been held with the
company officials, in which assurances
were given that the service within the
next few weeks would be brought up
to standard as high as any In the
United States. II this is not done. the
commission will take formal stems
against the company, having already
gathered data to show that the service
rendered here recently has not been
up to the general standard of efficiency
FOLLOWING receipt of number Of
complaints of delay IN getting an OPP
orator, of breaks during conversations
and OF reports of telephones busy"
and "out of order" by operators at
times when they were available for
USE Judge William +. Rhea, of the
Corporation Commission. who was
handling the matter sent Bailn Sam
uel w Bigger on an exploring tour
with instructions to use the telephone
at various points throughout the city,
keeping record OF the time required
to answer calls, and in other ways as
certain just what sort of service the
general public was receiving.
VIII Improve Conditions.
Several weeks ago General Ira ffic
superintendent T. Corrigan of Baiti-
more. came TO Richmond and conferred
with Judge Rhea assuring him that
whatever was necessary would be done
to give efficient service. More recently
Judge Rhea has been in conference
with c. II. Weber. division manager
Judge Rhea stated last night that
Int
from authentic complaints in hand, it
appeared that IN many instances there
was too much delay in getting an OPP
orator in response to the first call He
said that he has personally inspected
the local plant of the telephone com
pany, finding 1t first class in every re-
spect. The equipment seems all that
could be desired
Telephone officials state that the in
curry came at most unfortunate
time the intense hot weather Of last
week not only wearing out many op-
orators, but placing patrons In an ir-
ritabie frame of mind. Almost daily
thunderstorms, throwing from 800 to
100 telephones out of use. added to the
difficulties, and the records show that
on July and the three days preced-
ing. when the heat was most intense
and just when Mr. Bigger was making
his inquiries. there was an abnormal
HuInUer OF telepnOne calls.
Varies at Different Hours
Three times in the past three months.
Judge Rhca said. he had had the matter
UP with the telephone officials, the spe-
otal complaints being delay in answer
ing calls. and Of insufficient service at
certain hours-noticeably from to S
+. NJ AS general rule the rcports
show better service on business tele
phones than Is given on those in resi- :
dences.
Judge Rhea said that he had found
the officials of the company DESTROYS of
investigating and rectifying all com
plants and as eager rs he was to Sc
cure first-class service. They invited
every criticism and promised to look
into the matter thoroughly, with n view
or bringing the service in Richmond
UP to the very best standards of tele-
rhone service in this country II is
not probable that the Corporation Com
mission will take further action in the
matter until time has been given the
company to improve matters.
II VIII be recalled that the CITY
Council last spring appointed a special
committee TO investigate the telephone
service. After many announcements OF
its meeting night in the press and
otherwise, not single complainant ap-
peared. all OF the citizens present at
the meeting indicating that they con-
Sfdered the service here as a general
thing excellent. and far superior to
that In many cities In which they had
business connections