The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-02
Quarter Of : MiIlion for Tele-
phone Improvements.
Missouri and Kansas Com
pany's Work Here.
Big FORCE OF NINETY Men
Additions to Equipment and
Switchboard Efficiency.
Large Increase In Number Of
Calls Over Year 1919.

Improvements aggregating in cost q
quarter Of a million dollars are being
completed by the Missouri & Kansas
Telephone company in Topeka The
work was stsI ted las. May AMI Will
be entirely completed within ninety
days The Improvements for the bet
terment OF the system here are more
comprehensive than anything under
taken in Missouri and Kansas territory
with the possible exception Of Kansas
City, Mo-, where the traffic Is heavier
than at Topeka.
The first undertaking in the list Of
improvements was started last May.
It consisted of pulling down unsightly
poles In the business section of the
city and installing block cabling at q
cost Of $4,000. The cables are at
tached to the business building
usually above the second story-les-
SEEMING the fire risk. There is now no
network of wire to hinder the work
of the fire department.
New cables have been installed in
Highland Park and tributary leads
of $4,000. In Oakland $4,000 is be-
ing spent in installing new cables and
rebuilding all aerial leads. Along the
white way, from Railroad to Gordon
street, underground conduits have
been put in at a cost of $4,000. The
poles were taken down.
Improvements In Resident District
In the residence districts Of the city
$4,000 is being spent in improving
the service-a dollar here and a dollar
there. Terminals of the latest type
are being put in to replace those of
a less modern pattern. Distributing
wires are being replaced and resi-
dences rewired where there is a posi-
bility of lettering the service.
: The improvements are not being
Shawnee county two hundred and
sixteen miles of rural leads are being
overhauled-thisi is within q radius Of
about sixteen miles of Topeka. One
hundred miles have already been COW
cred by the wire men. General repair
work is being done. New poles are
being put in where required. and trees
trimmed in case they are interfering
with the wires.
For additional equipment in the
on jackson street $4,000 has been
spent. There are nine new positions
on the local switch board, three OF
which are being occupied by phone
girls at the present time. The inn
provements have been made with a
view to the growth Of the system in
the NEXT few years. There are four
additional positions at the toll switch.
A new toll chief operators desk has
been installed. There Is new Ferv-
tione, and a four position information
desk.
Now 1O3 Positions in Service.
There are now 103 local operators
in the service and twenty-five toll
operators. In the busy hours there
tons at the local boards.
Aside from the regular operators at
the local switch there are four super
visors. the chief operator. assistant
operator, and two information opera
tors Each supervisor is expected to
see to it that the girls in about nine
positions answer calls promptly and
are courteous.
At the observation board two experts
in operation observe the work OF the
operators. One ascertains whether or
not the girls on the local boerd are
doing their work properly and the
other keeps track of the work OF the
operators at the toll switch. The obser-
walton board, which was installed at
cost of $1,000, is connected with each
multiple. The operators are not aware
when their work is being observed.
The observers time the girls in answer
ing patrons Of the company. note the
language they use, etc.
school Room for Instruction.
The local Bell company is one concern
that pays girls to learn the business.
One Of the important improvements
room at q cost of $4,000. A 30-day
course in operating il offered and the
girls are paid q salary while they are
in training. model switch board
with FIVE local positions and one toll
pc sition enables the students to have
practical training. Calls are origina-
ted by the instructor which they mus.
answer in approved style. The equip
ment has been installed since the first
of December. Prior to that time the
girls got the theory Of the work, but
not so much actual operating experience.
They are now thoroughly trained before
they are allowed to take regular po-
sitions at the local or toll switch
boards. A competent instructor il at
the head Of the school. At the present
time there are but three girls in
training, but the number will be in
creased soon.
The school il a necessity as the
shafts of Cupid cause many a phone
girl to give up her pos1tion-in the
course of a year.
p. J. Ramsey, division plant super
intendent for the Missouri and Kansas
Telephone company with headquarters
at st. Joseph. Mo-, il In general charge
Of the Improvement work In Topeka.
He has under him force Of 30 men
According to A. J. Mackey. manager
at Topeka. there was an Increase at
Topeka Of about 20 per cent in phone
calls in 1913 over the previous year.
The day before Christmas the operators
handled more than 100000 calls-the
largest number In the history Of the
local ofilce- The normal number Of
calls il 75,000. There has been an in
crease In the toll business.
wild ANIMAL PICTURE
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