The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-20
Automatic System Where There
Are No Operators.
ORIGINAL COST IS $500, 600
After. That Dividends Como
Quickly, Says Promoter.
Promises Rates Is Per Cent
Less Than Present System.

More than one hundred Topeka bus
mess men are back of a movement
looking towards the installation Of
municipality owned automatic telephone
system In Topeka. These men signed
a petition calling for such plant.
Harold D. Stroud, representing the
Automatic Electric company O. Chi
cago. an expert In the telephone busi-
ness, is in Topeka in the interests of
the plan, which he declared will be
undoubtedly put into operation.
The automatic telephone is nothing
new. 1t Is now in operation in IS cities
in this country, and IN scores Of cities
of other countries. Operators are done
away with entirely, which lowers the
cost OF operation. The subscriber
makes his own call by means Of a dial:
In speaking of the plan for Topeka,
Mr.. Stroud said today: MY faith in
the unqualified success Of an automatic
municipality owned telephone plant in
Topeka is based largely on the success
of the Topeka public utilities-the
plant-and the confidence of the peo-
pie in the city government. There is
no reason why this could not be han
died as effectively as any other public
utility.
II expect to be in Topeka. perma-
matte telephone plant will be estab-
lished in Topeka. have found only
one man who would not sign the pc
tfti0n favorfng the system, and he was
under obligation to the Bell company.
Cost Is 500, 600.
MY idea is to make Topeka demon
strate how cheaply good service cal be
phones is 100000. which would be
raised by an issue of ~ or per cent.
bonds. The Introduction Of the auto
matte telephone would exclude the
question OF dual service. The superior
service and lower rates would be foo
hard test for a manual plant. There
Is no shrinkage in the investment-no
underwriting profits.
The rates would be at least Is Der
cent. less than the present rates at the
start. Any surplus goes to the city
treasury and admits Of further reduce
ton later. There would be no party
lines except for two part residence
lines. Party lines are conducive to poop
service. 49,
Time calls are answered automa-
ticany. When a person desires to
know the time of day he turns to a
certain number. There f. an auto time
clock that works on the photograph
principle that answers the call.
In Other Cities. sN
The automatic system is not new.
II mas been In operation Is years in a
NUMBER OF American cities Including
Los Angeles. where $4,000 phones are
IN use; Grand Rapids, Mich. where
there are $4,000 phones. Lincoln and
Hastings. Neb., where they have en-
tirely displaced the manual service.
ana other cities. The system il univer-
sally adopted in New Zealand ana Aus
tral1a, is in operation In twenty cities
OF Germany, is being installed in five
cities by the British government. and
In many other countries.
Il expect to be in Topeka perman-
entity. 1 do not think there Il any
here.
Pay Big Dividends.
II Grand Rapids can give three dol
lars for business and two dollars FOR
residence phones with no party lines
and pay dividend Of $136,OOO a wear
Tor ID years. there il no REASON WIN
the city OF Topeka cannot do even bet
ter with a municipality owned plant.
the operation Of the plant would be
conducted by an expert. The service
il quick.
With the automatic phone the cost
OF handling traffic does not increase
with the increasing load. It is canabie
OF handling an overload in case of fire
or accident. 1t will handle calls a.
Iast as the lines are released. It can
handle the maximum load at anv time
day or night.
Il expect to install a demonstration
system the later part of July SO that
the people of Topeka will have an op-
portunity to see how it works It win
be installed in some building in the
down town district
mi lMonAl Il nPPPa-n