The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-03-22
IMPROVED PHONE
SERVICERESULToF
CONFERENCE HELD
BY COMPANY men
Northwestern Telephone Company
Experts Point Out to Rural Com
panies Many Defects.
sOFFER TO SEND MAN TO
= 60 OVER RURAL SYSTEMS
inexperienced Men and Faulty Con-
= struction Blamed for Many of
the Shortcomings.


One of the most profitable meet
ines for Bemidji and vicinity in q
long time was that held yesterday
afternoon in the Commercial club
rooms by Representatives Of the
Northwesterns Telephone. company
and the rural telephone lines run
ming from Bemidji, the meeting be-
ing the. discussion of service and It's
Improvement.
For some time there has been crit1-
scism OF various nature over the ser
vice in general, some blaming the
North western office and in turn
blame was laid upon the rural COM
panies, and it was at the instance of
the Merchants Association commit
tee of the Commercial club that the
meeting was arranged, that the dif-
-ferences might be aired and remedial
measures taken. President Barker
Of the Commercial club was absent
from the city. He is" also president
of the Merchants association and
Secretary Sathre of the Merchants
association presided.
Experts are Present.
Representing I the Northwestern
company were F. E. Hannah of Du-
luth, district plant chief, w. H. Dean,
district traffic chief, and 4sJ. M.
Canon, manager Of the. Bemidji Of
flee. The rural line companies were
represented by their officers.
In substance, the meeting resolved
itself into general efficiency
meeting" in the course of which
many interesting phases were
brought out. The Northwestern dis
trict officials present are men long
in the telephone game, seasoned and
not an angle lacking in their cirri-
culeum and what they had to say
to the rural telephone officials was
in the most friendly spirit of help
fulness and so recognized by those
whom they sought to benefit. Many
of the things called to attention had
been entirely overlooked and the
summary of the meeting is to be i'm
proved service and the elimination
of many things that have been the
cause of most of the differences.
Important Defects.
For instance, loose telephone wires
and faulty connections we're men,
toned, and in this it was clearly
shown that in many instances lines
were connected in anything but a
proper manner, and the Northwest
ern men gave illustrations.
In several instances single lines
are used on rural systems and the
wire grounded instead of full metal
lie circuits. It was shown where wa
ter and ice would freeze, around the
ground rods, serious impediment
to proper service.
Again, on the rural lines compan-
les used various types of instruments
and equipment, nothing uniform, and
the effect has been as varied as the
classification.
Men Not Practical.
The question of care of the rural
plants and lines was another phase
broached by the Northwestern rep
resentatives, and it was admitted
that the rural companies had scarce
ly an experienced man in personal
charge. They usually hire some one
who is not experienced in telephone
construction and lack of knowledge
was the cause of much of the trouble,
the men not being practical.
Another thing, it was brought out
that in many, many instances the
lines were considered playthings and
alarm clocks by many and treated as
such Ignorance as to how to ring
properly on the rural lines was also
shown, and many other seemingly
minor details, all vital to good SER
vice we're brought up.
The result of the meeting was that
the Northwestern Telephone COM
pany offered to being an expert to
Bemidji to go over the rural compan-
les lines and plants with a member
of each company and point out the
defects and show the proper manner
of doing things to correct the faults,
and render this service for the farm
ers free. Such would be Of inesti-
mable value and clearly indicated
that the North western company was
anxious to cooperate in securing sat
isfactory service for all concerned.
NEW RESIDENTS
Mr.. and Mrs. w. A. Masten OF
Kennedy, Minn., have moved to this
city where they will make their
home. having located at 153 Mill
Park.