Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-28
QUICKER To CO
THAN TELEPHONE;
WIRES TOO SLOW
kilograms for Serum Failed to.
Get Results So Messenger
Caught Train but He arrived.
Too Late,

SPECIAL CONSEQUENCES TO MORNING JOURNAL
Washington. Feb. 27.-Government
ownership advocates are much dis
turbed over the amazing story told
recently by George Harvey showing
specifically and in detail the utter de-
moralization of the telephone and tel
egraph services under the control of
the postoffiCe department A specific
instance of the utter failure of the
telegraph, the telephone and the mail
service in a single combined endeavor
to get communication in a life-and-
death effort. presents case that the
political master general will have diff
fiCulty in explaining away. Here is
the story, boiled down;
A physician in Philadelphia had a
patient suffering from a disease which
he believed a certain serum would
cure but the serum must be secured
from a physician in New York-a
physician whose name had been in
the city telephone directory for ten
years.
At 10 o'clock a. m. Thursday the
Philadelphia doctor sent rush"
telegram to the New York doctor ask
ing that the serum he sent. When the
serum had not arrived on Friday
in a long distance telephone call for
the New York doctor, and explained
the urgency of the call to the tele-
phone agent After long delay the
information was given that there was
no such person as called for in the
New York telephone directory. As a
matter of fact the New York doctors
name was in the directory with his
phone number correctly given. The
Philadelphia physician insisted that
his name was in the directory and
that he had a phone but he could get
no service until Saturday afternoon.
In the meantime, however, the tele-
gram that was sent Thursday morn
ing was delivered in New York late
Friday afternoon. Immediately the
New York doctor put up the serum,
personally addressed the package and
personally mailed it, with postage pre-
paid and special delivery stamp af-
fixed and the word urgent written
on the package. He mailed it at .
p. m. Friday. When the telephone
service finally made the connection
between the two physicians offices
afternoon. the package had
not yet arrived at its destination. The
New York doctor then prepared a
senger with it from New York to
Philadelphia, and it arrived two hours
ahead Of the special delivery package.
but one hour after the patient had
died.
1t used to be the practice of tele- |
phone companies to place IN their ad- !
the advice. Don't go, !
phoneP The experience of the New
York and Philadelphia doctors in this |
case Indicates that under government !
it would be well to
change the advice to read, Don't |
telegraph, or telephone or use special
delivery, but 20"
1t is about ninety miles from New
York to Philadelphia, and there is an
hourly train service. Utilizing to the
fullest extent possible the combined
telegraph, telephone and mail service, |
it took fifty-seven hours to get the |
needed medicine from New |
York TO Philadelphia. The record is |
not calculated to increase public de- |
mand for government ownership or |
operation of any public utility from |
which the public desires service.
journal Want Ads bring results.