Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-12-23
ENGINEER CALLAHER MAKES
REPORT.
To Public Service Commission ON
Telephone Service At Charles
Charles Town.

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w. A. Gallaher, Assistant Engineer
for the Public Service Commission of
the state, has completed his report of
visit he made to the county the first
week in December for the purpose of
obtaining data for the information of
the Commission which will have to de-
termlne whether the jefferson County
Telephone Company is to be allowed
10 increase its present rates for SER
vice. The report not only gives de-
scrlption of the oOmpany's exchanges
and pole lines, but makes recommen-
cations for the purpose of improving
the service, and tells what he thinks
OF the service now being rendered.
| In regard to the equipment of the
exchanges, Mr.. Gallaher pronounced
the switchboard in the Charles Town
exchange in very good condition.
| Those in both the Harpers Ferry and
Shepherdstown exchanges are old and
of an obsolete type. These should be
replaced with better equipment.
| As to the quality of service render
ed. 1t can be said that the local SER
vice in all three of the towns is good.
This opinion was arrived at after in
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business and professional men who
were subscribers and also by the writ
er himself having made a number of
test calls throughout all the exchan-
ges. In making practically all these
test calls it was noted that the opera
tors answered within five to six Sec
onds and the lines were perfectly
clear-there being no foreign noises
due to induction, grounds, crossed
wires, etc.
| 1t was found, however, that the SER
vice on the country lines was by no
means as good as it should be, due to
the following causes:
| Too many stations on the various
party lines. Failure of operators to
exercise sufficient care in executing the
various rings when there are a large
number of combinations of long and
short rings used on one party line.
Failure of subscribers on the party
lines to keep the receivers of their in
struments hung up.
| Tendency of some of the subscrib-
ers on party lines to do eaves-drop-
ping and to converse with neighbors
on the same line unnecessarily long.
! Mr.. Gallaher recommends that more
modern switchboards be installed in
all the company's exchanges.
That additional circuits be construct
ed SO that the number of subscribers
on all party lines as far as practical
BILE be reduced to eight or less; how
ever, never more than ten on any line.
That the trees on the country lines
be trimmed and kept so at all times
so as to provide ample clearance.
1t is believed that if the company
complies with the above the class of
service rendered will be as good as
can be expected, provided the operat-
ing room is properly managed and this
can only be accomplished with the CO.
operation of the subscribers.
! A number of the complaints made
by the subscribers were of the dis
courtesy on the part of the telephone
management and the operation. How
ever, on the other hand the manager
and the operators claim that the sub
scribers have been equally discourte-
Gus. This practice of discourtesy on
either side is heartily disaproved of
since unconsciously on the part of the
operators perhaps it is sure to create
partially in maintaining good service
to all subscribers.
The subscribers will be able to
greatly improve the service by making
all calls as recommended by the tele-
phone company in their General Di-
rections headed "Good Service"