Evening journal., 1919-10-20
AUTOMATIC PHONES
ARE COHING BACK
Bell Company to Gradually
Change Present System
in Wilmington
WILL NOT REDUCE
FORCE OF WORKERS

The automatic telephone system is
coming back to Wilmington. but this
time under the management Of The
Delaware a Atlantic Telephone Com
pany, commonly known as the Bell,
Tie automatic system will be install
led gradually and it viii be many
months before it fully supplants the
present system. which is known as the
manual. Announcement was made some
days ago that the system Will be in
stalled in Philadelphia and word has
Just been received that Il viii be
substituted in Baltimore
Speaking Of the change here. Z. r..
Bardo. district manager Of the Bell
Company. who has his Offices in tile
Bel building. at sixth and Shiplcy
streets. said today:
"Net, we shall change 90 the auto
matte telephone here in Wilmington.
The change however, viii be gradual.
BY that ! mean we shall replace the
manual type of phone with auiOmatics
as the manual phones wear out. We
also shall install automatics In such
places where new phones are 10 be put
in The aut0matics, however VIII not
be. installed where there are numerous
long distance calls. nor In small country
exchanges where party lines predoml-
nate"
Asked what had been done with the
old automobile telephone central at
seventh and Orange streets, which was
bought out 10y the Bell, Mr.. Bardo re-
piled. laconically: "Junked.' lie added
there was not much 10 the plant any
how. and the total number OF iis sub
scribers throughout the city was only
few hundred. The Bell company to-
day has some 1900 stations In and
about Wilmington.
u is further probable. but not certain,
that an automatic dial will be placed
upon the present manual telephones in
some instances. this utilizing the pres
ent instruments but Transforming them
into aulOmatics.
Contrary TO The first impressions the
Introduction of lh3 automatic system
/ will not eliminate the services Of the
"hello girls" nor viii % reduce The
number of employees. The coming of
the new equipment Will not make 10
necessary for telephone operators 90
! seek employment elsewhere. On lhe
Iconlrary. while operators may be grad
ually eliminated. on local calls, there
will be a continued demand for opera
tors for ton and long distance calls
for Information work, FOR special traf'
/ lo and other kinds on calls
Another reason why introduction o
the automatic viii have little or no ef
feet upon the number OF telephone
l0perators is that the force Of "hcli,
girls" Is constantly changing. Most %
these girls. Mr. Bardo remarked today
remain IN the service only a shor
while. Then they marry. lie esti
mated the number of hello girls VIII
marry as higher. in percentage 10 ih
humber employed. than school teachers
Should the company, therefore, desir
90 reduce its force. 70 SIMPLY would
cease taking on new employees and th'
constant leaving uf those already EN-
| ploycd would bring the number 20 lh'
required level
we are prepared 10 guarantee any
% our operators permanent positions.
said Mr. Blrio. "and we viii Away.
have an opening for girls who Wish 10
work with US
lie also pointed out that a greater
number OF electricians and mechanics
would DE needed 90 operate the autou-
matte system lhan are NOW required.