Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-10-18

calls were received and during one
particular hour from 8 to 10 "a. N. 4 st
was found that 1877 local calls had
Ibeen taken care Of. ss..55.
EADs IN TOLLS . ...s.5.
The New London Milling Company
is the leader in the use Of the long
distance wires. During the period from
July 81 to August 81 OF this year this
local firm used the long distance wires
some $50 times that is rs times day.
The Gamble Robinson Company ranks
second in toll use. Is. r.. .@.S 4. =*= *
IS # THE SWITCHBOARD
Have you ever wondered how call
was taken care Of and your party on
the line secured for you? 1t would be
an interesting visit at the switch board
to find out same. Let us take an ex-
ample. - 80: .s~.s,..: !. = :
Bill wants to call his best friend.
He removes receiver from its hook.
That gives central a signal indicating
that: Bills phone number is calling.
She quickly grasps what is called the
cord and plug and inserts it in a round
hole in the switchboard. This hole is
called q "jack." By inserting the plug
in the jack she has connected Bills
phone with her receivers and the
switchboard. She inquiries as to the
number Bill desires. Bill says 4S2-W
''PLEASE." The operator takes the
partner plug to the one in Bills jack
and inserts it in jack No. 482. She
then grasps the ringing key marked
w and thus the phone of Bills "best
friend" is connected with his.
There are six sections to the switch
board. Each has Is cords and plugs
and can thus accommodate fifteen calls
at one time. During the busy morning
hours practically all Of the Is cords
and plugs are in constant use every
minute. The w, R, and M numbers
are found on what are called the ring
ing keys.
COULD YOU DO IT?
There are total of 900 jacks on the
switchboard. These are all memori-
Zed by the operators. When a signal
shows down the last section Of the
board, the operator at the first Sec
ton cannot see the number but out
Of the corner of her eye can locate it
and knows what number it should
have. She knows the position Of ev-
cry one of the 920 jacks and without
seeing the number can tell by its po-
sition the number.
THE SIGNALS
There are two signals to each call.
Bill gave one signal and if SHE an
swers there will appear another sig
nal directly beneath his on the
switchboard. The operator then
knows they are connected and con-
yersing. When either signal disap-
pears the operator knows that one or
the other has hung up the receiver
and the conversation has apparently
ceased.
On the switchboard a red mark in
dicates discontinued phone and a
yellow mark that of a changed phone
number. ~ r
Rural calls are taken care of by a
special operator. There are four
boards which are used for long dist
ance or toll calls.
THE FIRE CALL
The fire call is interesting. A party
calls up and informs the operator Of
fire at such residence or place.
The operator Immediately turns the
call over to the Chief Operator or her
assistant. The chief or assistant then
goes to the special fire alarm box and
rings the phone in the power house.
The special fire apparatus is also
set in motion. This rings every phone
in the homes of the firemen. Five short
rings are given. This ring does not
tell him where the fire is but is only
an alarm that he must hurry to the
fire hall. When the call at the power
house is answered the location of the
fire is given the party there.
THE REST ROOM
During the fifteen minute rest in
each shift the operator retires to the
Rest Room. Here chairs and seating
facilities are provided and literature
of various kinds. A cabinet contain
ing dishes and cooking utensils are
used to prepare meals for those who
wish to do So