The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-12-06

4
the increase in population" Cold
stated, "but due in part to tins
changes in the habits Of people
who accepted the instrument as
as part Of everyday life instead
of a novelty" He observed that
first telephones in the country were
made and used exactly 100 years
after the idea was invented, the
wear Of 1776.
Gold said that the telephone CON-
panlSes used local personnel. In con-
nection with this he mentioned his
own uncle, who was a sort of tele-
phone pioneer in Key West and
added that telephone work was
closely tied up with members Of
all comm unities.
Key WesHs present count Of In.
stalled pholNes is $500 with . con.
siderable waiting list which will
be added as soon Is time and
material perm, ttsd. The staff. In
1918, had five .vnain operators.
This was inersa.sed TO ", then
with an additional five 10 handle
long distance service.
Cold told how the new building
addition was larger THAN the es-
tablished part because it had to
house the new dial equip ment. He
emphasized that the automatic In
stallation would not decreasse en-
ployment and that all the girls
who had been with the local COM
pany for sometime would be re-
tanned on full time. "There will I've
no dislocation of personnel" he>
underscored, because some of the
operators have wanted time off
and not such long hours. This takes
care Of the situation satisfactorily
all the way around"
He also said that working con.
ditions would be better with air
conditioning; that air conditioning
would also improve operations
since it would reduce moisture con-
tent and make repair work less
frequent. Open house with new
lounges for the workers, and other
improvements on display, will not
be held until a later date because
the old equipment has to be moved
out first.
In the open forum, Cold answer
ed questions about the new dial
system, saying that party lines
would remain party lines unless
for Especial reasons" and that ap-
plications were being handled as
rapidly as possible. Actual date for
completion of the over a million
dollar project viii be April /, due
to the number of outside hookups
which have to be finished and other
technical details ironed out. He
asked urgently that people refrain
from rushing to the telephone just
at midnight Saturday when the
new system switches over. please
wait until five minutes after
twelve" he requested, ito allow
time for the adjustment"
Instructions are for telephones
to listen for the dial tone before
spinning the digit disc. He said
that the five digits were put on
the phones because the company
knows Key West is growing and
as this occurs, the five digit dial
win allow for easy expansion with
very few changes.
In closing, Cold explained that
the automatic system would i'm
prove party line service because
rings could be perfectly timed. He
advised that in order to eliminate
nuisance for other people On the
lines, that q telephoner ring not
more than five times in waiting
for response, but also to hold on
that long. There's nothing more
exasperating than to answer a ring
only to find that the caller has
hung up without allowing enough
time for his party to get to the
telephone. On the other hand ring.
ing ten times is very trying on the
sharers Of q line. Just be moderate
and everyone win be happier with
the SYSTEM" Cold said.
Visiting Rotarians were z. H.
Lundy Of Eldora, Iowa: Everett II.
Hart Of Withersfield. Conn; Rich
ard c. Boucher Of Bryan, Ohio