Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1912 — Latest Improved Switchboard Being Installed in Telephone Office. [ARTICLE]

Latest Improved Switchboard Being Installed in Telephone Office.

Superintendent J. J. Montgomery, of the Jasper County Telephone Co. returned from Chicago on the 11:05 train Monday night, after searching three days through the freight- yards for the new automatic switchboard purchased some time ago by the telephone company. The. board was ordered from the Cracraft-Leicht Co., of Genoa, 111., and was shipped several weeks ago, since which time it has been held up in the freight yards, due to the freight handlers’ strike. Hundreds of cars of freight have been held there unrouted. With the assistance of a policeman and special privilege of the railroad company. Jack started the search and at the end of three days his efforts were rewarded, and he had it expressed down here Monday night; The board is a 300 drop automatic, and is a fine piece of mechanism, costing about $2,100. It will replace the 50 drop board at present used. When the .receiver is lifted from the hook the operator at central office is signaled by a light, when she connects the caller with his party another light ’indicates that the caller has been answered; it no light shows, it indicates that there has been no answer and central may ring again. A third light indicates when the conversation has ceased Until now the company’s central office has been insufficient to render the service they desired to give and the object of this new purchase is to facilitate the maximum of service at the minimum of cost It la understood that to benefit from the new service fifty cents extra per month will be charged, making $2.50 for rent in the business district, and $1.50 for all others. As soon as persons subscribe for the new service the old phones will be taken up and new ones Installed in their place.