People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Less than one year ago a few public spirited citizens of Rensselaer conceived the idea of es tablishing a telephore system for their enterprising town. These parties were actuated largely by a desire to have their rapidly developing home city equipped with this modern auxillery to successful business, an invention that has become so much a part of the present manner of living that no community can afford to be without it. A preliminary canvass was made with the announced intention of making the venture if seventyfive subscribers could be had. The rates were $2.00 for business places and #I.OO for residences which w T ere considered reasonable by the patrons and the re quired number of subscribers was quickly obtained. The town trustees at once granted a franchise, (there are no exclusive franchise permitted in Indiana,) to the Jasper County Telephone Company, and the work of construction began on the fifth of July. The contract for installing the plant was made with the Indiana Harrison Telephone Construction Company, J. J. Montgomery, assistant superintendent of construction, being P u t in charge Of the work here, and in twenty-five days the original contract for a complete system with first class poles and wire for seventy-five phones was finished. But by this time the demand for service was so great that a full hundred phones were needed, and before these were all in place the demand exceeded that number by twenty-five; and the demand has continued to increase until now the. switch board for one hundred and fifty

is full. It it believed that by the fifth of next July, one year from the time the building of the system commenced, there will oe two hundred subscribers. It llustrates the rapidity with which the people here avail themselves of modern inventions and proves their progressive spirit. Nor has the telephone work stopped within the limits of Rensselaer. Having the lines nicely operating here, the great necessity for outside communication was manifest and the home company erected its poles and strung its wires to Remington, thence to Wolcott, Reynolds, Brookston, Chalmers, Lafayette and other points, and the work is still being rapidly extended. Every town in Jasper countv will soon be reached by a telephone wire, and most of the large farms will receive service, including the large ranches along the Kankakee, and all of S. P. Thompson’s system of farms north of Rensselaer. The telephones used by the Jasper County Telephone Company are what is known as the Harrison instruments, and are the equal in every respect of any phones made, the Bell telephones not excepted, and are guaranteed, nptonly to do perfect work, but are protected against any interference for infringement, as other companies have often been harassed by the Bell monopoly. The local company owns all its instruments outright, and it is easily to be seen that the plant has been well put in, the poles being large and well set, and the wires perfectly strung and adjusted. Certainly the best of satisfaction is being given. The people in charge of the central office are prompt and courteous, and right here the writer desires to say that if the users of phones knew the great strain to yvdiich “central” is often subjected in attempting to serve a dozen or more calls at one time, they would be less impatient and peremptory in their demands. Remember that even “central” is human and appreciates courtesy as well as you. “Please” and

“thank you” sound as sweetly in her ear as in yours. If you think there is nothing to do at the switch board, just go up and watch her for ten minutes some day, and you will change your mind, and wonder how it is possible for any mortal to answer your ring with any degree of politeness. In another place in this paper is given a complete list of the subscribers using phones in Rensselaer and a partial list of outfeide connections. The stockholders of the Jasper County Telephone Company are, Delos Thompson, C. C. Sigler, E. L. Hollingsworth, T. J. McCoy, C. E. Mills, J. F. Wasson and Thompson & Bro., of wht)m it is unnecessary to say that they are among the most progressive and influential men in the county. Their names were a guarantee from the beginning that the telephone system would be a success in every respect, and they are deserving of all the patronage that the town can afford. Perhaps the moving spirits most active in organizing the enterprise w T ere Messrs. Delos Thompson and C. C. Sigler, but all the members of the company have shown a most creditable zeal in the work that goes far toward fitting the town for the soon to be adopted role of a chartered city. The officers are Delos Thompson president; J. F. Wasson, vice president;C E. Mills, secretary, E. L. Hollingsworth, treasurer.

.1. J. MONTGOMEY. It is eminently fitting to mention in this connection something concerning the young man who has so successfully installed the Rensselaer telephone system. J. J. Montgomery lives in Oneida; 111., and was born in Peoria, 111., in 1866, making him now less than thirty years old. He acquired a common school education ;”was first employed as division man in the telegraph service from 1887 to 1890; spent three years with the Bell people in telephone work, and the last two years for the Indiana Harrison Telephone Construction Company as assistant suprintendent of construction. He was stationed for two years at Rockford, 111., by the Bell company, where he married Miss E. Weiiiple, Dec. 5, 1894. His wife is an accomplished lady, from one of the leading families of Rockford, her father being now retired from business. Mr. Montgomery put in the Lafayette telephone system of 600 phones just before coming to Rensselaer last July. Besides building the Rensselaer system and all its lines Of wire, he has constructed over 100 miles of toll lines and also the Remington system. He has a faculty for handling large or small gangs of men to advantage. Mr. Montgomery Understands his calling well,and could build a telephone plant from the phone up. He has grown into his present position by steady application and a struct attention to business, and hard study

while other people were asleep. He is an agreeable gentleman whose obliging character has made him hosts of friends. Ihe central office is situated on front street, in the rooms over N. Warner & Sons’ store. Miss Ella. Ritchie operates the switch board during the day and Clarence C. Sigler at night, and the service so - efficiently rendered is largely due to the’ promptness of these painstaking employees. Clarence E. Sigler has charge of the mechanical department, keeping the instruments all in smooth working order, putting in new lines, repairing breaks, etc. He has rapidly acquired a knowledge of his duties and is now fully qualified for the work devolving upon him. In time we hope to see the whole telephone and telegraph

systems made a part of the gov ernmeut functions, and operated with the post office, \but until such a time arrives it is gratifying to have so well administered a service as that of Rensselaer. In Sweden, the government owns the telephones and they are in nearly all houses, and in all the rooms at hotels, and the fee is so small that it is a burden on no one.

J. J. MONTGOMERY.

LOAN OFFICE OF VALENTINE SEIB. (SEE SKETCH.)

BANK OF REMINGTON, ROBERT PARKER. PROPRIETOR. See sketch on page eight. Portrait on page six and residence on page Twenty-one.

RESIDENCE OF JUDSON H. PERKINS, REAL ESTATE BROKER.