Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1905 — TO HAVE BIG PHONE SYSTEM. [ARTICLE]

TO HAVE BIG PHONE SYSTEM.

Chicago & Alton Road Will Connect All Stations by Telephone. The Chicago and Alton Railroad has entered into a contract with the Bell Telephone Company providing for the construction of a complete telephone system covering, the entire lines of the Alton road. Fifty exchanges are to be installed as a beginning, and the work of construction will commence at once. East St. Louis will be the location of tlie central exchange, from which point the lines will radiate and ultimately will be operated over the road north to Chicago and west to Kansas City, with lines extending to the different branches.' It is said that it is not the present intention of the management to use the telephone service in the operation of trains, although it is thought likely that such use will come eventually. The principal value of the telephone at the outset will be in the transmission of messages which will facilitate tlie handling of the Alton’s great freight traffic. The success of the New York Central-Lake Shore telephone has caused the management to consider its extension to cover all ‘•lines of the Vanderbilt system—Michigan Central, Big Four, West Shore, Lake Erie and Western, Three “I’s” and other roads.