Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 134, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1909 — Rensselaer Boy Manages Fine Telephone Plant at Bine Island. [ARTICLE]

Rensselaer Boy Manages Fine Telephone Plant at Bine Island.

The Blue Island Standard of Dec. 17th reviews the growth of the telephone business at that place under the management of A. C. (Bert) Rhoades, son of Marsh Rhoades at this city, who has been its manager for several years. The system is a part of the Chicago Telephone Co., and the Blue Island station is the center of a cluster of suburban systems under Bert’s management, including Oak Park, Evergreen Park, Tinley Park, Harvey, Homewood, Flossmoor and Thornton. Several of these have but recently been added to the system which Bert manages. In 1906 the Blue Island central office was moved into its own building, which is a. model of telephone convenience. A picture of this building and a description of its arrangement are published. Bert has a private office on the second floor, from which he directs the work at all the exchanges. Of course, the system there is very different from what is possible in places like Rensselaer, and the toll business in that network of busy towns constitutes a large part of the business. Profitable results require perfect working conditions of the lines at all times. The Standard says: .

"Installed in the new quarters, Manager A. C. Rhoades worked unceasingly to give his patrons as near perfect service as possible. A close watch was kept on everything and the operators were taught to be prompt and polite in answering calls. With these methods in vogue results soon showed and at the present time the company has 1,000 satisfied subscribers. "Taken as a whole the local exchange compares favorably with any of its size in the stale. From 750 to 1,000 more subscribers can be served, according to the class of service, and It is only a question of time before the full capacity will be reached' under the able and efficient management of Mr. Rhoades.” In addition to successfully manaing bo large a telephone system Bert finds some time for recreation, and the same issue of the Standard showed him to have secured the highest three game score in the bowling matches of the night before, with. 211, 212 and 226 as his scores. Last summer he was the tennis champion and while in Rensselaer he was a leading baseball pitcher and football quarterback. Bert has the happy faculty of making good at Whatever he engages and his splendid success at Blue Island is a source of great satisfaction to his many friends in Rensselaer.

On petition of President Louis Gerhardt, of Terre Haute, the Gerhardt Baking company was put Into the hands of a receiver. A «ote given to him for 111,000 is past dhe. Gerhardt takes office as mayor Jan. 1. Your future depends on what yoh are making the present.