Banquet at Long Beach.

Manager W. I. Holland, of The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, beamed upon a large and happy family at the Palace Cafe, Long Beach, Cal., December 28, 1908, the occasion being a complimentary banquet given by the popuar manager to his employees. Long tables, decorated with Yuletide greenery and cut flowers, were lined with as handsome a lot of young men and women as ever graced the Palace.

Mine Host R. L. Bisby did himself proud in serving tempting viands to the company. He also added his voice to the evening's program of informal talks.

Manager Holland, Edward Weidler, Wire Chief, T. F. Sullivan, Salesman, W. C. Patterson, Collector, C. E. Riggs, Switchboard Superintendent, and Miss Matie Burnham, Chief Operator, were called upon for speeches, and admirably responded.

Others present were: Misses Harriet Caldwell, Margaret Bobie, Genevieve Burnham, Inez Dudley, Ethel Godfrey, Aura Frankun, Edna Keller, Myrtle Williams, Blanche Kimball, Bessie Trunnell, May Trunnell, Mr. and Mrs. Riggs, Marcus Brown, J. Waldstrum, H. C. Dorfmeier, Ed. Abbott, J. H. Evans, P. L. Howland, J. F. Richardson, G. C. Sill, E. J. Vallejo, L. B. Collins.

Manager Holland says the banquet was given as an appreciation of the support given him in building up the Pacific telephone system in this city. Good music was enjoyed. Outside operators were engaged so that all the employees could be at the feast.

Central-"Number, please?"

Sub.-"Oh-I-eight-one-two-Green." Central "Just a moment, please, I'll give you the emergency hospital."

Suggestions to Managers.

How about the hotels in the territory served by your exchange? If not properly supplied with our equipment, this is about the right time to see the proprietor or manager and explain the advantages and conveniences of our P. B. X. installation. If he is an up-to-date hotel man who keeps conversant with the develop ments of his business, your work should be easy. In New York City over two hundred hotels are equipped with private. branch telephone exchanges, connected with which there are over 24,000 instruments. Telephones have taken a position equal in convenience to light or water with the modern traveler. With an instrument in every room each guest is in constant touch with his family and business. Engagements can be made, and business transacted promptly and quietly. Hotel service is facilitated to a great degree. Office, laundry, porter, baggage-room can be immediately apprised of patrons' wishes, and information received at the office can be quickly, accurately and personally transmitted to the guest without the uncertain delay of bell-boys. Economy will be subserved in that the force of these last-named functionaries can be greatly reduced with at telephone in each room. Some hotel men advance the argument that there will be no greater return from the installation of the more expensive plant than is obtained from the pay telephone or booths in the lobby, but it has been found that the amount of business and collections from these telephones remain practically unchanged after the addition of room service. It is found that the establishment of new facilities creates their own demand. An increase in toll business always follows. In our own territory this branch of the business is extending rapidly, and the average traveler is coming to expect this advantage as a convenience in his social and business transactions. Hotel men easily recognize that a pleased guest is their best advertisement, and the rapid growth of the

demand for hotel service indicates that their appreciation of the private branch exchange as a means to the successful conduct of their business.

Don't hesitate to suggest improvements to your superior on any apparatus or method which you may believe will give better results. It is only through cooperation that the maximum efficiency is attained, and the head of any successful business is ready to listen to suggestions for improvements from employes who are more likely to see where changes for the better can be ma 'e than the head of the concern. Try it.

Orange Exchange Moved.

Following close upon the refusal of the Board of Trustees to grant a franchise to a second telephone company, comes the announcement that the Tele

phone Company will at once begin to modernize the system in Orange and bring it up to the highest possible standard of efficiency. The Company's switchboard has been moved into new quarters in the rear of Manager Watson's drug store, and will be installed as a common battery board, the latest innovation in telephone construction. This central energy system is an improvement on the express system, of having individual batteries with each instrument. With the common battery board all the energy being at the central station a great deal of the trouble with the individual instruments is done away with. As soon as possible every instrument in town will be changed. An extra operator will also be put upon the board—to avoid all delay in answering calls. The work of stringing cable has been going on for some time and when completed all party lines in the city will carry but two subscribers. This feature will be an improvement greatly appreciated by all patrons. The cost of the improvements will amount to some thousands of dollars and will provide the town with a system as good as the best.

Questions Asked "Information."

The Information Operators at Franklin office, San Francisco, were recently requested to keep a record of peculiar questions asked by subscribers. The following is the result of one day's record:

"Please tell me the name of the expressman out at 22nd and Mission."

"Is David Warfield playing at the Alcazar this week, and how long is he going to be there?"

"Can you tell me the name of a good school where I can learn millinery?"

"Is Abe Ruef married?"

"Can you tell me if Kolb & Dill ever played in Oakland?"

"I want Mrs. Cohen's telephone number. I don't know her initials nor the address, but that doesn't matter, and please hurry."

"What time does the next train go to Sacramento tonight?"

"Say, Information, in day before yesterday's paper I read of a man named Muller who is selling coal cheap. What's his number?"

"I would like to know what time the No. 3 train from New York arrives this afternoon.”

"Can you tell me in how many minutes I can reach the Ferry from Union and Hyde streets, via Union St. car line?" "If I ring up a party that is working in the mint will they let me talk to him?" "How do you spell busy?"

"How do you spell duplicate?"

affair was held at the old telephone building on Shattuck Avenue, next to the Masonic Temple.

After the early evening hours were passed at whist, the orchestra of the Wawona Club rendered several musical numbers, also music for the dancing of the evening. Between the dances they were entertained by the quartette from the Berkeley Lodge of Elks, consisting of Mr. C. B. Mills, Mr. Roy Smith, Dr. Clement and Tom Kimbley.

Mr. A. Howard Herman entertained with several selections, followed by Mr. Will H. Bray, the original character of the Minister to Dahomey in "A Texas Steer," after which refreshments were served, and the dancing continued until the wee small hours of the morning.

There were twenty tables of whist. The lucky winners were Miss Olga Meyer, Miss Morris, Miss Spencer and Miss Elizabeth Triplett, the gentlemen's prizes being carried off by Mr. Lewis, Mr. Wallace and Mr. Sherman.

Before leaving the building, all expressed the selves as having had a very enjoyable time, and Mr. White assured those present that there would be several more dances given during the winter months. He also took occasion to thank the employees for their hearty support during the past year.

Manager White was presented with a silver stein by the members of the commercial staff, and a seal leather bill book

Idaho?"

"Can you tell me how Mr. Heney is this morning?"

"There are extras out about a big fire in Los Angeles-can you tell me about it ?"

Telephone Employees Reunion at Berkeley. Local Manager F. E. White, of The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, assisted by his wife and daughters, were hosts at the second annual reunion of the employees of the Berkeley Exchange, Monday evening, December 28th. The

Employee Makes Best Bo s.

No man can command successfully who has not been commanded successfully. The fact that he is your employer ånd is in command of you is evidence that he is your superior during the conduct of business. The better you serve in the ranks the sooner you will be placed in command. From the best employes spring the best employers. He who is successful in doing small things becomes able to handle great things.-Chicago Tribune.

Lee Henry Kerfoot, Collector for The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company in Jackson, and Miss Erma Fay Dutrene, daughter of J. Dutrene of Ione, were married in Sacramento on December 19th. They will make their home in Jackson.

Miss Rose Morgan, evening Information Clerk of the Walla Walla Exchange, surprised her many friends by an announcement of her surrender to Cupid, for on December 23rd, 1908, she was united in marriage to Mr. Bryan Hamilton. Miss Morgan has been in the employ of the company for several years, both here and in Baker City, and was very popular. The Walla Walla Exchange employes join their many friends. in wishing them a happy and prosperous wedded life.

Miss Iva Clark, Chief Operator of the Walla Walla Exchange, and who has been in the employ of the company for the past four years, was married on

To Stimulate Improvement

A point made in some of the recent Bell telephone advertising deserves more than passing attention. After explaining why rates should be enough to insure high-class plants, good service and good wages to employes, besides allowing a fair return on the investment of capital, occurs this paragraph:

"Any revenue produced over and above such requirements and the proper reserve to provide for contingencies can be used for the benefit of the public, allowing the company to retain a part sufficient to stimulate the most efficient and economical management."

Of course, there is a line where the retention of surplus should be drawn, but the idea that provision should be made for the payment of special rewards for distinguished efforts, is emphatically sound.

Wednesday, January 6th, at the suburban home of the groom. The happy man, Mr. Sam'l Ingle, is owner of a large farm out from Walla Walla, where they will be at home to their many friends. Miss Clark was very popular among her associates, who presented her on the occasion of her marriage a handsome cut glass fruit dish.

Mrs. Nell B. West, Manager of the Pomeroy Exchange, and Dr. John Gilbert, a young doctor with a growing practice, were quietly married on Nov. 26th. They are at home to their many friends in a very cozy new cottage at Pomeroy, Wash.

Miss Martha L. Cohoon, Chief Operator of the La Grande Exchange, was married on December 25th to W. D. McCully, of Joseph, Oregon, cashier of the First National Bank of Joseph. Miss Cohoon has been succeeded as Operato at La Grande by Miss Louise Schilke.

Only those who have come into in imate touch with great corporations appreciate the pace of invention and improvement and what it means. They cannot understand why it is profitable to pay a certain man $25,000 a year, nor realize that his work not only has ut money into the pockets of the stockholders, but into the pockets of the public.

A contrast between the latest metropolitan skyscraper and a railroad track shanty has no greater range of difference. than between mediocrity and the commercial genius of the present day.

"Efficient and economical management" in the telephone and other public services means much more than quantity, quality and timeliness. It comprehends placing the utility within the reach of ten persons tomorrow where it is available to only one today.