New York operator inserts the ticket in the calculagraph in readiness 

 to stamp the start of conversation. When she hears the party at 

 Chicago speak to the New York party, she cuts out of the connection, 

 stamps the start of conversation on the ticket and places the ticket 

 in a clip associated with the pair of cords on which the conversation is 

 taking place. When the parties have finished speaking, the New 

 York party hangs up his receiver which lights a signal associated with 

 this pair of cords, whereupon the operator inserts the ticket in the 

 calculagraph and stamps the finish of conversation. She then takes 

 down the connection and sends the ticket to file. When the Chicago 

 party hangs up his receiver, the inward operator at Chicago receives a 

 disconnect signal and likewise takes down the connection. 



The above describes the steps in the handling of the simplest type 

 of long distance call. There are many variations from this. The 

 process varies with the type of telephone at which the call originate? 

 and at which it terminates. Person-to-person calls involve reaching 

 particular persons and introduce additional variations in handling. 

 Calls may be placed either paid or collect and the routine is different in 

 each case. Direct circuits are not provided to all places and inter- 

 mediate operators are involved in handling switched calls. The called 

 telephone sometimes is busy or does not answer or the called person 

 may not be available and additional attempts must be made to com- 

 plete the call. All of these conditions call for variations in the process 

 of handling the call, yet the operating method and the operating rules 

 or practices which describe it must cover all of these situations. 



Evolution of Toll Operating Methods 



It may be seen from the above that toll operating methods have 

 grown and developed along with the business to meet the changing 

 requirements. As each new method came into use the quality and 

 usefulness of the toll service has steadily improved and the way has 

 been cleared for a better operating job and improved supervision. 

 High grade operating and supervision broaden the possibilities in 

 methods betterment work and may well be the controlling factors in 

 the success of improved plans. The operating method is influenced by 

 features of plant design such as transmission requirements and im- 

 provements in switchboard equipment. Conversely, the design and 

 arrangement of plant is influenced by changes in operating method 

 made to improve the quality of the service. Through the toll system 

 the telephone service of the country as a whole is tied together as one 

 great network and the coordination and standardization of the plant 

 and methods make possible universal service. 



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