114 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



by the subscribers by means of wires connecting the telephone 

 exchange with the Government telegraph office. In this case 

 subscribers availing themselves of the facility have to enter into 

 an agreement direct with the State authorities regarding the pay- 

 ment of the charges accruing on their traffic. Secondly, the tele- 

 phone company undertakes the duty, for those who desire it, of 

 writing down messages dictated by their subscribers and sending 

 them by messenger to the nearest telegraph office, where they are 

 handed in and paid for, the charges being afterwards collected from 

 the senders. Similarly, subscribers can order the telegraph people 

 to deliver telegrams addressed to them at a telephone station, 

 whence they are telephoned. The second plan obviates any formal 

 agreement with the State, although it is necessarily less rapid. It 

 is noteworthy that the company exacts no deposits from its sub- 

 scribers to cover telegram and trunk charges and yet suffers no loss, 

 an experience which agrees with that of the author in Scotland 

 during 1885-1890. A simple undertaking to pay was then found 

 sufficient, and in no single instance led to loss. In Copenhagen 

 accounts for these extra charges are rendered monthly, but are 

 collectable oftener at the company's discretion. Copies of tele- 

 grams telephoned to subscribers are afterwards delivered by mes- 

 senger in the usual way. 



5. Telephoning of messages for local delivery. With this 

 telephonogram service the Copenhagen Company scores a good 

 point. It amounts, in effect, to a twopenny ten -word telegram 

 rate for the city and a 3-3^. rate for the suburbs. The State tele- 

 graph department, although legally invested with a telegraphic 

 monopoly, has not interfered, and is apparently content to let the 

 company provide the citizens with a cheaper service than the de- 

 partment itself sees its way to. The company accepts written 

 messages addressed to non-subscribers at all its offices, switch- 

 rooms, and public stations, and transmits them by telephone to the 

 nearest points, delivering them thence by messenger. The sub- 

 scribers can likewise call the head office and telephone such 

 messages. The only restriction is in the matter of language, 

 Danish being obligatory, as the mass of the employees understands 

 no other. Still, it is to be apprehended that the Londoners or 

 Glaswegians would not absolutely refuse to use a twopenny 



