The Phonogram, Vol. 1:2 (1891-02)

35 THE PHONOGRAM. instrument or its representative; viz., that there are vast numbers of intelligent people in our country, wholly unacquainted with the uses and sphere of the phonograph, who are most desirous to acquire full information as to its capabilities. * This fact suggests a wide field of effort to all who wish to promote the success of the phono- graph, and its organ, Ths Phonogram. We therefore, as the pilot directing the course of the vessel, counsel those engaged in executing the movements necessary for its safe-conduct, to strain every nerve in order to sustain the pub- lication which has evoked this important intel- ligence, as it is the resolute and unflagging oars- man that conducts the boat in triumph first to the goal. A PRACTICAL TEST. The following has just l»cen received, and is such a strong endorsement of the position we have taken in ouf editorial, that‘we are glad of the op- portunity to present it to our readers, as a practi- cal exemplification of our own ideas on the subject. It is a letter from the proprietor of Stevenson's Phonographic Exchange; Chicago, 111. He writes: To the Editor of the Phonogram; Dear Sir .—The application of the pho- nograph to business uses is of such recent origin that any information in regard to its operation and the methods of applying it, can hardly, fail to be of interest to the ma- jority of your readers. That the phono- graph is a thoroughly practical, useful bus- iness machine is beyond any question; but to a large extent it may be said that many 'the methods of applying it are, as yet, * theoretical and experimental, and of course liable to considerable change as the ma- chine grows in public favor. So far, the method which the writer has found mosV^uccessful is what may be call- ed ^he Contract System of Typewriting Ser- vice; that is, we make a contract to place at the service of customers a phonograph, * _ ancFto furnish them with typewritten tran- scripts of their dictation to same, to a cer- tain amount daily for a given sum per month, collecting and returning cylinders with transcripts as often as may be neces- sary to meet the requirements of individual cases. During the greater part of 1890 I have given this method and the phonograph as thorough and complete a test as could weH be desired by any one. My list of custom- ers includes architects, editors, advertising agents. Board of Trade men, lecturers, re- porters, surgical instrument and physicians’ supply houses, etc., etc., and the following outline of a day’s work may l>e taken as a fair sample of the daily test to which I have subjected the machine during that time : The first lot of cylinders received are from the editor of a railway newspaper, and contain short editorials for the next issue of his paper. The first item deals with the construction of the first railway in Siam; the next, with the great activity in railway construction in Brazil; another, with the construction of an electric railway, for mail purposes only, between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, across the La Platte River; then the construction of a railway along the Congo River in Central Africa, from Stanley Pool to Stanley Falls;* and now the subject of railway sanitation and hygiene occupies the attention and ability of the operator; followed by an article on the financial situ- ation. The next lot of cylinders comes from an architect’s office, and contains mason’s and carpenter’s specifications for the erection of a new 14-story building, introducing a great many technical terms which try the vocab- ulary of the operator to the utmost. • Another lot of cylinders comes from a surgical instrument and physicians’ supply house, and contains general correspondence .regarding orders for instruments and drugs