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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1948 THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE oo PAGE THIRTEEN Listing System In Telephone D irectory isturbs 7 Writer. | & A 4 City Hall's Number Is Hard To Locate Under Present Plan By COL. FRANK CHAPPELL In the early 80's when the first 30 or 40 telephones were installed in Oshawa, such convenience as a directory was unnecessary. We have been told that the caller just cranked away at a curious contraption which hung on the wall until a bell rang. Following this, a thin, faraway voice, eventually answered, whereppon the caller asked to be connected with "Mr. So-and-So." We doubt whether either "called" or "call- er" was known by the informality as a "party" in those days. Later on, as more instruments! came in service. a printed page bearing the name and addresses of subscribers, as customers came to be known, was idsued as a handy aid to telephone users. As a mat- ter of curiosity and interest in links with the past, it is gratifying that some of those early lists will survive. However, long before the num- ber of telephones reached 1000, in 1917, Oshawa users had become accustomed to an annual booklet issued by the company. This book- let in due course and in keeping with growth of service and popula- tion, became the more familiar and comprehensive Directory to which we are accustomed today. By the ingenious insertion of "yellow pages" covering skilfully classified businesses, the Directory covers an even wider field of ap- plication in the business as well as private life of our citizens. Almost coincident with this valuable aid, came a special listing of many busi- ress houses, under bold, black, capital letters. The Directory Has Grown Up So now, with over 12,000 'tele- phones in use around this commun- ity, and the system still expand- ing, and a "dial system" in early prospect, we appear. to be well served as far as the Bell Telephone Company is concerned. In a gen- eral way there seems little room for improvement. The service is excellent. Shortage of power, storms, or line breakage give little inconvenience, so well and effi- ciently is the system organized. The Directory has expanded from a simple sheet to a creditable volume. BUT, and it seems too bad to dampen such high meed of praise with a wretched "but", for a critical, if superficial review we must go back to the Directory, despite the fact that the Dir ry is serving a more useful se than ever. 'With the advent of a -dial system, the use of this book will be more necessary than ever before. For such reason it seems to some folks that something might be done by someone, to make the information it contains more uniformly avail- able. Almosf® invariably, the first thoughts of a person making a tele- phone call are governed by an as- sociation of ideas. There is an al- phabetical prompting which directs his search. The intricacies of cross- indexing are far from his mind. It is as he makes this search he be- gins to stumble over some curious anomalies, The "City Hall" Puzzle As things stand now, suppose we wish to call the City Hall. Of course we know very well we haven't got a City Hall, but suppose 'we want to call a City Department in the building where these various civic groups are congregated. One's first thought is to look up "City of Osh- awa". As we ruffle the pages of the directory, our hurried glance is caught by the black letters of "City Service Oil Products". Some- where beneath, if we haven't been too hurried, we find in small print, "City of Oshawa, see Oshawa, City of." Now, to anyone with Army ex- perience who has had to check from a Vocabulary of Stores, this apparently round-about inversion has an apt significance. It reminds one of those odd looking phrases "Straps, water bottle, Officers, for the use of", or "Boots, winter, ankle, 5 one". The system has undou* [4 merit, but perhaps it is hardly . ful to the non-military citizen whose chief anxiety at the moment may be fo call the City En- gineer's office because his house drains are backing up. However, let us shuffle over the pages to the "O" section. There if not too unobservant we find, still in small lettering, somewhere be- tween the heavy lettering of "Oshawa Business College" and "Oshawa Coal and Wood Yard", the name we seek followed by a list of 31 telephones which cover most of the City and Board of Educa- tion Departments. Most, but not all. For example, had one wished to call the Mayor, there is no offi- cial telephone listed. Of course, such ommision may be with good reason, His Worship probably gets quite enough calls as it is without being subject to details of de- partmental worries, But as a further example in this little game of "try and find it", should one have a basement clut- tered with an accumulation of old paper or such semi-useful material, cne would be advised to communi- cate with the Salvage Board and ar- range suitable disposal. "This Board is a Civic Department, but this one is to be found independently listed in small letters as Oshawa Salvage Board, tucked away between the black lettering of Oshawa Refrig- eration Service and Oshawa Sheet Metal Works. Other Public . Bodies our guest a Lit, we find that the Oshawa Chamber of Com- { merce, 8 most important auxiliary | to civic and therefore public ser~ vice, is modestly listed under "Chamber of Commerce", On the other hand, the Oshawa Public Utilities Commission, is well and doubly listed in bold black type, both as above and as the Public Utilities Commission. At least that number is not difficult to locate in these days of power cut-offs, even if their answer can be anticipated. 'While looking at the Commission's numbers, one receives the curious impression at first glance that the Oshawa Railway is part and parcel of the Public Utilities Commission so obscurely are the ten telephones of the Railway Company listed. A little further searching, reveals the fact that if one wishes to call the Post Office, although that should be rather a rare necessity, one finds this venerable institution listed under "Dominion Govern- ment". Under that same title, one finds the Customs House, the Arm- ouries, the various branches of the Ontario Regiment and even the National Employment Service. As for the Provincial Police, it does seem somewhat logical to find them under "Province of Ontario". However, search as one will, one fails to find the Board of Health, Sanitary Inspector, Crown Attor- ney, Division Court Clerk or City Solicitor, recorded under these familiar titles. To the Oshawa citizen perhaps, all this may not seem much .He is used to feeling momentary spasms of exasperation. With a little rep- etition, he begins to know how to look for his numbers. But what of the stranger or visitor who wishes to make a call? We imagine the operator at the Telephone Com- pany's "Information" board, must be a gentle, genius of enlightment. In Whose Hands the Remedy? Now, one cannot blame the Tele- phone Company for these idiosyn- cracies. We know that many, many hours of patient plodding by com- petent staffs goes on, long before a directory is finally released for printing. As a result, there. are few, if any mistakes. It would therefore seem that some of our public bodies are a little lax in not arranging for adequate list- ing. Of course, such obscurity may lessen vulnerability to phone calls. But such point of view is in marked contrast to that of "gri-getters" in the business world, who are out to let the general public know where and how they may be located, but fast. There can hardly be doubt that the Telephone Company would co-operate readily in providing im- proved listing if they were consult- ed while the Directory is in course of preparation, ' - To the patient, average man, de- teils of solution may seem rather complicated. But he no doubt feels there must be a remedy. Perhaps we had better call the Mayor on his a in use 65 years ago. Amongst the 32 names listed, many may be recalled by older citizens, Not without interest are some of the changes to be noted. For example: The office of Simcoe Street United Church. The at the corner of Bruce and Simcoe. Dr. Coburn is now the Parsonage of residence of F. W. Glen, still stands Oshawa Carriage Works, (which subsequently became General Motors), was then just south of the Fire Hall on Simcoe Fireet. The name Masson Street. of George Masson is perpetuated in The Malleable Iron Manufacturers still operate as the Here is a picture of the complete Oshawa Telephone Directory that was Ontario Malleable Iron Company. Oshawa Stove Company is now Fit- | tings Limited. W. H. livery stable, later became a moving picture theatre | (Crystal Theatre), but that location now forms part of the great store of The Western Bank, which eventually became the Standard | Bank, is now the Oshawa branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. | The Whiting Mangfacturing Co. at Cedardale has for many years been | changed to the Robson Leather Company. These links with the past are further instances of how present day Oshawa has grown through the | years from the simple beginnings of early days. | Kresge's, 11 ARMUURED REGIMENT THE ONTARIO REGIMENT ~ will Release Statement Next Week Ottawa, Dec. 4--i{CP)--Canadjan farmers who earned about $400,000,- 000 by selling food to Britain this year may learn the fate of the An- glo-Canadian food contracts Mon- day. vivuiture Minister Gardiner says he will make an announcement on the contracts for wheat, bacon, cheese and eggs "next week" when the delegates to the seventh an- nual dominion-provincial agriculture conference gather in Ottawa. The conference will open Monday with an address by Mr. Gardiner. He will lead off discussions on the international situation affecting Canadian agriculture. His announcement will break the long-standing official silence on how the behind-the-curtain negotiations for the 1949 food contracts have been progressing. In an interview Friday night Mr. Gardiner said prospects for Canada selling large supplies of food to the United Kingdom in 1949 appear "bright." Previous reports were that be- cause of her lack "of dollars, the United Kingdom mizht slice her food contracts with Canada. Britain, at the same time, asked behalf. H'm; let's see now. No use looking under "Mayor", so how does he spell his name? Is it M', Mc, or Mac.? Drat it all; that's something else again. Here goes for some more page shuffling to get that right. [ the dominion to unfreeze the $235,- 000,000 part of the Canadian loan to Britain which Canada withheld last spring wher her own dollar status showed signs of deteriora- tion. There still is no word on what Canada plans to bo about the loans, although at one time a cabinet source had said Canada will release the frozen part of the loan if Bri- tain continues to provide Canada with a good portion of British mar- kets. Targets for Canada's production in 1949 will be discussed at the three-day agricultural conference which begins Monday. Recommendations which the con- ference may make will be consider- ed later by the cabinet. GETS REMAND w Toronto, Dec. 4 -- (CP) -- Paul Gordon Kelley, 23, who told police hehad been kept a virtual slave on meagre raitons for more than a year, will spend at least one more week in Toronto psychiatric hospi- tal undergoing treatment. Kelley, who faces a nominal charge of vag- rancy, was remanded Friday until Dec. 10. He did not appear in court. NEW COACHES Montreal, Dec. 4--(CP) -- R. C. Vaughan, chairman and president of Canadian National Railways, an- nounced Friday placing of an order for 25 de luxe passenger coaches. The new coaches will feature spa- cious lounges at the ends of the cars and improvements and con- veniences in the seating sections. HIGHER FARE Toronto, Dec. 4--(CP)--An _in- crease in taxi fares in Toronto was se'.2tioned Friday by the Police Commission. Cab riders will now pay 40 cents for the first half-mile instead ¢f that much for the first mile or part thereof. a REAL PIPE PLEASURE OLD VIRGINIA FOR ROLL YOUR OWNERS GIVE OLD VIRGINIA FINE CUT Army Group Calls For Conscription Ottawa, Dec. 4--(CP)-- An im- portant group cf Reserve Army of- ficers is calling for immediate in- troduction of "selective training" in the Reserve Army as a step "vital to the security of Canada." The Conference of Defence Asso- ciations approved unanimously yes- terday a committee report which recognized "substantial deficiencies" in the facilities the Army has to train conscripted manpower but re- commended selective training with- in the facilities that are available. A spokesman interpreted the' re- solution to mean that the delegates, some 50 of them ranging from ma- jor-general to lieutentant-colonel in rank, what reserve units filled up whether it is done by draft, ballot or other means. The resolution said "the present system of production of manpower for the reserve force has proven singularly inadequate." (Presett strength is 35,000 men.) ".. .Any system of compulsory service or training necessary in- volves that the army is capable of training, administering, equipping ' and accommodating the men and at this time substantial deficiencies exist in these categories. Your com- mittee feels, however, that the prob- lem is of such vital and insistent impartance that an immediate start should be made to remedy the man- power deficiencies within the exist- > ing facilities." | The conference, a civilian body composed of former wartime Army officers, represents 12 army asso- ciations, such as the Armored Corps | Association and simfilar bodies. FAITHFUL AND PREPARED PART I ORDERS py Lt.-Col. EF. BASTEDO Commanding 11 Armd Regt (Ont R) Last Order No. 36 RF d/23 Nov 48. od This Order No. 37 RF dated 2 Dec 48 Oshawa, Ontario 1. DUTIES: Field Officer--Capt J. R. Rich- ardson (a) Orderly Officer for commencing 0001 hrs 6 Dec 48 2/Lt J. R. WARNICA 2. PARADES: . Regular weekly parade of the unit will be held Monday 6 Dec 48. 2000 hrs--Roll Call 2000 hrs to 2015 hrs--Parade Basic Wheeled Syllabus: 1st period: Stripping demonstra- tion of vehicle 2nd period: Stripping demonstra- tion of vehicle Advanced D & M Syllabus (T) 1st period: Power train 2nd period: Power train Gunnery: 1st period: Direct Observation 2nd period: Introductibn and Characteristics--30 Browning. Wireless Course Advanced: 1st period: Establishing Com- munications 2nd period: Opening up and pre- paring to net drills There will be a MUSTER PAR- ADE for ALL RANKS at 2205 hrs MONDAY 6 DECEMBER 1948. 3. DRESS: Dress for above parade, BD, Berets, Web Belts and Anklets. (M. B. Reed) Oapt & Adjt for (E. F. Bastedo) Lt-Col Officer Commanding 11 Armd Regt (Ont R) week French Plan: Presented To Americans : Washington, Dec. 4--(AP)--A new French program threatened today: to snag carefully-laid British-Amer-.. ican plans for boosting production in Germany's Ruhr industries. The French proposal, presented at: the State Department here Friday, calls for "lasting" international sus pervision over German coal, iron and steel output. ¢ ; That seemed certain to clash with the American view that the Gers mens will produce more if they have sole power to manage their own industries. The only safeguard proposed in the British-American plan would be western control over distribution of Ruhr products. French ambassador Henri Bone net, who submitied the French pro~ gram to State Undersecretary Love ett in what he called a "very ser~ fous" note, criticized the American position sharply when he spoke to reporters later. Any idea that the rebirth of Ger~ man militarism can be prevented by merely controlling distribution eof - the Ruhr factories is "sure windows dressing," he said. The program Bonnet presented would set up an international Ruhy authority--minus Russia -- which would have the right to: 2 1. Decentralize German industr; by breaking up the complicated Ger- man cartels and holding companies which fed Hitler's war machine. 2. Oust all "Nazis" from positions. of importance in the Ruhr indus- tries. vs 3. Control production and devels opment of these industries and guide investment of profits. {) Bathford, Somersetshfre, England --(CP)--Revisiting- Bathford where he was a gardener's boy, George Haskell, 75, found his initials on a tree as clear as the day he cut ther 60 years ago. ® sy aTionAL Housing Act} Building Joana Officiai Representative We also arrange ordinary loans for buyers and builders A. J. PARKHILL Associate J. Barristers and Solicitors 26 Simcoe St. North A. YANCH VOTE and ELECT "es AM' JAGKSON ALDERMAN ® A life long citizen of Oshawa. ® A former member of the International Brick Layers and Plasterers Union for 10 years. ® 2 years experience on City Council as Alderman. ® A representative of the City Council on the City Planning Commission. ® Advocates immediate action on the new sewage disposal plant and trunk sewers. Mz. Jackson is a successful business man who has had the type of experience, operating his own business employing more than 50 employees, which Oshawa will need during the expansion days which lie ahead. This type of experience fits him admirably for a position of municipal service, particularly as Alderman. Owing to his knowledge of civic affairs his services in the past, as Alderman, have been extremely valuable and voting for him to be returned as Alderman for 1949 is a "must" on Monday. For Cars -- PHONE 280 SAM. JACKSON, JR.