Here is another telegraph message, copied on one of the infamous NYC half-sheets--note the date (1944), at the height of World War II. The message is from Chester Settlemoir - NYC agent at Vienna Illinois and sent to H.C. Settlemoir - working as a telegrapher at Cairo. Once you get beyond the personal parts of the message, there is some interesting commentary about telegraphers bidding jobs at the Vienna depot, and their relative ability "on the wire." Vienna is a small town, located near the end of the single track Cairo branch--the message implies that there are three shifts at the depot, working seven days a week. I know that WWII is raging and has greatly increased traffic levels, but I still do not comprehend a round the clock need for operators at Vienna. I do not have a 1944 company timetable, but I do have one from 1943, and it shows Vienna as an open station from 7 AM to 4 PM (except Sunday). Maybe traffic levels demanded three shifts of telegraphers as oil movements from Norris City picked up in 1944? CAPT Rex Settlemoir Collection
Interesting reading, but I'm surprised they would be allowed to tie up the wire for personal chit-chat, especially with heavy war-time traffic.
The contents show how much more kind and gentle and concerned people were not that long ago, in our lifetimes. Today's society is nothing like that, unfortunately. Thank you for posting that, Roger.
I would imagine that there was still a good amount of down time in such out of the way telegraph offices and a little chit chat would not be a problem. Helped to break the boredom during the quiet times.
