The Daily News Of The Virgin Islands

Gov. Inaugurates Dial System on December 1

A seven digit dial system is scheduled to go into effect in the Virgin Islands on Dec. 1, according to E. Stanley Seward, executive vice-president of the Virgin Islands Telephone Company. Previously, the company had expected to have the system in operation by September 30. The new $5,000,000 automatic system will officially go into operation when Governor Paiewonsky places the first call over the network. The call will go to Harold S. Geneen, President of International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation in New York. ITT purchased the V.I. company more than three years ago. The seven-digit dialing system will make the V.I. part of the dialing network which includes the U.S., Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Island system will cover St. Thomas, including Water Island and Hassel Island, St. Croix and St. John. The seven digit system using all numbers instead of exchanges plus five digits is now in use in many mainland cities. Eventually all cities on the mainland will be converted to the system for direct inter-city calls with the use of area codes. The system has not been popular in some instances however, with many groups and persons complaining of the necessity of memorizing seven digits instead of an exchange followed by five numbers. Other persons invited to the V.I. "cutover" ceremony include T.B. Westfall, Vice-President of ITT's Latin American area responsible for the operation of the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp.; Edward J. Gerrity Jr., Vice-President of ITT public relations; and Louis M. Olysyk, Public Relations Director of ITT Latin America. Speaking of the new system, Seward said, "After the usual initial 'shake down' period, the finest service in the world can (See INAUGURATES, page 12)

INAUGURATES
(Continued from page 1)

be expected from the equipment. It is comparable to the best in the U.S. and is the same type equipment as that in service in Curitiba, Brazil, where the best telephone service in the entire South American continent exists.

According to ITT, the local conversion will mean faster communication between subscribers, since the operation will be automatic, eliminating the need to call the operator to get the number wanted.

Vitelco, the company's news letter points out that with the dialing system the local overseas operators will be able to dial directly any telephone number in the United States and Puerto Rico.