Michigan Telephone Company 1899

Here is a wonderful addition I made earlier this year. It is a Michigan Telephone Company (I think that they worked with Bell but were not part of Bell at the time) Long Distance Service rule book for operators back in 1899.
It also has other general information, including on writing tickets, collecting fees, handling short-circuits, and putting calls through.
This book has a stamp for 1905 on a page next to where a change has been made in terms of charges.

The operators seem to have decided to add a little humor in, as is seen by the second picture where they say,
"Obey these rules," probably quoting a supervisor.
One puts under it, "We do," as is what they likely responded.
But someone may have internally sniggered and mentally said to herself before writing it in, "Maybe."
And someone else added, "Sometimes."

Seeing this book, according to the first printed page, is a big no-no to "outsiders" like we. This is the second viewing online that anyone has had of it, and I have finally put all of it up online-- every page photographed to be read by anyone who comes across it and so desires to see it.

It was done on August 15th, 1899.
Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Marquette are cities named on the first page alongside names of General Superintendents.
Edward D. Trowbridge was Long Distance Superintendent.
Fredrick A. Forbes was General Manager.
James F. Land was Assistant General Manager.
Charles O. Cook was Assistant Superintendent of Long Distance Service.

Two more interesting bits: A line reads, "Operators must not call in time on messages under any circumstances." My understanding of that is, "Don't ever call a person when someone asks you to call."

"The use of Long Distance lines of this company between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Standard Time, for official business, is forbidden."