1. A system for collecting data from at least one remote site and transmitting the collected data to a main information center and having information distributed throughout said data collecting system, the information being partitioned into a first information portion and a second information portion, said data collection system comprising: a) at least one terminal for collecting data at the remote site, said terminal comprising means for collecting data, a first memory for storing the first information portion, information requesting means responsive to the need for information by said terminal to generate an information call identifying the needed information, and first memory searching means responsive to the information call for searching said first memory for the presence or absence of that needed information, said first memory searching means responsive to the presence of that needed information for accessing said first memory and supplying that accessed, needed information for use by said terminal; b) a server for said terminal; and c) communication means for interconnecting said terminal and said server, said first memory searching means responsive to the absence of that needed information within said second memory for transmitting the information call via said communication means from said terminal to said server; d) said server disposed at the main information center and comprising a second memory for storing the second information portion, and second memory searching means responsive to the information call transmitted via said communication means from said terminal for accessing the requested information from said second memory means and transmitting the accessed information via said communication means from said server to said terminal.