The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-01-11
THE CENTRAL OFFICE.

about the telephone, Will doubtless be in
terested in its workings at the central
office. With the intention Of giving des-
cription OF the Office and the manner III
which connections are made, we called at
the office few days ago, and found it
quite remarkable place-one of which
we feel our incompetency to give desert
ption. 1t is a room, perhaps, ten by twelve
in size, with two doors and but one win
dow, which necessitates the constant use Of
gas. The wires-a great many in num-
Der, of red, white and blue colors-
are stretched through the window, about as
closely together as are the strings of harp.
From the window they are fastened to the
ceiling and from there run down the wall
to the instrument, which stands near the
wall and is called the "Law system switch"
1t is about four feet in length and of the
same heighth, but all that is visible is
large polished board against which mum.
Der of brass bars or strips are fastened,
which are punctured with holes and run
horizontally from one end Of the
switch to the other. In front of these is
board, about one foot in width, running in
the same direction. The board is filled
with holes-each hole being numbered
and through these the wires pass-the
number Of the wire corresponding with the
number of the hole through which It passes.
An instrument, similar to those used by
the subscribers,is attached to one end of the
switch, at which Mr.. ". G. Huff, the super
intendent OF the system, is at present
stationed, either sitting or standing, con-
stantly holding the tube of the instrument
to his ear and repeating the orders which
he receives to a boy who stands by the
board above mentioned. If No. IS desires
to communicate with No. 90, he holds
down the lever of his instrument and,
speaking to the central Office, repeats the
numbers. Mr.. Huff, hearing them, repeats
them to the boy at the board who, casting
his eyes over the board, finds the holes
numbered 10 and 90 and, picking up the
wires which run through them, taps one
of the horizontal brass bars with the ends,
thereby causing both the bells Of No,
4 W rtp md
places the ends of the wires into
two separate holes of the same bar, when
the connection is made and communication
established. No. IS having had his say"
he again presses down on the lever Of his
instrument and informs the central office to
"disconnect IS" which words are repeated
by Mr. Huff to the boy who, thereupon, pulls
the wires out of the brass bar, and they
drop back into their former position in the
board by the force Of leaden weights which
are fastened to them with small pulles.
On the wall, opposite to the switch above
described, is an instrument Of the usual
kind, which is chiefly used for testing
wires and which may be connected with
that of any subscriber. While at the Of
fee a number of persons asked TO be con
nected with the New York store, but had
to be informed that the establishment was.
at that time, holding sweet converse with
some other party. This, however, lasted 50
long that Mr. Huff, remarking "the New
York store don't talk that long to one
man" ordered the side.wire to be connected
with the wire Of the store and thereby
learned that his supposltion was correct
that no one was talking to the establish.
ment, and that it, or the person who had
communicated with it, had forgotten to or
der the wires disconnected, We mention
this instance as warning to subscribers
BY failing to notify the Office to "discon-
meet" they may prevent many a person who
has business with them from making their
wishes known,
During our short stay the gentle
men exhibited patience that
was really subhme-such as
only telephone men, ministers of the gosple
and newspaper men are capable of. Every
moment some one asked to be connected
while others desired to be disconnected
connect No. - with Mr.. - was the
order Of some and, Of course, the number
of Mr.. - had to be found before the
connection could be made Others, who
still persisted in holding down their lever,
had to be told to let up on it. while others
had to be told not to speak so loud nor so
close to the transmltter, and still others
asked all manner of questions which, being
proper enough, had to be replied to.
When the reader considers that besides all
this the testing of new instruments still
continues, he will have some idea Of the
labors and worry which those are subject
to who are in charge Of the much talked