Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-05-20
WIRES BUSY; CALL AG AIM"

Some Reasons Why One Should Not
Always Eelieve central"
A New York postoffice official in
Philadelphia during the street ca1
strike had occasion to use the telephone
on pressing business. He gave the bell
a Jingle. put the receiver to his ear and
said: Give me No. - In a hurry"
A plaintive but somewhat metallic
voice from the unknown said in his
ear: Wires busy; call again."
He hung up the receiver and waite
with what patience he could for full
minute. Then he tried again.
Hello, central. Give me No. -"
And the same weird voice said:
"Wire's busy; call again."
Another wait of two minutes, which
seemed a week. Surely he could get
them this time.
Hello, central. No. must be
through by this time. Can't YOU"
Wires busy; call again."
1t was very strange. but 1t must he
right. The telephone girl ought tc
know. He sat down, took out his
watch, Travelled with the second han
three times around the circle, ther
seized the telephone receiver.
Say, central, don't you think yor
could
Wires busy; call again."
What wires busy? Hadn't you
better wait till"
Wires busy: call again."
ut is. eh? Well. perhaps l don't
want"
Wires busy: call again"
Busy, your grandmother! Say,
young woman, YOU"
Wires busy; call again."
THAT girls gone daft" He hun1
up the receiver with a smash that beni
the hook.
He would see II he couldn't get re-
spectful treatment. He went to an
other telephone. called up the superin'
tendent Of the exchange and related
his experience In tones that hardly
needed an electric wire to carry them
He couldn't see the telephOne-maD
smile, but he heard him say:
MY dear sir, l am very sorry that
you have been so troubled, and | can,
explain to you in detail, but, In short
you have been talking to a monograph
You see, we have a photograph device
that We attach to busy wire, which
answers the subscriber, and gives the
operator more time to attend to hel
other duties. In your case she prob
ably put the plug In and forgot to take
1t out. If you will come round to the
office l will be happy to explain it to
you"
Manager Callahan, Of the New York
exchange, says the Photographic
busy" attachment is yet in the ex.
perimental stage and has not been
adopted in New York. 1t originated in
the Boston Office, and is being used
there and in Philadelphia. When the
subscriber calls for a number the Op-
orator makes a busy test" by touch.
ing the brass plug at the end of the
connecting wire 20 the outer edge of the
proper hole in the switchboard. If the
wire Is busy this slight contact gives
a warning "click click in the opera
tors ear, and the full connection is moi
made, the operator replying to the sub
scriber that the wire is busy. If nc
warning is received by this test the
full connection is made The phOno
graphic device does away with the ne
cessity Of the operator replying to the
subscriber She sticks the plug into
the photographic attachment, which
at once says, Wires busy; call again.
and continues to say it as long as the
connection remains. This leaves the
operators hands free to attend to Other
calls and connections, but she Is sup
posed to take the plug out of the phon
ograph after the lapse Of about five
seconds.-New York Mail and Express