New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
WHEN THE WIRES ARE DOWN
HARD WORK FOp TELEGRAPH AND
TELEPH ONE MEN WHEN BIG
STORMS COME
LAST WEEKS EXPERIENCES WITH THE WIRES
TO BosToN-THE TASK OF SETTING

~ the temporary destruction Of all telegraph ana
telephone communication In the neighoorhood o.
the storm centre IS inevitable. The only cNcept'o"
TO this is when ,he wires are underground as theS
are now in New-York. but throughout the coup'i!
In general only overhead wires are used. THESE are
exposed 20 dangers OF various kinds IN heaVE
storms High winds blow down the poles or over
turn nearby trees. which in their descent frequently
fan across the lines OF wires bringing them 10 the
ground. In storms like the one last MonoaN' now
ever. the greatest damage IS caused by the Weis"'
OF snow and ice upon the wires The sleet hrs' III
cases the wire thnly. but completely ana theh
continues TO increase in thickness steadily. Nheh
this has proceeded until the line IS about az large
a mans arm. the break usually comes some
wires able 10 bear trihe more strain thah
others. but none withstand the weight when
an extraordinarily severe storm brings upon them
The wire chies OF the Western Union Telegraph
COMPANY in speaking OF the isolation or Boston
in the early part of last week so far as wire COM
munication was concerned. said:
Boston IS particularly inconvenient place to
have trouble of that kind. for this reason: 1t Is
the terminus OF the principal trunk lines TO the
East the wires beyond that point being compare
lively few and consequently, for a city OF It's
size 1t has n rather small force Of linemen upon
whom It can call in emergency. NOW. II the
damage had been done at Philadelphia Tor IN
stance, which is the main line OF COMMUNICATION
between Washington and tho South and IS well
repaired without making much trouble for the
main Office here in New-York. As II was we had
20 collect men from several places. We sent an We
could spare from this district and some from
Philadelphia Baltimore. Springfield and Hartford.
The first thing which tho telegraph companies do
when n storm has Frustrated the wires is 10 asce!-
tain as nearly as possible just where the damage is
and how severe is its nature. The first information
regarding the Boston trouble came by means of a
private telephone wire from Newton. Mass. 1t
stated that the greatest destruction had oeeh
caused I'm the city Of Boston itself and It's immedi-
ale suburbs but that the wires we're prostrated all
around within radius Of twelve or fifteen miles
outside the town There was trouble also, as was
learned from other places, in the neighborhood Of
Providence and points near IL on the Shore Line
Railroad. The Western Union Company, as has
already been mentioned. collected all the lsnemen
II could get and sent them 10 the scene OF the
trouble Including the home force at Boston. It
soon had between two hundred and three hundred
men al work
The Postal Telegraph Company and the Amer
lean Telephone Company acted in the same man
ner. sending many men rom this city, until the
former company had one hundred and City in all
and the latter about one hundred working 10 re
pair the lines leading into Boston. All three com
panies sent their men out rom NG%-1 oT@ iu.y
Giles Of the ordinary repair apparatus. They went
D Dn [e as SOON as the news Was received
When all its lines are In working order the
Western Union Telegraph company mas 10 wires
between this city and Boston; INC F9staI ,Treiegrapn
Company has forty. and the American Telephone
Company seventy-six The th9roughness WIN
ated when il Is remembered that ont OF this total
Of 4l wires not single one remained intact on
TUESDAY morning. In this instance. the damage
being worst in the city Of Bosto on. the terminus 81
all these lines. the fact that they traverse many
different routes of no benefit. But. in case ~
storms I'm the intervening territory between that
city and New York II is a great advantage TO nave
wires running through various parts OF the coun-
try The Western Union lines follow in general the
three main divisions OF the New Haven Railroad
The main trunk ne Containing the most most
spending to the railroad air lire 10 boston; Other
Hartford. Springfield and Worcester. and SIN
others run near the shore. by stonington. Provi-
Tho Postal Telegraph Company's lines while
they follow the same general direction and 70
through ali the above mentioned districts. keep
tracks. The wires Of the American Telephone
Company also pass along these three routes. wnich
the air line and the shore line OF the New
Haven Railroad. II may oe interesting to note
differs slightly from that Il its neighbors Of the
telegraph Where the poles have been blown
ca bles along the ground over the fences The
wires are nclosel in these and connected with
those on the poles which remain standing. Inc
cables thus serving to carry the lines In the in
,ervals where there are no posts.
New-York 10 Boston but both the telegraph and
telephone companies have more roundabout means
Of wire communication throusn Atoamy and otnep
SUPERINTENDENT cf the American Telephone Com
pany said. he had talked with Boston by way
II is we'll known that on occasions when tele-
sagos have been sent from here 10 that city by
Of the r1 t5Io5 o 29aq ne9 nee
land, to Canso D. s. or r, 70 Me%Iou U 81 No.
and fom 9T ,2 0 @ and sgsn last aS week IN
the case OF a few urgent business messages.