The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-23
TOPRESERyE THE POLES
re Southwestern Telephone Company May
Establish Creosotins Plant.
THE LIFE or TIE WOOD MADE LONGER
General Manager Bnkcr VIII Go to
Chicago 10 Discuss the Matter
with President Gliddcn.

The officials Of the Southwestern Tele-
graph and Telephone company are just
now investigating matter which is OF
supreme Importance to the company. and
which may be of great beuef. to some
Texas towns later on.
The company has been using white
cedar poles in its system OF construction
throughout the State. These poles are
good and have as long life as the average
pole. but It is believed that in certain
soils the longevity is lessened by the in
fuence of local conditions The company
has been casting about for remedy for
the matter. and it is very probable that
a creosoting plant will be established tn
preserve the wood. White cedar is be-
coming scarce, and pine may be necessary
TO the business OF the company. With
creosoting plant TO treat chemically the
poles before they are distributed thrcngh-
out the State the company believes that
longer life will be secured for the wood
and they will get more use out OF the
poles The matter has been generally in
vestigsted by MIR f. X. Baker general
manager In South Texas Of the business of
the company He has just returned from
a trip to Eastern Texas aud to Louisiana
looking up lumber interests He is he.
coming informed on the matter of creosot-
ing and will leave within fee days for
Chicago. where ne Will meet Mr., Charles
j. Glidden. president OF tho company, and
the matter will be generally discussed.
Mr.. Glidden has Just returned from a.
summer tour through the European coun
tries, aud wnl journey west from New
York FOR a conference at Chicago with his
general offcers The creoso,ing Of piles
and ties by the railroad companies has
proved 10 be very oenencal to their prop
erty. AT Somerptlie. In Burleson county
there is large creosotlng plant which
Is operated By the Texas Tie and Lum-
Der Preserving company. u handles all
of the business OF the Santa re railway
in the matter or wood preservation. em-
ploys large force OF men and virtually
has built a town where formerly there
was but wide place IN the road. Thn
Southern Pacific creosOlng plant ls To-
Gated in Houston. aud Il employs n largo
number OF people II the Southwestern
Telegraph and Telephone company should
that Houston will be the location. that is
if satisfactory arrangements tsa be made
Mr.. Baker said yesterday: I'll the plant
is established II would be wei TO have 1t
in this part OF the state. SO that we would
not be 100 FAR from the lumber district.
There Is no final decision however, on
the matter and ii may be that We VIII not
creosote our poles.
While In the city yesterday MIR. Baker
M ~ ~ f,,gr IT,
Manager Thomas and Chief Operator Hem
shaw showing him through the building
and directing his attention 10 the changes
tnat have been made necessary by in
creased business. The local exchange is
now operating about 400 lines, over which
2uo0 subscribers are accommodated Tle
switchboard has been added to from time
to time since IT was put in the new build
Ing in August 1897 ana II now extends
almost across the room, There are thirty
Young ladies employed during the DAY on
roth the local and long distance phones,
ard they are busy at all times. Tie re-
porter or The Post accompanied the OF
ucials through the exchange room and was
soon convinced tina. a great deal Of busl-
ness Is transacted over the wire everyl
minute OF the day Fourteen Young ladies'
on inc local board were oonlnullly mak- I
ing the connections and II was all uuietlv
ing number" not being heard by her
neighhoi with whom she touched elbows
AT the board In fact, the ringing OF
Inc telephone bell in the office of sub
sfriher oauses more noise taan Is heard in
the exchange room, wlth the full number
OF Young ladies' attending to the multi
larlous duties at the multicavous hoard
where n'rltangular cords show muitcity
q connections. for multilodpos subscribers
The recreation room for the Young laile>
IS nicely htted up and each one has certain
periods Of tho day when she can rest from
me weary duticS artrhe board The OK |
change isil fun operation. and every con
yenieente afforded for those who are there
employed.
y Is expected that the new switchboard
WIN be here by January ] This will give
Houston the benefit Of the common battery
system, IL only being necessary for tho
subscriber to take down tho ear 'nhene
ana central will answer without Tho
necessary turning of tho crank.
Mr.. Baker left last night for Austin to
prepare for his visit tn Chicago