The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-01

asked for 2so. was connected and Wichita
had taken its place in the front rank OF
telephone cities in the world
This was the Inauguration OF the branch
terminal multiple board in Wichita
Today and tomorrow. on account Of its
novelty to operators, slight bitches may
occur. and the public should extend the
assistance OF a little patience, for they
will be repaid in full by quicker, more
satisfactory, clearer and better service in
every way for years.
And certainly the public If 1t will, indi-
vidualIy, avail itself Of the invitation Of
Manager Meredith to visit the new ex-
change and take rudimentary lesson in
the exceedingly intricate business Of tele-
phone inter-connection, will have sight
and knowledge of a marvellous piece Of
mechanism
over in the telephone exchange is a 1T
tie old board punched full Of holes II Is
the Oldest board there. 1t is worn by the
onslaught Of feminine thumbs innumer-
able, thumbs that have rubbed 1t for
matter Of twenty years. AS the years
went by and the commercial and social
function Of rapid telephoning grew apace
this board had a companion and these
two grew INTO three, and so on.
Nov it happens that telephone cen
trail is a mathematical mOnsrosity pleas
ant as It is in every other respect In
Wichita, where there are rs phones
number 725 may, in the course Of a week,
talk with number /, 6, 20. 49, 50 and 30.
That may include his circle. If he would
oonfine himself TO those he would be
easily handled without any mathematical
strain on the mechanism Of Central.
But number rs does not There is al
ways omnipresent the possibility that he
may take any number from l to RS. And
as he is liable to be busy, he viii want
his number in a hurry. Central must be
ready for the possibility, ready by a con-
centrated mathematical and mechanical
arrangement to hitch him up telephone
cany on the instant
Under the old system, which died last
evening, this was done with much con-
fusion. The several centrals were con-
tinuaIly and confusedly talking to one
another! 'Thirty-seven on 6; on /; 400
on g."
Under the new system this IS done
away with. For years telephone experts
have been studying systems of combina-
ton. They have evolved the multiple
board. In its use everything IS perfectly
quiet. Along the highly polished board
are all the numbers Of the system. cover
ed with small black drops. Before each
of the eight operators is a complete board
containing every number Of the system,
and before each are fifteen pair Of plugs.
If you ring, your number drops on its
part Of the board Just in front Of the
operator a tiny tucandescent lamp throws
out a point of fire The operator is able
TO make the connection Immediately and
directly In front of her, independently Of
all other operators. A button is touched
and the called number IS rung up, I'm
mediately the connection is made, the lit
tie light goes out and the drop, in the old
switchboard closed by hand, shuts auto
matically. This means great expedition
and the best service this side of Kansas
CITY. There is no board ike this in any
other place in Kansas.
The amount of labor to institute II is
incredible. On September 3. Mr. Nc
Intosb Of the western Electric company.
Chicago. arrived here. Since that tine
he and a force Of men have been working
to set this wonderful machine Up. one
item IS this: That 5000 sOidered eonneo-
tons were made.
And not only for the matter Of the
branch terminal multiple board with rs
self-supporting drops and automatic
pilots is the exchange subject FOR con
graduation me whole Office bright as
q pin and in snip-shape always, has an
air Of newness throughout Either as pat
of the new board or as distinct improve
ments. the new apparatus Includes a
magnetic generator. storage batteries for
transmitters. a volt-meter which meas
ures the power Of the current an am
meter which measures the quantity a
motor generator, pole changers. q beau
tiful set Of pilot relays, sets Of compl-
Gated swwitch-board terminals, Others Of
cable terminals, ana ughtning ancestors.
q curious metallic grasshoDper device by
which a spring held BY wax disconnects
the wire and renders Instrument opera
tor and patron safe. when the wire Is
overchareed
All 60 % make the wichita station
model ia every respect. and assure *
petition for the customer. comfort for
the operator. extension OF business FOR
the company and bettsrment all
around