The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-24

The work of installing the telephones
OF the Lackawanna Telephone COM
pany was started last week and Ia
progressing rapidly. Three gangs of
men ere at work and in three weeks
time it is expected that all the tele-
phones in the central part Of the city
will be ready for use.
The company's poles, with their
white cross-pieces. are now up in every
part of the city where the lines will
run and the work of stringing the
aerial cables has been commenced.
Still another gang Of men Is emf
ployed in putting in the underground
cables, and already some $4,000 feet
have been run through the conduits.
In short, everything will be ready
on December Is for active service III
the central part Of the city, except
the switchboard. but that is "A most
important exception. a large part Of
it has arrived. as have also the em-
ploycs OF the Kellog Switch-boa com.
pany. OF Chicago, who are to put It
mp, but one of the most important
parts has not yet been received, and
until this is received the work OF in
stalling the board cannot be begun.
WILL TAKE TWO MONTHS
The electrician in charge of the
work. stated Yesterday to Tribune
man that it would take two months
to put the board together and sc.
1t in proper working order, so it may
be inferred from this that 1t will be
along about February 1 before any Of
the companys system can he used.
General Manager Wayland stated to
the Tribune man that his original or
der was for switchboard with 2.4O0
drops. but that the company had re-
ceived so many contracts that 500 new
drops had to be ordered. The aug
lnented switchboard. he said, repre-
sented an outlay of nearly $S0,00o
The line between Wilkes-l5arre and
Scranton has been finished, while the
line between this city and Carbondale
is nearing completion. Two gangs are
working on it from both directions and
it is expected that they will come to-
gether at Blakely in about two weeks.
The city lines are constructed to the
DunmOre line, but no farther but the
company has strong hopes of being
able to secure franchise in that bOr-
ough.
Manager Wayland attended on We'd
nesday a meeting of the Interstate
Telephone and Telegraph company,
held at Wilkes Barre. This is the
company which will control the long
distance connections in the states Of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He re-
ports that by January 1 excellent long
distance connections may be had in
nearly every city of any size in Penn
sylvania, New Jersey and New York
states.
WESTERN CONNECTIONS.
Connections, by way of Pittsburs,
may De had with Ohio, Indiana and
Michigan. with the prospect of getting
farther west in a very short time. No
connections can be had with New
York city for at least Il year, though
the New England states are covered
with network of individual COM
panieS.
OF course, it is not to be expected
that the Independent companies will
be able to furnish as complete long
distance service for several years as
their older rivals. but in iiva years
there is no question hut that they will
have a system extending in.o nearly
every state in the union. Independent
telephone companies are being organ
lied in all parts of the country. and
when local systems are got in opera
ton. it is merely a question of string
ing few miles of wire from town to
town to make connections.