The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-15

Francis NJ Buck Is telephone man OF
over twenty years experience IN the
business, having been connected with
the Chicago Telephone company for that
length of time. Mr.. Buck is the orig
inator of the branch exchange system,
which is now used in all the large cities
Of the world Mr.. Buck severed his
connection with the Chicago telephone
company, intending to take a long rest.
but the prospects of the Twin City tele-
phone company were SO alluring that he
cut his vacation short and came to St.
Paul, assuming his duties last September.
When Mr. Buck first became connected
with the Chicago company 1t had but
5000 subscribers, and at the time Of his
resignation it had 42,000
Since April the Twin City Telephone
company has expended over $50O,6OO in
construction work. 1t now has 5000 sub
scribers in the two cities, and handles
from $4,000 to 10000 calls each day. The
management expects within the next six
months to handle 100000 calls every TWEEN
ty-four hours.
building Is COmmOdious.
The new home of the Twin City COM
pany Is 5Gx71 feet, and although 1t will
be but two stories high, it will be level
with the three-story buildings around it.
Owing to the nature of the site the
foundation wall Will extend seventeen
feet below the sidewalk level, thus CIV
ing the basement fourteen feet in the
clear.
The basement contains the boiler, fuel
engine and battery rooms On the first
floor will be the counting room, Mr..
Bucks Office with locker and toilet
rooms. The operating rooms will oc-
cupy the entire second floor. This room
with 70 &c
special attention has been given to the
electrical equipment of the building, par
ticularly in regard to the operating room
and switchboard. The main entrance
to the building is on Eighth street, and
is finished in white marble, with marble
mosaic floor.
The heating system is the very latest,
and elaborate care is taken to provide
fresh air all the time. The air is drawn
into the building through a strainer and
passes through tempering coils to take
the chill off. 1t is then carried in and
through spray chamber, which by a
series Of fine water jets or sprays
cleanses the air of every particle Of dust.
From the spray chamber the air passes
through a series of drying ducts in to a
fan chamber, and is then ready for deliv-
cry through the building. The fan then
forces the air through the relocating coils
in the ducts leading to the different parts
of the building.
This same system will be used during
the sumner season, and fresh air will be
forced through the cooling duets so that
the atmosphere of the rooms will be
changed every three minutes
The cost OF the building with equip
ments is $4,000, exclusive of the switch
board, which alone cost $4,000 While
the building will be completed by the
first of the year it will take until Marcel,
to finish the construction Of the switch
| board. The exterior of the building Is of
the broad simple type. resembling some
what the Grecian style of architecture.
Blue Bedford stone is used for the trim
| mings, while the body is gray brick. The
| interior Of the building is to be of white
| tect and George J. Grant the regular
| contractor
Dale Exchange Nearly Ready.
| The companys Dale street exchange is
/ located at Dale street and Hague ave-
nue., and will be opened for business Jan.
| /. The building is 40 by 65 feet. The
terminal, boiler, storage battery and in
spector's rooms will be in the basement
| The first floor will consist of the Office
| of the manager, operating room and tot
| let rooms The building cost $4,000, and
the switch board will cost $4,000
| The Merriam Park exchange was
opened Dec g. and subscribers are being
rapidly connected. 1t Is located ON St
Anthony avenue, near Prior avenue.
| While these buildings have been in the
| course of construction the company has
| been busy extending its toll line system
| The line from the Twin Cities to Duluth
has been completed, and will be extended
| to Miller and Pine City within a short
| time. Two crews are working both ways
| on the line When this line is opened one
circuit will be devoted to local and two
| to through business, Besides this line