Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

There was the simple announcement in
the papers not long ago that there had
been a fire at the telephone exchange and
damage done to the extent of 5000. This
was a pretty big amount, and there were
q number OF visitors to the exchange in
consequence. But where the $1,000 fire had
been was a mystery to the outsiders till
they were shown. The operating room,
where the fire had occurred, appeared to
be just as clean and ship shape as ever.
All the operators were at work and every
thing seemed to be going smoothly. But
down behind one OF the boards was little
spot about four feet square. where the
FIRE" had occurred. 1t was real fire all
right. and the damage had been as stated.
But it would be hard to find place out
side of a jewery store where the same
amount OF damage could have been caused
by fire in the same limited space
The back of each section of the switch
BOARD is an intricate mass of wires, thou
sands OF them crossed and recrossed, and
all OF them wrapped, insulated and ticket
ed so that there is never question as TO
1ust where each of them belongs. 1t Is an
intricate piece of work, and the labor In
volved Is more than the intrinsic value of
the material Fortunately for the telephone
company there are several extra panels OF
the switchboard, so that an accident of
this sort If IL Is local, does not interfere
with the working of the whole system by
any means. Thus IL was In the case or
this particular fire that the subscribers on
the line never knew that 1t had happened
so far as their own service was concerned.
There Is such a thing as fire drill in
the exchange, too. 1t only occurs twice q
year and there Is no notice In advance. SO
that the girls do not know when TO be look
ing for IT, and when II comes they do not
know whether 1t is the real thing or only
a false alarm. They have to clear all
the boards in case OF a fire, that is. pun
out all the plugs and leave the place In
as good condition as possible to stand
siege OF fire II one really comes Tpen the
girls have to file out and leave the eX-
change to take Its chances.
The last time there was a fire drill the
boards were stripped and the room cleared
of operators in one minute and forty sec
onds. The management naturally hopes
that this will never have to be Done In
earnest but II shows a pretty fair degree
of discipline among the operatives, and the
chance. are that II they were called on 10
face a widespread fire that there would
be no loss of life. and the damage would
be reduced to a minimum.
X
'It looks to me as though the match trust
ought to declare an extra dividend this
year" said a grouchy man to Star re-
porter the other day. Why? Because
they have cut off their paraffine bill. and
that ought TO mean a good many thousand
dollars a year to them beside the amount
they will make in selling more matches.
What, don't see how 1t will affect their
sales? Well. you have to strike about three
matches to get one light nowadays. and
guess that-ought to affect their total output
some.
ut Is this way A match has to have
paraffine on the end of II to make 1t burn
The phosphorus and potash or whatever the
combination is that they use in the end OIL
the match viii burn up. but 1t does not last
long enough to 1re the wood unless there
Is little paraffihe there 10 give 1t start.
If you notice. the end of a match always mas
a little paraftine coating toward the head
Sometimes In the good old days you could
scrape 10 off with the point or knife. NOW
you are lucky If you find that the WOOD IS
discolored From the matches they are
turning out now II looks as though they had
tried the experiment of leaving out the par
affne altogether. Anyhow, there Is not
enough of it there to see without micro
scope, and the result is that IL there is any
wind at ALL or If you are not very careful,
YOU will have to strike about three matches
before you get one that will burn. .--a
at is only about a month. so far as
have observed. since this sort or paramhe-
less match came on the market Maybe the
match trust will think it is such a good
thing that they will keep 1t up Maybe they
will find there are so many calls for SAFETY
matches that they will decide to cut 1t out
money for the match manufacturers
X
There were two callers at the District
building recently who might be placed in
the category of FRANKS" The first was
a lean and hungry individual with bulg-
ing forehead and long gray hair, who
talked in a stage whisper.
Say" said he II notice you're laying
some watermains In 9Th street. You exca-
o 81 ( npfnt with gang. another
gang lays the pipe and third one fills In
the trench Now IL occurs TO me that In
stead of filing the dirt over the pipe you
might lay an iron plate which could easily
be removed when you want to repair the
pipe" and with the confident smile OF a
man who had relieved himself of great
idea he awaited an answer.
That's a very bright idea" he was told.
''but do you realize that wall would have
10 be built on each side of the trench to
hold the iron plate and that this would
cost many times the cost OF the labor OF
retiling the trench?'
II never thought of that" was the crest
fallen answer, and he ''skidooed"-a "sadder
but wiser man" and gave way to G. youth
fully attired old lady with corkscrew curls
who had been fidgeting in the anteroom for
some time
"Are you the engineer?" she asked of the
official.
Yes"
Well I have grand Idea" she Uttered.
1T is that you tear up the asphalt pave
ment on Pennsylvania avenue and plant
four rows of trees in the roadway. Then
let the street cars run between two rows
and the horses and carriages go between
the other two. Also have men with wa
tering cans patrol the avenue so as to keen
the trees we'll watered so that they win
grow nicely"
Excellent idea" the woman was told.
but it viii cost about $4,000 a year to
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