Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-04-15
SPLENDID PLANT '
Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone company's New Exchange Being Fitted With Most Modern Apparatus Known to Electrical Science,

sho'Her @fsfehee4 episode on the I;I1 or Mayor White.
 On tiIa s5a7aa to8. a1 J1a. build sz is loea q =lGa switchboard. Whiea. is capahe={ =aeaomoaat,aa e.6ao-jaIe- phones bit =eamcctioHs for har aaubar will na ae installed =at one. fine wires Eaa f5oult Ip Iram the distributing aaeGs on tha# first floor bN cables, and ate concerted Visll tHe switchboard. wh.s | is kn9Wn as multiple switchboard giTl at any section ef .hc boaa eau con- nect a subscriber ringing up on her section With any phone, ne matter what section of the beard it is on, instantly or can give him the busy signal if that particular phone is being used The fact that a con necton is desired is announced by little electric lamp connected with each phone. which flashes directly ill front of the operator
 Opposite to the city switchboard will be the tolEoperator's desk, and between the two will be the chief operators desk The chiefs desk is 50 equiped that she can cut ill on any line and watch the proceedings al any time, and she can thus keep t;ti on the other girls, and also see that all the lines are in good work ing order. Some idea Of the eXpen- siveness of the equipment may be eained from the fact that the chief oicrators desk alone cost $700, being of mahoeany. as is all the other cabinet work ill the office. The Acor will be laid with cork which will da;4den all noise and also be easy OF the feet,
 In the rear of the switchboard room is a finely equipped rest and toilet room fof the girls. Where they may spend an hour or two which they may have off duty. The rotir- ing room will be fitted up with lock CTS. lounges. chairs and tables, so that the girls may write, read or rest at their own pleasure, The toilet rooms are fitted with the most mod ern sanitary plumbing, and are finish ed in white enamel. Another feature of the switchboard which will make thines easier for the operators is the arrangement of the lights, which are so shielded as to throw all the light on the switchboard and out of the girl; eyes
 In the basement of the building are the storage room, work room. hot water plant, which is as modern and finely equipped as any in the city: the coa. bHnkers. and the toilet rooms for the wiremen and other employees The batteries are also all in the basement, and no instruments
 
 cables come in at the front of the basement. and pass up through the floor to the distributing racks.
 How extensive is the field covered by the Western Electric company in their work is shown by he fact that only a few days ago Mr. Poe. who is in charge of the installation here, re- ceived letter from friend Of his who is also employed by the com pany. His friend is now in the Philippine Islands, where he is in isAENng la l1arJe eNchang', How thorough their system is, is shown by their method of keeping track or material, tools and equipment When a workman receives any tool or riece of material or equipment It IS ] charged to his account. and is not removed till he returns it or places it in position, and in this Way noth- ing that is lost comes ouf of the company's pocket.
 Work on the equipment of the building was started February P, and it is expected that it will be finished alout June 1, although the building will not be put into service till Oc- | tober. on account of the aerial a.id outside work not being complete l. The cost of the building complete will be about s1oO,o00, and it will wi!a out doubt be the finest in the state. although Little Rock will sur- Eacs it in point of size.
 ,Local Manager Dorman stated to- day that he had 1900 new inst.u-