The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-06-13
The New Telephone Exchange.

Inc New 1elepnOuc CACuauBt'
So much of the business of any
community is now done by telephone
and so much depends upon the facili-
ties which it furnishes, that it may be
said to have become of public rather
than personal Importance and to con
Germ not alone those who are sub
scribers but anyone living within the
area reached by its lines. 1t will be
therefore gratifying to Skowhegan
people, telephone users or otherwise,
to know that the business offices and
central exchange of the Maine Tele
phone Company and Telegraph Co.,
in this place are on par with any in
the State and are equipped to furnish
as absolutely perfect service as the
ingenuity of man can devise. The
long been contemplated and as the
necessity for them became apparent
they have been deferred to the pre-
sent time when they could be made
all at once, on the occupancy of their
new quarters in the Dunlap building
The switchboard room is, of course,
the department upon which good ser
vice Immediately depends. 1t is the
largest of the four rooms on the Sc
cond floor of the Dunlap Block, with
plenty of space and finely lighted
The switchboard now installed has a
capacity of six positions, that is, it is
SO arranged that, when fully equipp-
ed, six operators, can be at work at
the same time. At present but four
of the positions are brought into use.
These accommodate the 200 metallic
circuits which come into the building
through the cables and all the sub
scribers at the present time are
reached over 70 out of the 200 cir
cults. There are many of the latest
devices about the operating depart
ment calculated to secure the best
service, the most noticeable, perhaps
being the new transmitters which are
now put on by the operators when
she sits down to the desk in such a
manner that the mouthpiece is in
stantly in position to receive the
voice and does not require to be held
by the hand.
The managers Office joins the
switchboard room and with it takes
up the street front of the building.
1t is fitted up with desks and filing
cabinets, for stenography and ac-
counting. Just back of the switch
board room is the booth room with
sound proof booths for the accommo =
dation of those who wish to use the
local and long distance tool lines, and
in this room is also located the pro-
lection device which is depended
upon TO intercept any heavy currents
tnat may get upon the wires outside,
and may cut them off from the switch
board. 1t is similar TO the protection
device placed near the instrument of
every subscriber but the arrange ment
10 cover I'LL lHG Wires entering the
exchange is of course mucn more ex-
tensive and complicated In a cabinet
in this room are arranged the bat
teries which furnish the electric
energy for the switchboard and also
those which furnish the electricity
used in ringing when the power cur
rent, usually depended upon for this
purpose, is out of commission. A
stock room, fitted for the storage of
all kinds of telephone equipment,
completes the arrangement.
Manager &. M. Holt has at present
associated with him at these offices a
stenographer, three day and one night
operators and two linemen. One very
welcome announcement is made in
connection with the opening of the
new offices to the effect that without
any advance in rates all lines except
those running to the farming districts
will be limited to four phones instead
of ten as has been the case with re-
sidence service in the past. This
charge will bring into use portion
of the 1870 circuits, spoken above as
idle at the present time, and will
greatly improve the service All
these betterments will tend to Secure
new subscribers for the Skowhegan
9Xhangee and contribute to the con
tentment and peace of mind of those
already having the service.