The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-17
BIG FORCE AT WORK
ON. WRECKED v TRES
Hundreds Of Men Busy in Lynch
Z burg Repairing Damage Done
by sleet-storm.
SOON, HAVE ALL IN ORDER
Last Of Long Distance Wires to
Be Gotten in Shape To-Day.
Due to Failing Trees.
SOON, HAVE ALL IN ORDER
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Especial to The times Dispatch. ]

Special to The Times Dispatch)
LYNCHBURG. VA, December L.
Lynchburg Is slowly recovering from
the havoc caused by the frightful slcet
and windstorm OF Friday night, but 1t
will be weeks before the electric and
telephone wires will he restored to a,
condition they were in prior to the
trouble. Fully three weeks will be re-
CURED to restore the telephone service
completely, and 1t will be some days
before all OF the lights Will be burning
again.
Both Of the companies-the Southern
Bell Telephone Company and the Light
and Traction Company-have large
forces of men at work, and they are
bringing order out OF chaos as fast as
this could be hoped for, when the scri-
BUSINESS of the results of the storm
are appreciated fully.
Large Force mt Work.
The Southern Bell Telephone Com
pany has between seventy-flve and 100
expert linemen at work to-day, and the
work Is beginning to tell The men
were at work all over the city yestcr
day, and considerable Roadway has al
ready been made in organizing the
work so that 1t can be done in a sys-
tematic manner. Mr.. j. w. Crews Of
Richmond. the assistant general man
ager of the company. came to the city
yesterday, but finding everything going
nicely he returned to Richmond on
other important company business. The
work Of restoring the service Is in
charge of Mr.. II. L. Ingram, of At
lanta. Ca. the general superintendent
of construction. who reached here yes
terday morning, bringing with him
every linenlan that could be picked
up en- route. Other men came from
Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News.
and no expense is being spared to hurry
the restoration of the service.
Mr.. ingram stated this afternoon
that 1855 telephones. or about two
thirds OF the system in the city, were
put out Of commission by the storm.
About 100 of these troubles were III
the underground district. and most
OF these had been cleared up by to-.
night.
1t Is expected that the long distance
line to Amherst Courthouse will be
ready for business by noon tomorrow.
The line to Bedford City and Roanoke
will probably be opened by to-mor-
row night. but no definite forecast can
be made as to the lines running out
of the city to the east and to the
south.
/
slight damage at Danville by the
| storm. but this was quickly repaired.
| Greensboro. n. c.. also had some. little
| trouble, and Asheville was damaged
some. but there was nothing else
where to compare with the damage
in Lynchburg.
All Caused BY Trees.
The Traction and Light Company
had its full force of men at work al
day Sunday, after the men had been
IN duty for twenty-two hours contin-
llously. Everything possible is being
| done to restore the light circuits. es-
pecially the circuits supplying current
| for the residences.
President Apperson stated this af-
ternoon that he had two forces OF
men at work one on the street lights
and another on the wires carrying cur
rent for homes. but the greatest part
of the energy just now Is being put
on the wires leading to the houses In
order to give the residences illumina.
| ton first. The work Saturday and
Sunday was directed principally on the
| circuits which deliver current fol-
| pcwer and in the business section, the
company believing this to be the most
| important. The result of this Is that
few. IL any, places depending upor
electricity for power We're suemerine
to-day. The current will be turned or
the streets Just as soon as all of the
tangles with the telephone wires car
be disposed of.
Mr.. Apperson declared to-day thai
the company would have had very lit