The Washington herald., 1909-03-11


network OF wires which connected the
National Capital with the rest OF the
country continues with unabsted energy.
The Western Union. the Postal, the
Chesapeake and Potomac. and the rail-
road companies record each night sub
stantiaI progress toward the re-establish-
ment Of normal conditions.
The section gangs which do not pass
the night in the camp cars return TO the
city, and their leaders visit the general
foreman 10 report their progress and
learn their assignments for the following
day. Men from those gangs which have
made special progress are withdrawn and
assigned to other working crews which
have encountered unforeseen difficulties.
The enthusiasm OF the men is stih at
fever heat
Big Progress Made
For just a week the companies have
been straining every nerve 10 overcome
the disastrous effects OF the storm, and
the progress that has been made justifes
their efforts. Ever since II o'clock OF
the night OF March 3. when operator after
operator began TO report wire open.
all has been hustle and excitement in the
construction department OF the compa-
nIes Yet with the excitement there was
no confusion.
Disastrous storms are no new expert
ence TO the telegraph and telephone COM
panies. and provisions are always made
against being caught unawares. 1t was
merely the magnitude OF this storm that
made the experience a unique one 10 the
repair departments.
Within an hour from the time the test
wires along the different sw!tchboards
from Washington 10 New York began 10
report general destruction the construc-
ton ofleials had been notified, and like
firenen responding TO an alarm. were on
the scene at once. simultaneously repair
gangs from al the surrounding country
and special cars OF material we're called
to the scene of action.
Scouts were at once sent out along the
lines TO ascertain and report the extent
OF the damage Along the railroads they
went in engines or special cars. note
books in hand. counting the number OF
poles that were down. broken, or stand
ing Along the turnpikes they hurried
in light vehicles drawn by teams OF
horses. or where the roads were inn
passable, they mounted horses and rode
along the line until the snow drifts held
them up. Trainmen and officials Of the
railroad compiled reports on the broken
poles and turned them over 70 the COM
panies.
The repair depOts were at once almost
depleted. Reels OF cables. glass insula-
tors, copper and iron wire, pins. and ma
terial OF all sorts was loaded on special
cars as soon as possible and hurried into
the storm district
Car-ortr- e.. ,,,slo- y~,tf. c--5-,-.,s
by the Western Union company alone
for use between Washington and Balti-
more.
Many Rush Orders.
Orders to ship 200 poles to Baltimore
by the quickest possible route were sent
TO the several pole supply depots of this
company IN Chicago. Chattanooga. and
Philadelphia. Thousands OF these poles
are kept always on hand for just such
an emergency as has arisen, but the COM
panies are using them up so fast. .Nshat
they have already sent out orders ny
new ones.
TIE repair Emgs were the "
rive on the scene OF devastas lille
waiting for the materials to hey
SET to work to remove tho gr.
especially along the railroad 4 ere
tl,e fallen poles and dragyin i'm
poded the passage Of the ira
With the wreckage remOvs Pthe next
step was 10 run the nineteen miles OF
wire cable along. hanging Il 70 trees,
siumps Of poles. or laying Il along the
ground where necessary. This cable was
spiiced 10 any wires left standing, and In
this manner all the gaps in the line were
sr6nned. On the railroads the cable reels
were carried on special cars. Wagons
were hired from the farmers in the coun-
Try 20 carry them along the turnpikes.
Whenever necessary hand reels. contain
ing about 1900 feet OF wire each. were
carried by the men, working in pairs.
Circuits Are Reduced.
In order that the men might not inter-
fere with each other. the gangs were as
signed to different sections. and worked
on all CT them at once. IN this manner
communication by wire has now been es-
tablished 10 about all points. although the
number Of circuits from one point 70 the
other is still materially reduced.
The accumulated messages have COM
bined with the curtailed facilities 10 cause
some delay from time 10 time. but. as a
general rule. the service everywhere is
quite satisfactory, considering the condi-
tons which confronted the companies.
Mrs. johnson Injured.
While leaving the second floor Of downtown de-