The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-11-19

ago; but all our principal railroads
continued for years to act as though
there were doubts. This conserva-
ism was due perhaps to the feeling
that while the telephone might be just
as good as the telegraph it would not
De any better, and since the tele-
graph was established and fairly sat
isfactory, why make any change? The
last two years has brought great
change in this feeling, however.
This has been brought about by
the demand on the part of the public
FOR a more rapid and frequent train
service an0 the near approach for
the enforcement of the federal eight
hour rule, coupled with the scarcity of
operators
To meet these conditions Of neces-
sity three ways were open. The pres
ent telegraph system could be en-
larged. a separate telephone system
installed, or the present telegraph
lines equipped with telephone appar-
atus.
/
popular on the vast railway systems
Of the west, where stations often are
far apart and the cost of construct
'ng telephone lines is high.
The portable telephone has come
INTO almost general use on western
roads, several Of which carry the In
struments on every train.
All these instruments are Of special
design being compact and inclosed in
carrying case. In event Of wreck
OF washout this set may be quickly
connected to the composited portion
of the telegraph line by means Of pole
and line provided for the purpose Any
member Of the train crew can easily
communicate with the nearest station
and give a detailed account of the diff
| ficulty
The train dispatcher can thus be In
formed and change his orders to pre-
vent further catastrophes, while the
division superintendent, because OF
the detailed information given him by
some one right on the scene Of the
trouble, can issue clear and explicit
orders for correcting the difficulty
without having to wait until he has
made long run with the wrecking
crew and sized up the situation.
The wrecking trains also are pro-
vided with portable telephones, en-
abling the crew to keep in touch witt
the chief wrecker The advantages Of
such system over the old practice Of
sending a train man back over many
miles of track to some telegraph sta
ton are easily apparent. A few min
utes gained at such a crisis as
wreck may often mean life to the un-
fortunate victims Of such a catas-
trophe.
In handling train orders by tele-
phone the same general methods ap-
ply as with the telegraph, any names
or figures occurring in the order be-
| ing spelled out letter for letter For
instance: Engine S9-one-three--
eight-nine- on single tracks the
names Of the stations are spelled out.
This is done not only when the orig
inal order is given, but in all repetl-
tions. thus avoiding even the slight
est chance of an error. The dispatch
er. instead Of sending the order and
then writing it in his book ON the first
repetition, now copies the order in his
book as he talks it off," He thus
gauges his speed TO his ability to write
ii down. so the receiving operator is
not likely to be rushed beyond his
ability to make legible copy.
In repeating back the message the
operator follows the same rules Of
spelling out the figures and names.
and the dispatcher underscores each
word as he receives the repeated or
der. In cases where the dispatcher
gives the same order to four stations,
his order book willSshow each word
underscored four times This system
Of checking orders. together with the
fact that much more detailed informa-
ton can be given by using The tele-
phone than by the telegraph accounts
for the popularity of the system.
II takes about eight seconds to call
each station by means of this system
which is known as the Sc
lector system, this interval per-
hitting the dispatcher while