The Dickinson press., 1910-10-29
DICKINSON W.u. OFFICE
IMPORTANT STATION
RELAY MESSAGES here
Local Office Now Fully Equipped for Taking of Telegraph
Business Which Includes Local Messages Mandan to Bill
ngs and Overland Work Between Chicago St. Paul. Helena,
Spokane, Seattle and Portland Day and Night Forces.


The Office of the Western Union Tel e.
graph Company on Willard Street is the
scene of much activity and has been for
the past two weeks. A force of experts
from St. Paul and Chicago is at work
there installing machinery, the purpose
of which is 10 displace the gravity bat
terry which has been in use here since
the installation of terminal Office at
this point.
1t is probable that few of our readers
realize the Importance of Dickinson
from the stand point of the teleeraphic
business. Here are maintained the in
struments which serve to repeat some Of
the most important telegraph circuits in
the United States
As an example of this importance is
the circ. instance of President TAFT open
ing the recent Dry Farming Congress at
Spokane. Previous notice was given to
the various repeating offices CNew York.
Buffalo, Chicago. St. Paul, Dickinson.
Helena and Spokane) of an intention to
have the President press button that
would start proceedings at this congr ess
and the Offices were notified to make
tests and assure themselves that their
circuits were in proper condition to as
sure the passine::of this signal. Promptly
and few minutes before the appointed
hour the various offices came in and
gave their tests and q short conversation
with President Taft's operator at Bev-
erly, Mass, where the President was
temporarily staying. was indulsed in by
the various Offices which were in on the
circuit for the purpose of properly func-
tioning the instruments, and just as the
clock was on the hour the circuit was
closed by the pressure of the Presiden-
tial finger on the key and the Dry Farm
ing Congress opened.
The circuits have heretofore been
maintained by the use of 4. 900 cells of
gravity battery which for the most part
have been located in the basement of
the N. P. depot, the few locals
necessary for the operation of the local
instruments in the Western Union Office
being located in the basement Of that
building. The new arrangement pro-
vides, by the use of eight generators, or
dynamos, three different poientials Of
current, two of which are of both polari-
ties and one for the operation of the
locals of but one polarity. These
potentials are respectively 400. 180 and
so volts and have an average of from
four to five on the 400 volt machines to
IS on the so volt machines These gen.
orators are operated from power cir
cult of 22O volts obtained from the
Hughes & Deiters Light Company and
will be constantly in operation day and
night, and upon their continued opera
tion depends the furnishing of the bat
tery for the use of all the circuits pas
sing through this city, both those used
by the Northern Pacific Railroad and the
Western Union.
To guard against possible failure Of
the power plant to supply the necessary
current to keep these machines going,
a direct connected steam dynamo. steam
for which is also furnished from the
boilers of the local light plant. is now
being installed in the basement of the
Western Union Office. In order to assure
that this auxiliary plant will be in
condition at all times to be placed in
instant use, it is the custom and prac-
tice to make q service test of its practi-
cal operation every week at least. cut
ting off the electric power and using it
just as it would be used in case of an
emergency: e ga
81 Ia order to keep the generators which
must constantly furnish the current fol
the wins in the hest possible condition,
the :plsnt is so.arransed that one %
thsms q leach potential - always Il RES
reestyins necessary attention whiie
|the Others are busy sending QUE III
''juice," as it is familiarly called by
the fraternity.
I The Western Union. Telegraph Com.
pany has installed the latest and mos,
modern equipment at Dickinsop at .
great expense in order to bring the ser.
vice mp 70 the highest possible standard
When all Of the new apparatus is in.
stalled. Dickinson will have one Of III,
most completely equipped Offices in thi,