The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-05-19
P. I. & 7. co. DOING
GOOD JOB IN COLFAX
Expend $4,000 Here for I'm
proved Equipment.
Magnificent Quarters In Mackenzie
Block, Where Is Being Installed
Wonderful Mechanical Devices
for the Telephone Service.

Citizens of Coliax have been close as
well as interested observers of the work
going on by the Pacific Telephone 4
Telegraph Co. in perfecting its service
hereabouts. New poles have been put in
place on both sides OF Main and other
streets and old ones taken out. The new
poles will be painted green when the
work is completed In addition cables
pave been and are being laid to connect
with the switchboard in the main office,
and overhead cables will do away with
troubles that come after storms or elec-
trical disturbances. The wires are in
closed in these cables and cannot be
affected by wind or storm.
The company is rushing the outside
work before the city begins the work OF
paving Main street and macadamizing
Mill street, besides several cross streets,
so that the streets will not have to be
pulled asunder and put together again
by reason OF the improvements by the
telephone company. This work is in
charge of r. B. Armstrong, with 80 men
under his orders. To be precise 14,775
feet of cable will be in place when the
work is finished. The underground cable
is laid in cement. Nothing less than
cataclysm in nature can disturb it.
Magnificent Office Quarters.
The company, when installed in their
new quarters, will occupy the entire west
half of the first floor and basement OF
the Mackenzie block corner Mill and
Spring streets. Here magnificent offices
are being prepared, and a world of ma
chinery, which, to the novice, is indescrib.
able and more wonderful than Aladdin's
lamp, is encountered at every turn. The
inside work is in charge OF S. F. Hensley,
with four men under him twisting wires
and doing many things in installing the
wonderful pieces OF mechanism. No citi-
zen of Colfax should fail to drop in and
.See the work going on.
nc CNlANuibE 10 bullC u III
sections, 80 feet in length, the wood work
being of mahogany and rosewood, piano
finish. 1t is pleasing as we'll as wonder
ful to the eye. This equipment comes
from the Western Electric Co. OF Haw-
thOrne, suburb OF Chicago. 1t is the
latest and most modern in use Miles
and miles OF copper wire are being. in
stalled, the wonder being how it can be
placed in the compact form in which it
is found.
new moter for charging batteries is
seen in another part of the large room,
another mechanical wonder. The charg,
ing will take place twice a week.
WHAT is called a ringing generator is
pointed out. Hereafter, instead of turn
ing a crank one can press a button, the
generator doing the rest.
Three home batteries are in place.
The energy, therefore, is central, supply
ing all power from the central Office
Hence power will be constant and cannot
vary. This equipment, it is said, will be
good for % years.
Fest Room for Girls.
In the rear of the building a room has
been partitioned off, known as the rest
room. This will be carpeted and furn-
ished complete, books being provided,
intended for the girl operatives, nine in
number, to occupy when not on duty.
This is an innovation worthy OF note
md one to be commended.
: The basement will be used as a repair
shop. 1t is ideal for the purpose.
Western Union Telegraph Co. will oc-
cupy section of the front office. Those
who wish can phone a message, which
will be at once placed in the hands of
the telegraph operator and sent over the
wires. This will be an added convenience
to business men, avoiding an extra trip
to the telegraph Office, it being charged
to account and paid at the monthly
settlement.
Spring Street Center of Business.
The American Express Co. will occupy
the present quarters of the telephone
company when vacated, so that we shall
have the telephone, telegraph, express
and postoffice all in a lump, so to speak,
making that part OF Spring street a
busy and important section of Colfax.
The work being done by the Pacific
7. & 7. Co. in Colfax when completed
will reach the sum of $4,000. S. H.
Sauve is manager, very obliging gen.
tleman, with whom it is pleasant to have
business relations.
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