The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-07


the most unique place in the building.
It is rather an innovation, and has been
given much space in the current maya
zines. 1t i the only academy in To-
peka where the scholars are paid to so
to school.
a dozen girls are on the list most of
tn time They have books, black
boards. charts and desks like any ordi-
nary pupils. They learn telephone
methods not only from instruction, but
from practical observation.
1T doesn't take the apt pupils more
than a couple of weeks" explained Mr.
Green, land they are earning wages all
tho time they are learning"
The girls study detachable instru-
ments in the school room. then watch
the active operators under the direction
of Miss Myers.
1T would take a long time to under
stand all you've seen on this floor" OBJ
served Mr. Kellam, but I guess you
have a reasonably clear idea. Suppose
we go down to the rest rooms"
All large concerns in the east and
west are realizing that the success Of
their business depends to a great extent
on the comfort of their employees. The
rest rooms on the second floor of the
telephone building are exceedingly COM
Portable.
PIav Piano as We'll as Switchboard.
Piano. you see. Don't know whether
l ought to tell you said Mr.. Kellam n
tone of pride, but there are more
girls that can play the piano in the
Topeka office than in any other office in
the country.
Simply during rest hours, of course,
amended Mr.. Green. @
Cafeteria lunch tables lounge. Norris
chairs are extremely inviting. Someone
was serving lemonade in blue pewter
gCblets from blue pewter punch bowl,
III stand treat declared Mr.. ~Kef-
lam, and provided the party with cups.
You see there are relays of girls here
all the time said Mr.. Green, and they
certainly enjoy it,
The Trouble Department.
Behind the rest rooms is the trouble
department. containing the ampere
metre. the pulse of the plant The place
is under the direction of c. E. Zahm,
who scents trouble like sleuth.
We're especially busy now he said.
because of the big Monday storm; 100
mer are busy all the time.
III show you the ampere metre
first he went on, pointing to a round
dial with a sharp pen leaving trail of
red ink, 1T records the amount of ser
vice done during the day. Here's the
yesterdays schedule. Fine lines around
six o'clock, constantly growing heavier
the calls increase toward noon; re-
lots of calls again after dinner; prac-
tlcally nothing at all after midnight.
Telephone service is like street car ser
vice; works hard in the busy parts of
the day. One big difference, though.
Il q man sees crowded street car. he
doesn't try to get on; if he finds a
crowded line he gets wrathy." This
white dial records faithfully the pulse
beats of the city's activity.
Here's another interesting machine
continued Mr. Zahm, indicati ting small
boX-like dial. when touble is reported
the galvonometre. shows us exactly
where to locate it. No time lost in
ascertaining where to co.
The trouble room is under the plant
department. with R w Garner as act
ms district superintendent. H. ]. John
ston is wire chief, Construction main
tenance is handled with test board men
to examine Immediate cases of trouble.
Over 1000 Phones Out Monday.
DO you remember couple of
years ago when the Aurora Borealis
broke up cables and telegraphs p" ask
ed MI. Zahm. ''all our troubles result
from the same cause in minor way
atmospheric conditions. This re-
cent storm affected 1000 telephones, |
but they'll be in perfect order by to-
morrow. The men in here are called
the hospital board if a line gets sick, |
they doctor it up in no time. l sup
pose you notice all our blue prints and !
maps; if chap doesn't know where |
to go he has at least fifteen ways of i
finding out"
It's funny" interrupted another
one of the men. 1.-THE queer ways in |
which trouble starts. Not long ago !
We had a call two miles out on a toll I
line The Investigator found that a |
little boy had been sailing his kite; it |
got tangled in the line and he aban- /
doned it; the wind whipped the strings |
about the wire, tied he line together I
and caused all the fuss. Another time |
some youngsters with air rifles shot /
away the insuIators and broke the
wire down; all of it pure carelessness
Try to Prevent as Well as Cure.
Another point I'd like to make |
said Mr.. Zahm, lis that We not only (
cure trouble, but prevent it. A force /
of inspectors is always busy. Preven-
ton takes place before the subscriber
is even aware of the trouble. And.
by the way, were cry glad to get
They help US lots, and |
are of the greatest assistance. Bur
glars and tramps sometimes work I'M
der the guise of these inspectors, but
our real employees can be easily /
recognized by a brief call to the main
Office
Millions and millions of wire APP
knotted together are in the |
trouble room. Men move quietly