Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-12-10
MODERN TELEPHONE
SYSTEM INSTALLED
NEW FLASHLGHT SYSTEM INAUG
CRATED SATURDAY NIGHT WITH
OUT THE SLIGHTEST HITCH-WILL
ACCOMODATE 1900 SUBSCRIBERS.
PATRONAGE HAS DOUBLED WITH
I'm TWO YEARS. AND SOUTHWEST
ERN co. HAS ANTICIPATED NEEDS
OF A CITY OF 10000

| Ring out the old. ring in the new"
VI The new flashlight switchboard of
| the Southwestern Telegraph and Tel
| ephone company, which has been in pro
cess of installation the past two months,
was cut over at 1870 O'Clock Saturday
night, and is now in operation. With less
than minutes work the old-fashioned
switchboard which has been in use here
for number of years was put out of
commission, and the new connections
were made simultaneously.
Telephone users of this city no more
need laboriously turn q little crank to
get central. BY merely lifting the re-
ceiver from the hook, little light flash
es on the board at the exchange. and cen
tral knows you want TO talk She asks
the number desired, and you have your
party. Having completed your cOnversa-
ton, it is no longer necessary to turn
the crank to advise central that you have
finished. Simply replace the receiver on
the hook, the light goes out and central
knows that you have finished.
The flashlight system of telephone
switchboards is in use in all the larger
towns and cities over the country
The Brownsville system now has near
ly five hundred telephones, but the
switchboard just installed has capac-
ity for 1900 connections. it being the com.
pany's purpose to always install board
in conformity with city's past record
of growth, and in order to enable it to
increase the number of possible comnec-
tions with little expense and time The
board is also constructed SO as easily to
allow the installation OF additional
boards when necessary. In installing the
new system, the company has anticipat-
ed the needs of city Of 10000.
Miss Lizzie TOups. who ilas been long
er in the exchange than any other EN-
plOye, having been connected with it the
past three years, asked the privilege Of
making the last connection on the old
board. This was granteG. The last con-
nectiOn on the old board was 172 to 80.
or the Frisco passenger depot to the
Frisco freight depot. Miss TOups after
ward said 1T seemed like funeral at
the Olu eXcHanSe.
The first connection on the new board
was made by Miss Katie O'Brien. the
numbers being l23 to 800, Burt +. Hink-
ley's residence to his garage
The operators who will officiate At
the central station will be Misses Jessie
Harrell. chief operator. Lizzie Harrell.
Viola Egly, Katie O'Brien. Virginia
Cameron and Mamie Smith.
The Southwestern Telegraph & Tele-
phone Co. purchased the franchise and
exchange of the Brownsville Telephone
Co. about two years ago. B. G. Stegman
having been the chief owner and founder
of the local system. The system at that
time had been in operation about four
years. 1t then comprised 80 telephones.
and the company employed only three
persons. Now eleven are employed, and
the exchange has more than $50 sub
scribers.
Manager Gerald johnson of the local
exchange said Saturday night that the
young lady operators will have their
work well in hand within two days, but
it probably will take until the first of
January to get the system in good work
ing order all round. The old telephones
are still being used-by the addition OF
condensers to each phone-but they will
be replaced as fast as possible.
The new telephone exchange is To-
Gated in the new Stegman building,
corner Of Eleventh and Washington
streets. 1t consists of managers Office,
waiting room for visitors, operating
room in which is the switchboard. ap-
paratus room. containing power board,
motors and generating dynamo, battery
room, and storage room.
Sometime in January, probably dur
ing the Midwinter Fair there will be a
reception. or formal opening at the ex-
change TO which the public will be inyit-
ed. shown the modus operandi Of a mod
ern Telephone system. and otherwise en-
tertained.