The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-03-05
CHANGE OF UNION CITY
TELEPHONE SYSTEM
Mayor Reynolds Sets New Appa-
ratus in Motion.

| LII GIe pT6SeuC0 OI Jl6 DOaru OF MdyOl
and Aldermen, the officers of the Unior
City Business Mems Club and mum.
ber of men connected in an official ca.
pacity with the Cumberland Telephone
and Telegraph Co., the cutover, as the
telephone people term it, changing the
Union City exchange from the magnetic
to the common battery system, was
made last Saturday night at 10 O'Clock,
or within two or three minutes of that
time. Everything being ready for the
occasion, Mr.. Pickard, the district man
ager, invited limited number to wit
ness the event
The changes leading up to this event
were begun last summer with negotia-
tions between the city and the telephone
company, whereby the Cumberland
Company proposed to give the SUBJ
scribers in Union City the advantages
of the common battery system, with
the approval of the subscribers of the
change OF rentals to schedule sub
mitted. The company sent its COM
plement of mechanics and electricians
here last summer or fall and the work
proper began, which comprised a change
of the entire plant in Union City, in
Guiding cables, wires, and the instala-
ton of an entirely new switchboard and
accessories, incurring an extraordinary
expense of thousands of dollars.
A new building was purchased as re-
lated in this paper few weeks ago
together with the description of the en-
tire plant and its operation.
Last Saturday night the following were
gathered to witness the transfer from
the old to the new system as follows:
Board of Mayor and Aldermen:
7. R. Reynolds, Mayor; M. A. Blan-
ton, ]. P. Adams, Jno. Semones, w. M.
Turner, Harris Parks, j. A. Wheeler.
Officers Business Mems Club:
&c. Burdick, president; F. E. Quinn,
secretary. Advisory Board-W. G. Rey-
nolds, Ellis Jackson, w. M. Mailing,
E. H. Marshall, ]. M. Brice, J. w.
Temple, w. M. Miles, Chas. M. Hen
derson.
Representing the Cumberland Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company:
S. D. Merritt, Supt. of Plant, Nash
vile; M. A. Hill, Supt. of Traffic, Mem
phis; G. D. Garner, Traffic Supervisor,
Nashville; F. M. Cults, Supt. of Con-
struction, Memphis; G. w. Fulgham,
District Traffic Chief, Mckenzie; B. K.
Lawrence, District Plant Chief, McKen-
zie; ]. H. Wilson, Supervisor of Equip
ment, Nashville; E. Arnold, Foreman
Western Electric Co.; E. G. Knoop,
Inspector, Western Electric Co.; j. A.
Love, Construction Foreman, Cumber-
land Telephone & Telegraph Co.; ]. M.
Moore, Trenton; ]. P. Turner, Hum
boldt; A. w. Jackson, Paris; A. H.
Young, A. H. Metz.
In the presence of these people as
sembled in the new operating room,
Mayor Reynolds moved the machinery
which caused the transfer to be made,
which Mr.. Pickard states was matter
Of some thirty-five seconds. So nearly
was the effect that five
persons talking over the old board at the
lime continued their conversation with
out interruption. The new board was
by electricians ready for any
but so well had the work Of
installation been done that everything
moved ahead without hitch and with
,ut interfering with any of the sub
cribers, with perhaps only one or two
which of course was attend
ID to on the following day.
In every instance has the Cumber-
and Telephone and Telegraph Com
,any complied with the propositions
made by their officials and representa-
ives here last summer. The poles have
,een moved from the business thor
'ughfares of the city, the cables and
wiring have been SO adjusted as to COM
'ly with the city ordinances and the
ntire plant has been changed as pro-
'osed. The building plans have been
nlarged with the addition of another
ouse and they have been consolidated
nto plant twice the size in area OF
be old plant.
The new system is affording the most
satisfactory service and it is matter of
eneral comment that it is exceptionally
ne and that we are now keeping pace
18th the rest of the world with our tele-
hone system as well as many other pro-