El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-25
HAS 100000
CALLS EACH DAY
EIPasoans Use 1900 Tele-
phones and Talk to Chi
cago or New York.

A more effective index OF the rapid
development OF EI Paso could scarcely
be found than the eaIar-ement OF
equipment and extensions Of the tele-
I phone system. and though many such
changes are constantly being MADE.
the Tri-State Telephone company is
planning the installation OF a seconI q
office or telephone unit which cannot
at present be undertaken owing TO
the difficulty OF securing the neces-
sary materials
100000 Calls Daily.
Business activity is shown by the
fact that there are over 100000 calls
handled daily. which means that there
are an average OF over eight calls a
day for every telephone in the city
Within the last year the company has
increased ITS telephones IN service
over 1900, there being some 1000
telephones in current use in II Pa-o-
Then, too, q large transient popl-l-
ton necessitates the installation of
many phones and the taking out Of
many others, the figures in this re-
specr dating back year being, 5000
telephones Installed and $500 taken
out, representing service 20 about
$1,000 people.
An underground system with %
miles Of clay conduit, is installed at
the present time in FL Paso. and in
this conduit there are 20,0s5 miles OF
copper, weighing lO4 tons In The
overhead cable system there are a8,lnf
miles OF copper wire, Weighing -0l
tons. In this system Z66 mauholes are
required 70 give underground access
for repairs and the installation Of new
cables.
Maintain instruction school.
Interesting items in the operation
Of the telephone system are the school
OF instruction and a device for chec---
ing OFF the service Of the girls In
the school Of instruction. working
models Of the big switchboard ara
installed. where tyrOs receive
months training before attempting 90
do the rapid work called Tor IN the
main operating room The efficiency
device referred TO, watched by a girl
who Is an expert checks Off the SER
Vice OF 80 girls at time, so as 20
see whether they are speeding at the
minimum rate OF connecting the
patrons BY a method Of cross index
ing. the information department IS
able at once 10 give the inquirer the
information he desires Long distance
operators have an automatic time
printer which counts the time for
which tolls are charged on the SUBJ
employed IN the operating room
The teleEraphic department rs an
other interesting feature Of the COM
uauy's plant One Of the marvels
OF the age, this system Of copper cir
cults brings TO The Herald the news
OF the Associated Press. which
gathers news from all countries con-
uected by cable and though the
leased wire over which the messages
come 20 this newspaper is also nj De
TO carry at the same time long O -s-
lance telephone conversations. the
H.1n md #nHH~HnHUa nn infer
fere with each other in the least
The Tri-State and the Mountain
States companies have now completed
the line from FL PaSO TO Lordsburs.
which carries four circuits The. TIL
states company has over 800 employees
here and a payroll OF $4,000 monthly.
Starts in 1883 with 3.
The telephone exchange was L-lfL
opened iu El Paso I'm 1Ss2- The mum.
Der Of subscribers was ST. The first
long distance lines into il Paso we--
constructed i'm 1910 Long distance
lines now make 10 possible FOR one 20
talk 90 friend in Chicago as easily
as 10 a friend in I'll PasO. There are
and the company is contemplating
adding several long distance boards
TO the present number.
Takes Good Care OF Operators
Especially good care is taken Of its
operators by the Tri-State Telephone
and q parlor with books and maEl-
zines for their use In case OF Illness.
there is a coy room az their disposal,
90 say nothing OF a dining room.
where lunch is served Rest periods
are allowed the girls while on duty.
and the average work day is not over
seven and one half hours Natrons
are employed 20 take care OF The
rooms, and an instructuress is on
hand 10 teach girls who are learning.
During the sumner months a cooling
system is in operation in the tele-
phone building which. in addition 20
cooling the atmosphere. works so as
20 make fouI air impossible.