Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-05-27
REC CHANGES
IN TELEPHONE SYSTEM


occur at practically the same time.
From inspection, it seems that the
proper distribution of lines on the
switchboard has been made.
Complaint has been made that the
operators are inefficient and that
they are not familiar with operating
work. Upon investigation it was
found that some of the operators
were recently added to the operating
force due to vacancies created by
others leaving. An exceptional con-
dition occurred when approximately
so per cent Of the operating force
left the employment of the company
within relatively short period of
time. The operating conditions
seem to have improved as the new
operators became more familiar with
the operation of the apparatus. A
possible exception TO this might be
true regarding the night operator.
On several occasions that were
brought to my attention, there has
been unusual delay in answering
calls promptly. More diligence
should be exercised to prevent re-
currence of these delays in the flu
ture.
There We're two companies oper-
ating in Pullman previous to the
purchase of the Pacific Telephone
and Telegraph Company interests
sometime in 1915 by the Inland Tel
ephone Company AS usual under
this condition there was great deal
of duplication of outside plant CON
sisting of pole lines, cable, etc. Sub
sequent to the purchase, the outside
plants were consolidated in a more
or less haphazard manner, no par
ticular attention being given to the
elimination of Implications. The re-
suit is that the present cable equip
ment is overloaded in some locali-
ties Special attention is called to
the condition on College hill, where
the cables are filled and duplex wire
has been run paralleling the cables
to take care of the subscribers This
is likely to cause trouble and should
be remedied at the earliest possible
moment In other places, cables ar,
not entirely filled and a revision of
the distribution should be made to
give the maximum use of facilities
The farmer lines all terminate at
toll and rural section of the switch
board, which gives TO one operator
the entire supervision of the farmer
line calls. The nature of this board
is such that constant supervision
must be given to all calls because no
means is provided to notify the op-
orator when calls have been COM
pleted and terminated. This condi-
tion cannot be remedied except by
the installation of very costly ap-
paratus which is not warranted.
However, | believe some improve
ment in the service could be obtained
by changing the calling signal for
Central from two rings to one
Particular mention is made regard
ing the farmer line which connects
both Moscow and Pullman. In this
case, both the operator at Pullman
and the one at Moscow answer the
same call and ask the subscriber
which place is wanted. It seems
that this is waste of time and tends
to slow down the service.
With reference to calls original
ing in Pullman for farmer line sub
scribers, it is necessary with the
present equipment to make two
separate calls. The first call being
FARMERS meaning to connect the
calling party to the farmer line OPP
orator, and the second to give the
latter operator the number desired
This causes some delay but under
the present conditions cannot be
remedied without large expense for
changes to the switchboard. 1t is
suggested that the company investi-
gate the feasibility of installing null
tiple jacks and universal cord cir
cults for the farmer lines on local
operators positions on the new
switchboard equipment that has been
previously mentioned in this report.
An extensive survey was made of
the pole lines belonging to the farm
er lines with view to locating
causes of trouble due to faulty con-
struction. A majority of these lines
could be put in first class condition
with small amount of maintenance
work. Others, particularly in the
vicinity of Albion should be entirely
reconstructed with more substantial
line material. Attention should be
called to the numerous spices made
in some of the lines On one special
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