The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-01-29
Phone BUILDING
COST S230,000

The new telephone building now
being erected by the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company of Bal.
fiinore City at Silver Spring, Md,
VIII be Of q very novel type for an
exchange building.
The company's engineers, in look.
ing for the proper wire center for
the section to be served, found that
the available property was in a
residential neighborhood and, ac-
eordingly, the architects have planned
the telephone building so that
the structure, with its surrounding
grounds. from all outward appear.
arces win look just like another one
81 the handsome residences in this
section Of Maryland.
$230,OOO Is Cost
Taking into account the purchase
u the lot, the erection of the build.
ing, the new switchboard and the
otner central office equipment and
tna very large additions which the
company is making in the outside
distributing plant to care for the
rapid telephone growth of this sec.
ton, the total project involves an
expenditure of $3.50, 900, according
90 telephone officials.
The new brick building on Falk-
flanu drive, just east Of BrookviIle
PIKE, win be Of colonial residence
On entering the building. the
space which would ordinarilv he
AIKEN by the living room will he
used to house the terminal frames
cable racks. ringing machines and
issuing equipment necessary to the
operation of the central office.
I'm the front, where the dining
room might be located in the aver
age home, is the room in which the
engineers have located the huge
storage battery tanks that furnish
lne energy for operating the tele.
phones and switchboards. To the
rear, In place of the kitchen and
PANTRY, win be. found the heating
plant.
ascending the stairs from the en-
trance hallway one will enter the
main operating room, where will be
located the switchhoards from which
the operators will establish daily
the thousands of connections that
VIII be made by the telephone users
In this area.
Adjoining the operating room will
be found the attractive rest rooms
provided for the convenience of the
operating forces when not on duty.
This room will be furnished with
comfortable chairs, settees and read.
ing facilities and there will also
be lockers for the young women to
care for their outdoor clothing when
they are on duty at the switch.
board.
Ext .siOns Under Way
The telephone conpany's con-
struction forces are at present en-
gagged on the extensions to the out
side telephone plant to bring the
telephone wires t, the ne1, center
and to care for future growth
When the underground conduit
work, on which the men are now
engaged, is completed many new
cables will be run.
The switchboard equipment is now
being manufactured so that it will
be ready for installation as soon as
the building has progressed suffi-
GENTLY to allow this work to be
done.
The company expects to have the
new plant in service in the sum-
mer or early fall.
While the building, as it will first
be erected, is expected to care for
the requirements for a number of
years ahead, the company's archi-
tects, Voorhees,, Gmelin and Walker
have so planned the structure that
It can be readily enlarged to take
care of later requirements and at
the same time conform to the gen.
eral type of residences in. the
neighborhood