ENGINEERING

(Arrangements have been made with the Engineering Department to supply THE PACIFIC TELEPHONE MAGAZINE from time to time with authoritative and timely articles. The first of these is submitted this month.-Editor.)

THE REASONS FOR STANDARDS.

A great deal is heard at present about standard methods, standard materials and standards of all kinds in connection with all kinds of undertakings. Quite often the full benefit of standardization is not secured because of lack of appreciation of just what is implied by the term.

A railway uses standard gauge so that all of its rolling stock can be used on any part of the system and also so that the rolling stock of all other systems using the standard gauge can pass over its tracks. By the use of a standard gauge track, the track workers become accustomed to and skilled in the construction and maintenance of the same. weight and shaped rails are used. Standard coupling devices

Standard

are re

quired, and so on through the many and varied details of a railway system we find nearly everything done according to a prescribed standard.

The great value and necessity in such standardization of operating methods and construction is patent in railroad work. An employee may be transferred from one part of the system to another without losing any of his efficiency. In construction work material from one part of the system may be used in connection with similar work in other places; quite an important consideration in cases of disaster or other emergencies.

The telephone business, being one of great detail and reaching many different points, makes the standardization of many things a necessity. Standard operating methods means that oper

ators

many miles apart follow the same routines. Having a standard way of making a joint in a copper wire makes argument as to the proper way to make a joint unnecessary. A joint used in one county is made the same way as one used in an adjoining county. This means that the same type of sleeve can be used and supplies for this work can be bought at wholesale rates and in large quantities. Because a thing is standard does not mean that it is not capable of improvement. It might be perfectly evident to some one that some certain standard method could be improved, or for that matter, abolished. In such a case, the matter could be called to the attention of the proper person, giving the reason or reasons for the new scheme. Such a method of procedure might easily result in the authorization of a change in the standard.

CARE OF THE UNDERGROUND PLANT.

Because it is out of sight, the importance of keeping the underground part of a telephone plant in good shape is not generally recognized. It is a case of "out of sight out of mind."

Manholes and cable vaults are often allowed, without good reason, to harbor an accumulation of boards, boxes, clippings from the ends of wires and other rubbish. Underground cables should be trained around the sides of the manhole or vault in an orderly and systematic way and they should be supported in a thoroughly substantial manner. would be well to have all manholes examined at certain periods to guard against bad conditions.

Broken manhole Covers should be

noted for replacement, as well as covers that are below grade. The presence of gas in manholes should be noted also and all cables should be quite carefully tagged in each manhole so that they may be readily identified. Evidence of electrolysis should receive immediate attention.

Inez DeMott, a Hollywood operator, was married to Mr. Geo. T. Fearney, an employee of the Hollywood Market, on Friday, March 20. This is the seventh operator in less than two years who has resigned from this office to be married.

Miss Ruth Jacques, formerly of the Los Angeles Long Distance Department, was married on March 21st to Mr. Calvin Selven Isham of Grennich, Conn. On the same day a rather interesting note appeared in one of the Southern California papers: "Marriage License: Miss Beatrice Pitt, age 23, native of Illinois and a resident of Los Angeles, and Wilbur Dean Wilde, native of Jamaica and a resident of Los Angeles." Miss Pitt was formerly a main office operator.

Mr Coller on Batteries.

On March 26th a special meeting of San Francisco telephone men was addressed by Mr. L. C. Coller of New York on the subject, "Storage Batteries and Charging Apparatus." Mr. Coller, who represents the Western Electric Co., is an Electrical Engineer of wide experience and international reputation.

The Executive, Engineering, Traffic, Construction and Maintenance Departments of San Francisco were represented and most of the exchange districts sent. representatives.

After Mr. Coller's paper, Mr. G. R. Murphy of The Electric Storage Battery Co., was called upon and gave an interesting talk on the care of Storage Batteries.

After an adjournment for lunch, Mr. Coller took up the questions relating to the Gas Engine, Dynamos, Motors and subsidiary apparatus and answered them. most satisfactorily. The meeting concluded by a practical demonstration of the best method of adjusting copper gauze brushes to the commutator.

9 Visalia.

4 Richmond.

3 San Rafael.

Southern Division,

3 Santa Rosa.

0

13

11 Ukiah.

-272723

Vallejo.

9

14

7

1

8 Glendale.

5

Oregon Division.

11

7 Hollywood,

4

Long Beach

21

Los Angeles

32

Cottage Grove.

Inland Division.

13 Pasadena.

4

Grant's Pass.

2 Hood River.

30

70

4 San Bernardino.. 10

Colfax...

22

8 Hillsboro

Oroville.

7 Lebanon.

125

O Marshfield.

Redding

13 McMinnville.

O Medford.

5 Newberg..

37

9

1 Santa Monica.

25

Ritzville.

4

3 Oregon City.

1

11 Portland..

Ventura..

4

24 Roseburg

3

4 Salem..

4 Summary by Divisions.

10

Oakland Division.

Two-Number System Again

The two-number system for handling long distance business, which was first introduced and found successful between cities on opposite sides of San Francisco Bay and which subsequently was extended to take care of Seattle-Tacoma switches and Los Angeles-Pasadena calls, has been put into effect between Marin County and San Francisco and between San Francisco and San Mateo.

Subscribers receiving service from exchanges in Sausalito, Mill Valley and San Rafael were given the two-number service on March 30th, while the new method was made effective between San Mateo and San Francisco on April 19th. In each case an immediate increase in business was noted.

The change in service at San Mateo was made coincident with the cut-over from the magneto switchboard to a new No. 8 Special in the new San Mateo ex

change building. The San Mateo exchange is now located in a handsome building and has been provided with standard equipment of first class quality. As a result this exchange, which takes care of subscribers living in San Mateo, Burlingame and other near-by San Francisco suburbs, is expected to show a growth to a thousand subscribers by the end of this year.

The Paper in this magazine was supplied by the

ZELLERBACH PAPER CO.

SAN FRANCISCO