The Telephone Exchange.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 4308, 20 April 1907, Page 3

The Telephone Exchange.

REASON FOR THE DELAY. The delay in connection with the openI ing of the telephone exchange, is caused 1 by the telephone authorities demanding I that tlie “ leads,” or wires carrying I electric light supply from the overhead mains to the houses, shall be insulated throughout their full length. This is ordered to ensure freedom from danger to the telephone system in case of an I electric light wire breaking and coming into contact with a telephone wire. The Act under which the Borough Council erected the overhead wires stipulates that the first eight feetof “ lead” at each building must be insulated, or covered wire. This provision has been complied with, and the insulating of the remamder will necessitate the use of about half-a mile of insulated wore, costing about £ls. Added to this will be the labour of changing all the leads, so that the total c ist will not be less taan £2O. Whether the expense will be borne by the Borough Council or the Department, remains io be seen. It is said that the electric light poles should have been erected along one side only of each street, reserving the other side for telegraphs or telephones. A s showing the danger that may arise from lack of care in the arranging of overhead electric wires, we instance the c ise which occurred during the first week that electric trams were run in Halifax, England. A telephone wire broke and fell across a tramway wire °>ver which “ guaid wires ” had not been fixed The electric current was ihus carried to the telephone exchange, where t fused the whole switchboard, setting ihe premises on fire. The same thing might easily happen from an electric b'ght supply insufficiently safeguarded.