454 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL 



Conclusion 

 As less than fifl>- miles of buried wire circuits of the type described 

 have actually been installed and put into service, it is recognized that 

 many problems may yet arise and that this type of plant should still 

 be considered as in a trial stage. It is, for example, not known to 

 what extent burrowing rodents such as gophers might cause difficulties. 

 Soil erosion may also introduce problems not as yet clearly visualized. 

 On the other hand, many wind, ice and tree interference troubles 

 peculiar to open-wire construction, involving such things as broken 

 insulators, broken poles, wires crossed or broken, etc., should be avoided 

 by placing the wire under ground. Buried wire should also, in general, 

 be free from lightning troubles when properly protected at junctions 

 with open-wire lines. Considerations of this kind will be largely 

 controlling in determining the eventual field of use for the buried type 

 circuit. Present indications are that in any event many locations 

 may be found where this type of construction will prove economical. 



