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BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL 



construction, certain classes of station installation work, section line 

 work, etc. It is interesting to note the improvised reel on the rear 

 wheel of the wagon and also the warning "BE CAREFUL OF ACCI- 

 DENTS" which is printed on the side of the body. These features 

 are indicative of the fact that the labor saving equipment and "safety 

 first" movements which have now reached such broad proportions in 

 many other industries were recognized as important factors in the 

 System at least as far back as 1896. 



Fig. 3 — Heavy Construction Truck Carrying Gang, Tools and Materials, 1896 



The heavy construction gang unit of 1896 shown in Figure 3, brings 

 to mind the original method of employing large gangs which, with 

 practically no labor saving equipment available, necessarily had to 

 handle the heavy features of outside construction work by "main 

 strength". 



In the interval between the advent of the horse-drawn vehicle and 

 that of the motor vehicle into the telephone business, bicycles were 

 used to some extent. These comparatively slow, energy consuming 

 vehicles, however, soon were superseded by the motorcycles which 

 for a few years, principally during the period between 1914 and 1920, 

 were considered a very necessary factor and played an important 

 part in connection with the maintenance and, to a lesser extent, the 

 construction of the telephone plant. 



Several hundred machines of these types were at one time used 

 by the various companies, but experience has indicated that their use 

 results in high maintenance, that they present many features hazard 



