HURRICANE AND FLOOD— SEPTEMBER 1938 219 



vehicles were brought from fourteen other telephone companies as far 

 south as Virginia and as far west as Nebraska and Arkansas. 



Of striking significance in the prompt restoration of service was the 

 traditional Bell System background of standardization of materials and 

 methods. This standardization greatly facilitated the collection of 

 large quantities of suitable supplies and made possible maximum efifec- 

 tiveness of the men who came from many parts of the country. The 

 striking effectiveness of these measures is a great tribute to the engi- 

 neers who long ago by their recognition of the value of standardization 

 laid the broad foundation for this efifective work. 



In every disaster much is learned with regard to formulating plans 

 and caring for specific situations. Of interest in this specific situation, 

 there had been serious floods in much of this territory in 1936. The 

 experience at that time pointed to certain precautionary measures and 

 we know of no case where these did not prove effective in the present 

 situation. For example, while the water rose five feet above the 

 ground floor level of the main telephone building in Hartford, it was 

 successfully kept out of the building by bulk-heads about the doors 

 and windows, provided since the 1936 flood. Also, at various places 

 where lines had been carried away due to the failure of bridges or other 

 forms of river crossings the restored lines did not fail. 



Over and above all of these more or less specific points, which I might 

 say are somewhat routine, lies a broad engineering fundamental vividly 

 illustrated by this whole experience. 



Engineers by their work have made a pattern of life which has come 

 to make individuals and communities dependent to a large extent in 

 their day-to-day activities and mode of living, on the proper function- 

 ing of the services of power, transportation and communication. 



Having done this, they have seen their works fall before the fury 

 of nature — have seen the utter disruption of the organized scheme of 

 life, with all the anguish that goes with such disruption. 



It is in the light of this experience that an engineering fundamental 

 of first magnitude presents itself, and one which offers a long range 

 problem that is going to call for nicely balanced judgment, both on the 

 part of the engineer and the management. This fundamental stands 

 out clearly — dependability of service, and specifically the degree to 

 which dependability can soundly and wisely be built into the physical 

 plant. 



It is trite to say that dependability is fundamental to good service, that 

 it is of prime consideration in the design, construction and operation of 

 all communication, power and transportation facilities. On the other 



