268 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



any we are accustomed to see in England. The exchange system 

 at Brescia is noteworthy as being largely composed of underground 

 work on a system devised by Dr. von Wurstemberger. Berthoud- 

 Borel cables, well cased in lead, are laid directly in trenches 

 excavated under the pavements, and protected by a layer of coal- 

 tar, sand, and tiles. At suitable points the cables are brought up 

 the sides of buildings and opened out in junction boxes, whence, 

 after passing test terminals, the wires are carried in smaller cables 

 along the fronts of the houses to the subscribers' instruments. 

 To avoid crossing streets with the secondary cables, a junction 

 box served by an underground cable is provided for every block 

 in which subscribers occur. That such a system is practicable in 

 Brescia speaks much for the good nature of the inhabitants : a 

 few cantankerous persons would spoil it to a great extent. 

 Altogether, it is a pretty system, the most questionable point 

 about which is the durability of the cables. Simple casing in lead 

 is scarcely calculated to ensure them a long life, and their renewal 

 several times in twenty- five years would mean disaster to the 

 company. So far, the Brescia Company has paid good dividends, 

 averaging between 4^ and 5 per cent., while the extension of its 

 system has also been partly paid for out of profits. 



STATISTICS 



In January 1895 tne Telephone Company of Lombardy had 

 1,518 subscribers, with 1,585 instruments joined to its three 

 exchanges of Milan, Como, and Monza. During 1894 the 

 number of local talks was 1,775,000 ; of trunk talks, 4,380 ; and of 

 telephoned telegrams, 1,100. The receipts for the same period 

 amounted to 255,598 francs ; and the working expenses, including 

 taxes, bad debts, deterioration fund, and all liabilities, to 154,017 

 francs, leaving a profit of 101,581 francs, or 4,0637. The capital 

 expenditure for the year was 34,244 francs, but the total capital 

 of the company is not stated. No statistics are forthcoming for 

 the other companies of a later date than December 31, 1892. At 

 that date the total number of systems in operation was 51, with 

 53 switch-rooms, 34 public stations, and 11,980 subscribers. The 

 length of wire in use was 20,076 kilometers. The number of 



