Switzerland 397 



in the ordinary way ; then, from one or the other end of the 

 table is brought what is called a return cable to the section occu- 

 pied by the indicators and local jacks of the group. Behind the 

 table, below the level of the jacks, are groups of terminals, 

 Q and s (fig. i36A), divided by a horizontal box or channel R. The 

 wires in the return cable are soldered to the terminals of Q, while 

 those of s are in connection with the indicators and local jacks. 

 If no distribution is necessary to equalise the work, the two 

 groups of terminals Q and s are simply joined across with short 

 pieces of wire ; if otherwise, any desired adjustment can be 

 effected by long wires laid in the box R. There are cross-con- 

 necting and lightning-guard boards of familiar types. Notwith- 

 standing the self-restoring drops, the number of movements 

 required to make and undo a connection is only one less than 

 that necessary on the old Western Electric double-cord board. 

 They are as follow : 



1. On receiving call, operator plugs into caller's local jack. 



2. Turns down key and speaks. 



3. Tests line called for. 



4. Plugs into called subscriber's jack. 



5. Rings called subscriber. 



6. Turns up key (connection completed). 



7. Removes both plugs. 



8. Depresses speaking key to restore ring-off drop. 



It will be seen that, good as this type of board is in several re- 

 spects, the chief advantage generally claimed for it that it reduces 

 the number of movements necessary on the part of the operator- 

 is chimerical. Another grave drawback is that subscribers cannot 

 ring through to each other without dropping the ring-off indicator 

 and running the risk of getting disconnected. The switch-board 

 that finally comes to stay will have to meet this difficulty, for there 

 is no privilege more appreciated by subscribers than the power to 

 hold one another within call until their conversation is finished. 



The switch-room is lighted with incandescent lamps, the 

 current for which, together with that required for the operators' 

 transmitters, ringing keys, test, and replacement of indicator drops, 

 is furnished by two batteries of accumulators, one of sixty-one 

 cells for the lighting and ringing, and one of two cells for the trans- 



