Wurtemberg 427 



does what the National Telephone Company practises in this 

 country that is to say, inserts a clause in its agreements by which 

 the subscriber binds himself to allow the erection of fixtures and 

 wires, not only for his own accommodation, but for the general use 

 of the exchange. If a would-be subscriber refuses to sign the 

 agreement he does not get his telephone. The difference between 

 Wurtemberg and England, if there is any, consists in the fact that 

 the Wurtemberg Government adheres rigidly to the rule ' no way- 

 leave, no telephone,' while the company only enforces it when it 

 thinks itself strong enough to do so. In respect to lands and 

 buildings beyond the control of its subscribers, the Government 

 has to ask, and frequently to pay, for permission in the usual way. 



SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS 



The only multiple switch-board is an ordinary Western Electric 

 series double-cord at Stuttgart. It has been quite full for some 

 time, and is temporarily supplemented by some ordinary boards. 

 A new switch-room for 7,200 subscribers is in contemplation, but 

 the plans have not yet been got out. Everything will be arranged 

 for metallic circuits, however. There is only one switch-room in 

 each town (excepting a few subscribers connected here and there 

 to outlying public telephone stations), and it is intended to adhere 

 to that plan as far as possible. The trunk-line switching is effected 

 at a separate table, but the arrangements are in no wise remark- 

 able. Two types of translators are used, those of Siemens & 

 Halske and Zippernowsky, the latter being wound with two equal 

 circuits of sixty ohms resistance. During thunderstorms the ope- 

 rators leave the tables and the service ceases, although every wire 

 is provided with a lightning-guard. Subscribers are also recom- 

 mended to leave their instruments alone until the storm has 

 passed. The distribution and lightning-guard boards are of 

 ordinary type. The connections asked for at Stuttgart average 

 20,000 per day, or eight per subscriber. 



Subscribers are asked for by number and name, and are called 

 by the operator, the caller meanwhile standing with his telephone 

 to his ear. The called man replies to the ring by taking his tele- 

 phone off its hook and speaking. This plan minimises the ringing. 



