TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 805 



On May 14, 1895, in examination before the parliamentary committee which 

 inc^uired into the development of the telephone service in tlie United Kingdom, 

 the author also gave evidence on this subject. 



He brings the subject before this Section in hopes that it may elicit discussion 

 by practical telephone engiueers. It need hardly be said that his selection of the 

 county of Suffolk as an example of what can be done is especially appropriate to 

 this meeting of the Association. 



The map shown to illustrate the paper was the Ordnance survey, on a scale of 

 1 inch to 1 mile. Every town, village, or hamlet where a post ofJice is situated 

 is marked with a blue disc, and at each of these a telephone call-office would be 

 established. \Mien this is also a telegraph office a red flag is added, and at the 

 twenty-nine towns where it is proposed that telephone exchanges should be esta- 

 blished the blue disc is surrounded by a ring in red. 



The total number of call- offices is 29. 



The lines of railway on which tliere are postal telegraph wires are shown in 

 red, those on the roads in blue, and the proposed extensions for telephones to tlie 

 proposed call-ofHces in green. 



Probable connections to private subscribers arc not shown. These will be, in 

 most cases, by means of twin wires on the same poles. In the case of all the 351 

 call-offices the communication will be by single conductors and earth-returns, the 

 connections between the exchanges themselves being by twin wires. 



It is thought probable that, whether the Post Office erects such a system 

 in the country or not, there will be no difficulty in using the spare space on 

 the existing Post Office poles, for which, if the work is not undertaken by the 

 Post Office, a way leave to that department would be earned for the public 

 revenue. 



In most ca.ses the railways have been avoided owing to the excessive charges 

 for way leave and maintenance. 



It is not proposed that these lines should be constructed with so costly mate- 

 rial as that u.sed by the Post Office. 



If carried out by the County Council the whole of the work could be ten- 

 dered for, and the poles supplied locally, and very little special labour would be 

 required. 



The poles, insulators, brackets, and wire will be of the same size as is used 

 everywhere for light, permanent, military telegraph lines, and quite as efficient 

 and lasting as the heavier material. The conditions are : 25 poles to the mile ; 

 small single shed porcelain insulators ; screw brackets having a bent shank ; the 

 conductors to be of No. 18 bron/e. and to be stretched within inches vertically 

 of one another. 



The exchange offices will be placed either in county buildings or in private 

 houses; the call-offices in private houses, where a small payment of 9/. per annum, 

 with a percentage on the receipts above an average of 2s. a day gross, will suffice 

 for rent, and for attendance, which could be given by a child over ten or twelve. 



A revenue from the subscriptions of private subscribers may be anticipated, 

 the subscriptions to vary between 6/. and 10^. a year, according to circumstances, 

 situation, and services given. 



_ The official use of the system by the county authorities is a value which the 

 chief constables, surveyors, and clerks to the councils could probably estimate better 

 than the author can. 



The being able to converse with salesmen, markets, other farms, outlying 

 bailiffs, and workmen is an assistance to agriculture which is apparently obvious. 



Small tradesmen will be able by it to keep trade in local hands. 



Regulations of transport and carriage of all kinds will be assisted. 



Economies will be effected in distribution of perishable agricultural produce of 

 all kinds. 



Farm labour, male and female, would have improved means of obtaining 

 information as to demand and supply. 



The proposed charge for a ' talk ' would be 2d. within one exchange area. 3rf. 

 beyond and inside the county. 



