Telegraph and Telephone Dispatching

[NW Mailing List]

I found this tidbit in the Virginia Chronicle (
https://virginiachronicle.com/) while searching for details for an
*Arrow* article
and immediately thought of Abe. Interesting that it mentions "while all
employes cannot telegraph *nearly all can talk*" [my emphasis] Was there a
large number of mute engineers and conductors at the turn of the last
century? :-)

Pearisburg Virginian, Volume 40, Number 48, 17 September 1908, pg. 4

TWO METHODS FOR SAFETY.

Virginian Railway Will Have Both ’Phone and Telegraph. Since the Virginian
Railway has commenced to prepare for train service it has devoloped [sic]
that not only is the line to be equipped with telegraphic wires, but they
are to be so arranged the phone service can be used over the same wires,
says the Roanoke World.

The whole line is to be equipped with the double service. By this system,
if the telegraph works badly, the phone can be used.

Another great advantage is that while all employes cannot telegraph nearly
all can talk, and no doubt the line will be so arranged that an engineer or
fireman can make a connection at any point on the line and report to any
office.

This service is used in a small way on several northern rail ways, but so
far as known the Virginian will be the first to adopt it on the large scale.


Bruce in Blacksburg
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