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But¡¡the¡¡most¡¡copper¡¡money¡¡has¡¡been¡¡saved¡¡literally¡¡tens¡¡of¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡dollarsby¡¡persuading¡¡thin¡¡wires¡¡to¡¡work¡¡as¡¡efficiently¡¡as¡¡thick¡¡ones¡£¡¡This¡¡has¡¡been¡¡done¡¡by¡¡making¡¡better¡¡transmitters£»¡¡by¡¡insulating¡¡the¡¡smaller¡¡wires¡¡with¡¡enamel¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡silk£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡placing¡¡coils¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡nature¡¡at¡¡intervals¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡wires¡£¡¡The¡¡invention¡¡of¡¡this¡¡last¡¡device¡¡startled¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡men¡¡like¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡lightning¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡blue¡¡sky¡£¡¡It¡¡came¡¡from¡¡outsidefrom¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡laboratory¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Columbia¡¡professor¡¡who¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡as¡¡a¡¡young¡¡Hungarian¡¡immigrant¡¡not¡¡many¡¡years¡¡earlier¡£¡¡From¡¡this¡¡professor£»¡¡Michael¡¡J¡£¡¡Pupin£»¡¡came¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡¡¨loading¡¨¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡line£»¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡way¡¡as¡¡to¡¡reinforce¡¡the¡¡electric¡¡current¡£¡¡It¡¡enabled¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡wire¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡saved¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡forty¡¡dollars¡¡a¡¡wire¡¡per¡¡mile¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡reward¡¡for¡¡his¡¡cleverness£»¡¡a¡¡shower¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡Pupin£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡him¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡as¡¡rich¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grand¡dukes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡native¡¡land¡£
It¡¡is¡¡now¡¡a¡¡most¡¡highly¡¡skilled¡¡occupation£»¡¡supporting¡¡fully¡¡fifteen¡¡thousand¡¡families£»¡¡to¡¡put¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡wires¡¡in¡¡place¡¡and¡¡protect¡¡them¡¡against¡¡innumerable¡¡dangers¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡profession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wire¡¡chiefs¡¡and¡¡their¡¡men£»¡¡a¡¡corps¡¡of¡¡human¡¡spiders£»¡¡endlessly¡¡spinning¡¡threads¡¡under¡¡streets¡¡and¡¡above¡¡green¡¡fields£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡beds¡¡of¡¡rivers¡¡and¡¡the¡¡slopes¡¡of¡¡mountains£»¡¡massing¡¡them¡¡in¡¡cities¡¡and¡¡fluffing¡¡them¡¡out¡¡among¡¡farms¡¡and¡¡villages¡£¡¡To¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡doings¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wire¡¡chief£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡his¡¡ordinary¡¡week's¡¡work£»¡¡would¡¡in¡¡itself¡¡make¡¡a¡¡lively¡¡book¡¡of¡¡adventures¡£¡¡Even¡¡a¡¡washerwoman£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡lone£»¡¡non¡electrical¡¡clothes¡line¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡to¡¡operate£»¡¡has¡¡often¡¡enough¡¡trouble¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡wire¡¡chiefs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bell¡¡telephone¡¡have¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡as¡¡much¡¡wire¡¡as¡¡would¡¡make¡¡TWO¡¡HUNDRED¡¡MILLION¡¡CLOTHES¡LINESten¡¡apiece¡¡to¡¡every¡¡family¡¡in¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡lines¡¡are¡¡not¡¡punctuated¡¡with¡¡clothespins£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡delicate¡¡of¡¡electrical¡¡instruments¡£
The¡¡wire¡¡chiefs¡¡must¡¡detect¡¡trouble¡¡under¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡disguises¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡a¡¡small¡¡boy¡¡has¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡snake¡¡across¡¡the¡¡wires¡¡or¡¡driven¡¡a¡¡nail¡¡into¡¡a¡¡cable¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡some¡¡self¡reliant¡¡citizen¡¡has¡¡moved¡¡his¡¡own¡¡telephone¡¡from¡¡one¡¡room¡¡to¡¡another¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡rainstorm¡¡has¡¡splashed¡¡its¡¡fatal¡¡moisture¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡unwiped¡¡joint¡£¡¡Or¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡submarine¡¡cable¡¡has¡¡been¡¡sat¡¡upon¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Lusitania¡¡and¡¡flattened¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡But¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡what¡¡the¡¡trouble£»¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡system¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡stopped¡¡for¡¡repairs¡£¡¡It¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡and¡¡put¡¡into¡¡a¡¡dry¡dock¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡repaired¡¡or¡¡improved¡¡by¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡vivisection¡¡while¡¡it¡¡is¡¡working¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡an¡¡interlocking¡¡unit£»¡¡a¡¡living£»¡¡conscious¡¡being£»¡¡half¡¡human¡¡and¡¡half¡¡machine£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡injury¡¡in¡¡any¡¡one¡¡place¡¡may¡¡cause¡¡a¡¡pain¡¡or¡¡sickness¡¡to¡¡its¡¡whole¡¡vast¡¡body¡£
And¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡particles¡¡of¡¡a¡¡human¡¡body¡¡change¡¡every¡¡six¡¡or¡¡seven¡¡years£»¡¡without¡¡disturb¡¡¡ing¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡particles¡¡of¡¡our¡¡telephone¡¡systems¡¡have¡¡changed¡¡repeatedly¡¡without¡¡any¡¡interruption¡¡of¡¡traffic¡£¡¡The¡¡constant¡¡flood¡¡of¡¡new¡¡inventions¡¡has¡¡necessitated¡¡several¡¡complete¡¡rebuildings¡£¡¡Little¡¡or¡¡nothing¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡wear¡¡out¡£¡¡The¡¡New¡¡York¡¡system¡¡was¡¡rebuilt¡¡three¡¡times¡¡in¡¡sixteen¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡a¡¡costly¡¡switchboard¡¡has¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scrap¡¡¡heap¡¡at¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡years¡¡of¡¡age¡£¡¡What¡¡with¡¡repairs¡¡and¡¡inventions¡¡and¡¡new¡¡construction£»¡¡the¡¡various¡¡Bell¡¡companies¡¡have¡¡spent¡¡at¡¡least¡¡425£»000£»000¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twentieth¡¡century£»¡¡without¡¡hindering¡¡for¡¡a¡¡day¡¡the¡¡ceaseless¡¡torrent¡¡of¡¡electrical¡¡conversation¡£
The¡¡crowning¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡system¡¡of¡¡to¡day¡¡is¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡telephone¡¡itself£»¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡maze¡¡and¡¡mileage¡¡of¡¡its¡¡cables£»¡¡but¡¡rather¡¡the¡¡wonderful¡¡mechanism¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Switchboard¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡part¡¡that¡¡will¡¡always¡¡remain¡¡mysterious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡public¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡seldom¡¡seen£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡remains¡¡as¡¡great¡¡a¡¡mystery¡¡to¡¡those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡as¡¡to¡¡those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡not¡£¡¡Explanations¡¡of¡¡it¡¡are¡¡futile¡£¡¡As¡¡well¡¡might¡¡any¡¡one¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡Sanscrit¡¡in¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡as¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡a¡¡switchboard¡¡by¡¡making¡¡a¡¡tour¡¡of¡¡investigation¡¡around¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡like¡¡anything¡¡else¡¡that¡¡either¡¡man¡¡or¡¡Nature¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡made¡£¡¡It¡¡defies¡¡all¡¡metaphors¡¡and¡¡comparisons¡£¡¡It¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡shown¡¡by¡¡photography£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡in¡¡moving¡pictures£»¡¡because¡¡so¡¡much¡¡of¡¡it¡¡is¡¡concealed¡¡inside¡¡its¡¡wooden¡¡body¡£¡¡And¡¡few¡¡people£»¡¡if¡¡any£»¡¡are¡¡initiated¡¡into¡¡its¡¡inner¡¡mysteries¡¡except¡¡those¡¡who¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡its¡¡own¡¡cortege¡¡of¡¡inventors¡¡and¡¡attendants¡£
A¡¡telephone¡¡switchboard¡¡is¡¡a¡¡pyramid¡¡of¡¡inventions¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡is¡¡full¡grown£»¡¡it¡¡may¡¡have¡¡two¡¡million¡¡parts¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡lit¡¡with¡¡fifteen¡¡thousand¡¡tiny¡¡electric¡¡lamps¡¡and¡¡nerved¡¡with¡¡as¡¡much¡¡wire¡¡as¡¡would¡¡reach¡¡from¡¡New¡¡York¡¡to¡¡Berlin¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡cost¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡pianos¡¡or¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡three¡¡square¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡farms¡¡in¡¡Indiana¡£¡¡The¡¡ten¡¡thousand¡¡wire¡¡hairs¡¡of¡¡its¡¡head¡¡are¡¡not¡¡only¡¡numbered£»¡¡but¡¡enswathed¡¡in¡¡silk£»¡¡and¡¡combed¡¡out¡¡in¡¡so¡¡marvellous¡¡a¡¡way¡¡that¡¡any¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡can¡¡in¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡be¡¡linked¡¡to¡¡any¡¡other¡£¡¡Such¡¡hair¡dressing£¡¡¡Such¡¡puffs¡¡and¡¡braids¡¡and¡¡ringlet¡¡relays£¡¡¡Whoever¡¡would¡¡learn¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡that¡¡may¡¡be¡¡done¡¡with¡¡copper¡¡hairs¡¡of¡¡Titian¡¡red£»¡¡must¡¡study¡¡the¡¡fantastic¡¡coiffure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡Switchboard¡£
If¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡switchboard£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡still¡¡be¡¡telephones£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡system¡£¡¡To¡¡connect¡¡five¡¡thousand¡¡people¡¡by¡¡telephone¡¡requires¡¡five¡¡thousand¡¡wires¡¡when¡¡the¡¡wires¡¡run¡¡to¡¡a¡¡switchboard£»¡¡but¡¡without¡¡a¡¡switchboard¡¡there¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡12£»497£»500¡¡wires4£»999¡¡to¡¡every¡¡telephone¡£¡¡As¡¡well¡¡might¡¡there¡¡be¡¡a¡¡nerve¡system¡¡without¡¡a¡¡brain£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡system¡¡without¡¡a¡¡switchboard¡£¡¡If¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡at¡¡first¡¡two¡¡separate¡¡companies£»¡¡one¡¡owning¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡the¡¡switchboard£»¡¡neither¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done¡¡the¡¡business¡£
Several¡¡years¡¡before¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡got¡¡a¡¡switchboard¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own£»¡¡it¡¡made¡¡use¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boards¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡designed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡telegraph¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡as¡¡simple¡¡as¡¡wheelbarrows£»¡¡and¡¡became¡¡absurdly¡¡inadequate¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡business¡¡began¡¡to¡¡grow¡£¡¡Then¡¡there¡¡came¡¡adaptations¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dozen¡£¡¡Every¡¡telephone¡¡manager¡¡became¡¡by¡¡compulsion¡¡an¡¡inventor¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡source¡¡of¡¡information¡¡and¡¡each¡¡exchange¡¡did¡¡the¡¡best¡¡it¡¡could¡£¡¡Hundreds¡¡of¡¡patents¡¡were¡¡taken¡¡out¡£¡¡And¡¡by¡¡1884¡¡there¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡fairly¡¡definite¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡what¡¡a¡¡telephone¡¡switchboard¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡£
The¡¡one¡¡man¡¡who¡¡did¡¡most¡¡to¡¡create¡¡the¡¡switchboard£»¡¡who¡¡has¡¡been¡¡its¡¡devotee¡¡for¡¡more¡¡than¡¡thirty¡¡years£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡modest¡¡and¡¡little¡¡known¡¡inventor£»¡¡still¡¡alive¡¡and¡¡busy£»¡¡named¡¡Charles¡¡E¡£¡¡Scribner¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡nine¡¡thousand¡¡switchboard¡¡patents£»¡¡Scribner¡¡holds¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡or¡¡more¡£¡¡Ever¡¡since¡¡1878£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡devised¡¡the¡¡first¡¡¡¨jackknife¡¡switch£»¡¨¡¡Scribner¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡switchboard¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡he¡¡who¡¡saw¡¡most¡¡clearly¡¡its¡¡requirements¡£¡¡Hundreds¡¡of¡¡others¡¡have¡¡helped£»¡¡but¡¡Scribner¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡man¡¡who¡¡persevered£»¡¡who¡¡never¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡an¡¡easier¡¡job£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡became¡¡the¡¡master¡¡of¡¡his¡¡craft¡£
It¡¡may¡¡go¡¡far¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡peculiar¡¡genius¡¡of¡¡Scribner¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡born¡¡in¡¡1858£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡of¡¡the¡¡laying¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡Cable£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡profoundly¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the¡¡work¡¡and¡¡anxious¡¡for¡¡its¡¡success¡£¡¡His¡¡father¡¡was¡¡a¡¡judge¡¡in¡¡Toledo£»¡¡but¡¡young¡¡Scribner¡¡showed¡¡no¡¡aptitude¡¡for¡¡the¡¡tangles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law¡£¡¡He¡¡preferred¡¡the¡¡tangles¡¡of¡¡wire¡¡and¡¡system¡¡in¡¡miniature£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡and¡¡several¡¡other¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡built¡¡and¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡operate¡£¡¡These¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡a¡¡benefactor¡¡in¡¡an¡¡old¡¡bachelor¡¡named¡¡Thomas¡¡Bond¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡no¡¡special¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡telegraphy¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dealer¡¡in¡¡hides¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cleverness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡money¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡more¡¡wires¡¡and¡¡more¡¡batteries¡£¡¡One¡¡day¡¡he¡¡noticed¡¡an¡¡invention¡¡of¡¡young¡¡Scribner'sa¡¡telegraph¡¡repeater¡£
¡¨This¡¡may¡¡make¡¡your¡¡fortune£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡no¡¡mechanic¡¡in¡¡Toledo¡¡can¡¡make¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡model¡¡of¡¡it¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Chicago£»¡¡where¡¡telegraphic¡¡apparatus¡¡is¡¡made¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡gladly¡¡took¡¡his¡¡advice¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Western¡¡Electric¡¡factory¡¡in¡¡Chicago¡£¡¡Here¡¡he¡¡accidentally¡¡met¡¡Enos¡¡M¡£¡¡Barton£»¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡factory¡£¡¡Barton¡¡noted¡¡that¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡was¡¡a¡¡genius¡¡and¡¡offered¡¡him¡¡a¡¡job£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡accepted¡¡and¡¡has¡¡held¡¡ever¡¡since¡£¡¡Such¡¡is¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡Charles¡¡E¡£¡¡Scribner¡¡into¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡business£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡has¡¡been¡¡well¡nigh¡¡indispensable¡£
His¡¡monumental¡¡work¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡development¡¡of¡¡the¡¡MULTIPLE¡¡Switchboard£»¡¡a¡¡much¡¡more¡¡brain¡twisting¡¡problem¡¡tha