Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1895 — Telephones for Railroad Passengers. [ARTICLE]

Telephones for Railroad Passengers.

A telephone attachment for railroad use has been introduced which will greatly increase the safety of railroad travel. At present the device is designed only for communication between the conductors and the nearest station, but the intention is to so modify it that it can be used by pussengers traveling on express trains. By this arrangement the telephone can be called into requisition by the

train dispatcher in addition to the telegraph, dtspatelling wires, while, on the other hand, the dispatcher can be called by any station or block along the line in a second. An ingenious part of the equipment is what is called a hanging set, which is to be carried In every Imggnge car and caboose. Should the train come to a standstill through a block, a wreck ot any other interruption, the liauging set. consisting of spliced rods with a cross-arm at the top. is dropped on two wires on the pole-line alongside the track. This gives as perfect connection as if the telephone were in a private oflice. and it will work along every foot of a railway line. In case of a wreck the telephone is iustantly available, tlie dispatcher is called and orders are sent direct to the si>ot in return.