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THE REGULATION OF RAILWAYS' ACT, 1889.

THIS Act, amongst other provisions-in themselves, as compared with that which we are about to quote, of a very minor character-enacts :-That "the Board of Trade may from time to time order a railway company to do, within a time limited by the order, and subject to any exceptions or modifications allowed by the order, any of the following things." Then follow the things to be adopted, to wit :-The adoption of the block system on all or any of their railways for public conveyance of passengers. The interlocking of points and signals. Continuous brakes, complying with the requirements of the Board of Trade, viz: instantaneous action by engine driver and guards; automatic action in event of any failure in "the continuity of its action;" applicability to every vehicle of the train, whether carrying passengers or not; the brake to be in regular use in daily working, and the materials of which it is composed to be of a durable character, and easily maintained and kept in order. Power is granted to the Board to enforce, through the Railway and Canal Commission, obedience to such orders as may in relation hereto be issued; and, perhaps what is still more necessary, power is reposed in the Board to authorise the creation of such portion of the expenditure as may be needed for carrying out such improvements as is properly applicable to capital account, by the issue of debentures or debenture stock "in priority to or ranking pari passu with any existing debentures or debenture stock of such company, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 5 per cent. per annnm."

Probably the first question which will be asked in relation to such a sweeping measure as this, is, when will it be carried out? We believe there is no intention on the part of the Board to allow the Act to become a dead letter. It has been framed by the Board with the object of strictly enforcing it, and we think it quite possible that it will be found that the order for the establishment of the block on

Electricity

Overhead Wire Rules

Long Distance Lighting Five-Wire System

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such sections of line as are not so provided will be issued at once, a twelvemonth only being allowed for its enforcement; and that a similar order will follow, if not accompany this order, for the interlocking, two years, or thereabouts, being allowed for its establishment.

The Act may be regarded as an implement for forcing those railways which have for so many years been indifferent to the requirements of their traffic to provide what is considered needful for its protection. The chief companies in England-the North Western, Great Western, Midland, and Great Northern -will, probably, find little trouble in readily comply-. ing with its demands; but to the smaller lines, the Scotch and Irish railways, the demand will not be an agreeable one. With many it is even possible that even with the exercise of the monetary powers contained within the Act, the power to raise debentures to the amount required will fail to produce the required result. If we turn to the Board of Trade returns for the past year, we shall see how great is the work to be dealt with. Looking first to the block, we find as regards England and Wales, we have 8,572 miles out of 8,801 of double line, and 3,583 out of 4,548 miles of single line provided for; that, with regard to Scotland, the proportion stands 1,184 out of 1,192 double line, 1,120 out of 1,627; whilst in Ireland the figures are, double line 184 out of 592 miles, and for single lines 380 out of 2,124 miles. There thus remains, so far as the block is concerned, no less than 3,861 miles yet to protect. With regard to interlocking we find only 3,861 cases yet to be dealt with.

Although interlocking will doubtless, to some extent, affect the electrical branch of the railways concerned, it is to the establishment of the block to which the attention of that branch will be chiefly directed. Where railways have not yet determined upon, or already adopted a system of block, the present is an opportunity which should not be lost sight of for ascertaining and securing that which is the most perfect and. the most reliable. Those lines which have become B

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wedded to a system will, we may assume, continue to use it. Where, however, there appears to be room to doubt the value of an adopted form, there should be no hesitation in replacing it. In seeking to determine the question as to which is the most fit, it should be borne in mind that first cost is not the most important consideration. The cost of maintenance, the reliability, freedom from failure, &c., are all points of the greatest importance. Failures, where a block system is strictly worked, entails stoppage or slackening-of traffic. To a busy line this means far more money than appears on the face of it. As a rule, three-wire systems are far more reliable than single-wire systems. The "All clear" signal under such systems is maintained by gravity or by a permanent current. There is little, if any, possibility of a foreign current reversing the position of a signal so worked.

Another point for consideration is the propriety of affording a means of communication between signal box and signal box. On some lines-notably, we think, on the Great Western-this is provided by arranging a local single needle circuit between each signal post, so that the signalmen may make any enquiry they desire of one another anent the traffic. On the Midland, we understand this is also being gradually effected at busy centres by means of telephone circuits, and at other less busy points by means of a patented arrangement combining block-bell and telephone-using the same wire for both bell and telephone. On more than one occasion the provision of some such communication has been recommended by the Board of Trade inspecting officers. The present affords an opportunity which will probably never recur for considering the propriety of employing such apparently useful adjuncts.

It is somewhat surprising that when seeking such exceptional powers, the Board of Trade did not go a little further and secure-at all events, for important and busy points-the interlocking of the electrical with the mechanical signals. It is quite true that the introduction of the automatic brake places in the hands of careful drivers a ready means for stopping their trains, but this does not obviate mistakes on the part of signalmen. The mechanical signals govern the trains, and the electrical signals are provided for the purpose of governing the mechanical signals—that is, the signalmen are required to work their signals by the indications of the electrical apparatus. How much safer it would be were the one interlocked with the other, so that the "line clear" signal could not be conveyed to the driver of a train unless the block post for the section ahead so communicated it by his electrical instruments, needs, we think, no demonstration at our hands.

The occasion is one on which no doubt the views of many of our railway electrical engineers will be called into requisition, and we feel satisfied the importance of the question will commend itself to their careful consideration.

THE panic that has arisen in New York in consequence of the rapidly increasing death-rate from electric currents of high potential has given a further

[NOVEMBER 8, 1889.

opportunity to the champions of low tension to enforce their views. Finding that the Mayor and Board of Electrical Control were hampered by legal injunctions from acting with full vigour against the offending wires belonging to what are now called Wild Cat Companies, and believing the Board of Health to be the only department of the city authorities beyond the reach of injunctions, and that the Board of Health, on a proper complaint being made to it by three citizens, would be compelled to act, Mr. H. P. Brown, in conjunction with two other citizens, lodged a formal complaint with the bureau, calling attention to the power it possessed, under a section of the Consolidated Act, of removing "any obstruction, matter, or thing in or upon the public streets, side walks, or places which shall be liable to lead to results dangerous to life or health, and the prevention of accidents by which life or health may be endangered."

THE Department considered the matter, and at length came to the conclusion that prior to and as a basis for further action a tour of inspection should be made to the several electric light stations, and the condition of their plant examined. The Brush Company and the United States Company having shut down, the officers of the Board drove to the station of the Manhattan Electric Light Company as the next most important installation. The party inspected the dynamo room, in which were ten Fort Wayne Jenney alternating dynamos of the Manhattan Company, three continuous incandescent current machines, three Thomson-Houston pulsating arc current dynamos, and one pulsating are current Brush dynamo. The three latter systems were supposed to work at 990, 2,200, and 1,980 volts respectively. Mr. Brown was ordered by the President of the Board of Health to measure the leakage from the various circuits. The voltmeter used was one supplied by Mr. Brown reading to 3,600 volts. After the tests the voltmeter was handed to Dr. Edson with instructions to have the instrument re-calibrated to compare with the actual readings. The first circuit tested was a continuous current one, and showed a leakage difference of potential of 915 volts; the second continuous circuit was in good condition, while the third continuous current circuit gave 1,000 volts. There was little leakage on the Brush circuit, and not more than 30 volts on the Thomson-Houston system. The high tension alternators, however, showed a potential difference varying from 150 to 600 volta, only one circuit going below 300 volts leakage. Although the United States Company lines could not be tested, their unsafe condition may be surmised from the fact that they deem it necessary to discard all their existing wires, and substitute new and better insulated cables at an enormous expense for labour and material, and this, too, in the face of the probability that, in a short while, they will be compelled to bury all the wires underground at a great additional cost.

IT is only fair to the lighting companies to mention, that in whatever degree they may be willing to carry out the orders of the mayors as to the placing their cables in underground conduits, it is utterly impossible for them to comply with the order. It is far from likely that, at the rate these conduits are being constructed at present, the companies will be able to bury

NOVEMBER 8, 1889.]

ELECTRICAL REVIEW.

the whole of their wires under a lapse of, perhaps, three years; unless, indeed, the Mayor gains his point with the Board of Electrical Control, and many different subway contractors, or companies, are allowed to proceed with the work at the same time. The old company thinks it has the monopoly, and does not hurry matters much. If the subway system is to be carried out in earnest there are, at least, 25 miles to be made, and the old company admits that it cannot complete that mileage under three years; so, for the public benefit, we trust Mayor Grant may have his way. The insulation on the present overhead wires must be of the poorest description; one kind of wire, with white covering, being avoided by all linemen as though it were a venomous reptile; while all descriptions have the insulation stript off near the posts from the abrasion caused by the boots of the workmen who have to ascend the poles for making repairs. Let the companies in this country, who are about to supply the electric light, take heed from the disasters that have occurred in the United States.

THE first annual banquet of the Institution of Electrical Engineers was a complete success, and reflected great credit on those who had the arrangements in hand. We believe the worthy secretary, Mr. F. H. Webb, did the lion's share of the work, and to him especially we tender our heartiest congratulations. From the beginning to the end all went merrily, and doubtless the annual dinner will in future form an important feature in the proceedings of the Institution.

IN a leaderette in our last week's issue referring to gas explosions in conduits we remarked :-"It is not too much to say that the advent of gas into our street electric conduits is extremely probable, if not absolutely certain; have our electric light companies thought of it?" Not having had any practical experience in such matters it was hardly expected that any of the electric light companies would have thought of such a thing, but we venture to assert now that at least one of the companies has thought seriously over the matter since our remarks were written, for, from what has come to our knowledge, the company in question has obtained some really useful practical experience on the best method of facilitating subway explosions.

THE accompanying extract from an evening contemporary, headed by sensational wording, reads almost as if it were chronicling one of the by no means uncommon New York occurrences. "This afternoon (Friday, November 1st), at 2.30, a terrific explosion occurred at Albert Gate. It appears that the electric light was being laid on to a new building now nearing completion, when one of the batteries (sic) laid underneath the flag stones burst with a loud report, tearing up the pavement for some distance around, and sending the iron plates high in the air. Fortunately, beyond the falling débris striking a cab horse no other damage was done, notwithstanding the fact that it happened at the busy part of Knightsbridge, where the 'buses usually set down and take up." This is headed as an "Extraordinary occurrence at Knightsbridge, the pavement blown up."

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JUDGING, however, from our remarks, the occurrence cannot be considered as "extraordinary," for it was distinctly foreshadowed as being "absolutely certain" to occur, but we must admit that we did not exactly expect to have the strong warning we gave so emphatically emphasised in a few hours by an actual example of the very danger practical experience led us to expect sooner or later. It has come sooner, but it is not yet too late for those companies who have put down conduits, and who are still doing so, to at once consider the best precautionary device to obviate further disasters. We have already pointed out as simple and effectual a method as can be well conceived. This question of proper ventilating the electric light conduits is one which should claim the attention of the surveyor of the district at once, and so prevent the recurrence of similar explosions.

IT is well known that the ignition of the explosive mixture in a petroleum engine, say, that of Priestman, is effected by a spark from an induction coil. The two metallic points, between which the spark plays, are, of course, well insulated from one another by means of the porcelain cylinder, through which they pass. An amusing incident has recently occurred in connection with the working of one of these valuable motors, which is too good to be buried in oblivion. During an examination of the contacts, when cleaning the engine, the man in charge noticed that a portion of the porcelain cylinder had become chipped and broken away, and thinking, therefore, that their condition was somewhat insecure, he took upon himself to enclose them in something less liable to fracture. He set to work and made two brass ferrules, and in these he secured the contact points, and then, having got everything else in ship-shape order, he attempted to start his engine. Do what he would the motor was no longer the thing of yore, and in the end it became necessary to send for assistance to a well-known electrical firm, whose employé soon discovered the secret of the downright refusal of the gas to explode. A friend of ours has suggested that the engineer had become a convert to Mr. Varley's method of reasoning to show that a good conductor is a perfect insulator, but we give this only as hearsay evidence.

THE remarks of the Marquis of Salisbury at the dinner of the Institution of Electrical Engineers should give encouragement to the electrical trades, for his utterances are not those of an enthusiast or dreamer. It is well known that his lordship is well informed on all matters electrical, and that on his Hatfield estate much experimenting has been carried out, both in electric lighting and the transmission of power. His oration may then be taken as the view of a serious thinker who can clearly perceive immense developments of electricity in the near future, although we somewhat fear that the happy time when the various members of a family of workers can pursue their labours at home through the universal employment of electro-motors is not likely to occur during the present generation. Nevertheless, the speech of the noble Marquis is entitled to every respect, and it must be very gratifying to the members of the Institution to know that the all-powerful influence of electricity has such an advocate to preach it to the world.

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CONTINENTAL NOTES.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

ALTHOUGH not exactly a continental item, it may be interesting to know that a syndicate of American, English and Chinese capitalists has been formed to work the Brush system in China, the light being already installed at Shanghai.

Apropos of China, it may be of interest to state that a telegraph line is now being laid between Pekin and Kjachta, on the Siberian frontier, whereby the cost of telegrams to that country, via Russia, will be considerably cheapened.

The ladies of the Russian telegraph service are raising a great outcry in the Press against the hardship of the law in force in Russia since 1864 that they may only marry telegraphists, and that, too, only those who are engaged at the same station, the official idea being that they thereby, in case of need, would be able to take the place of their husbands. A young Russian lady writes pathetically to the Nov. Wremja: "I have, therefore, if I do not choose to forfeit my situation, first to fall in love with an electrical swain, then to manage that he falls in love with me; next to arrange that he is transferred to my station. This is a hard task for a poor girl who is rivetted 14 hours every day to her apparatus, and does not wish to lose her pittance of 720 roubles a year?" Truly, these nineteenth century vestals, as that journal calls these ladies, have cause for grievance.

We referred on a recent occasion to the so-called Northern Telegraphic Agency in St. Petersburg, and the dissatisfaction expressed over its working, and it now appears that the Russian Government has decided from the beginning of next year to deprive the agency of all its privileges, whereby its career is, no doubt, at an end. It is maintained that the agency is in the pay of the great Continental telegraph agencies controlled by Jewish capitalists, and that this is a degradation to Russia. As an example, it may be mentioned that its news is generally two or three days old before communicated to the Press, and that even sometimes its telegrams are circulated after the news has been brought by post. It is the intention of the Government from the beginning of next year to establish a new thorough Russian telegraphic agency under the administration of the notorious Prince Meschtscherkeski, editor and proprietor of the well-known journal Grasjdanin, the most orthodox organ in Russia. However, as the rest of the St. Petersburg Press dislikes the Prince and his views, it is probable that they will not support this agency; but all the provincial journals, which are under official censure, will be compelled to subscribe to it.

The electric light has found a curious use in Russia -orthodox Russia, of all countries-viz., for illuminating saintly images in cathedrals. Thus a magnificent figure of the Madonna, just placed in the Alexander Newsky Monastery, loaded with precious metals and gems of immense value, stands glitteringly in the focus of an electric beam, which is also the case with the "Kasan Madonna in St. Petersburg. From near and afar thousands make pilgrimages to these shrines.

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Apropos of using the light for ecclesiastical purposes, it has been decided to light the ancient monastery of St. Ursula at Olmütz with it, the first instance on record of its being used in a monastery.

In Berlin the four "greatest dynamos in the world" are now being constructed at Messrs. Siemens and Halske's works at Charlottenburg, which are intended for the two new great central stations in Berlin. Each station is to have two of them. They are of 1,000 H.P. each, and are capable of feeding 10,000 glow lamps. It is claimed that such powerful dynamos have not even been manufactured in America. The machines are composed of a fixed cruciform electro-magnet, around which rotates a ring-shaped armature, over three metres in diameter.

is noted in Berlin that Mr. Weems, director of the

[NOVEMBER 8, 1889.

Electro Automatic Transit Company of Baltimore, has reproduced Dr. Werner Siemens's idea of long ago of an electric letter post. Dr. Siemens proposed that this form of transit of letters should replace the pneumatic tube system now in use in Berlin and Paris, the letters being conveyed on small electrical cars through a tube at a very great rate of speed. Mr. Weems claims that his cars can run 4,800 metres a minute-i.e., covering the distance from New York to San Francisco in 24 hours.

A curious accident befell a picket of Uhlans the other day in the Berlin Thiergarten through being struck by lightning. The flash recoiled from a tree, and, striking the picket, sent men and horses in an instant sprawling on the ground. Of five men and horses one man and a horse were killed outright, and one man paralysed.

The question of regulating tbe public clocks in Berlin by means of electricity is greatly advocated by business men. Hitherto only 41 clocks have been thus regulated, but now 17 more are to be fixed, and these will be controlled by the Berlin Observatory. However, the novelty in the system to be tried is that the clocks will be regulated through the telephone wires. The clocks are pneumatic ones, but the pneumatic apparatus working them is set in motion by an electric current transmitted through telephone wires. This is said to be a far less costly system than that used in other great cities for this purpose. In Paris, for instance, there have been since 1878 several thousands of clocks regulated by electricity, but it is said that the system is too dear, and is not applicable everywhere.

The death recently of the French author, Villiers d'Isle Adam recalls the fact that he based a novel, "l'Eve Future," upon Edison's inventions. However, his prediction does not correspond with present reality, as Adam causes Edison to produce an electrical woman of surpassing beauty, who imitates in a deceptive manner the appearance, speech, and movements of Eve of the present day.

At the last meeting of the Paris Academy of Sciences, M. Mascart presented a note by M. Moreau on the disturbances which were noted among the magnetic apparatus at the Parc St. Maur on October 20th, at the same time as an earthquake was felt in the Dardanelles.

A central electrical station, capable of feeding 100,000 lamps, and to start with 20,000 only, by means of alternating currents, has been installed on the Danube near Vienna for the lighting of that city.

The Municipality of Copenhagen is about to instal one or two central stations for electric lighting, in order to supply light to private houses, and afterwards to the public thoroughfares.

The results of the electric lighting undertaken at Stockholm by the gas company of that city have been most satisfactory. The electric lights already numbered, at the end of 1888, more than 14,372 incandescent lamps, and 247 arc lamps. The town of Holmstadt has just adopted the electric light, and is asking for the installation of a central station, capable of feeding 1,000 incandescent lamps and 80 arc lamps.

It is announced that trials of the application of electricity to navigation are about to be made in the harbours of Cadiz, Corunna, &c., by means of accumulators, by a company in the course of formation. The electric light which is working at Madrid is, it is stated, established under very defective conditions, especially in the theatres. At the Comedia Theatre, on the second day of opening, there was a total extinction, and the play had to be finished by the aid of candles hastily lighted. It is understood that the municipal administration, which is making at the present moment praiseworthy efforts to ensure an improved light, is about to require of the electric lighting companies the employment of electric accumulators.

The electric lighting of railway carriages by the Western Swedish Company, which has been working satisfactorily for a year, is about to be adopted by the other railway companies in Sweden. It is now in

NOVEMBER 8, 1889.]

ELECTRICAL REVIEW.

stalled in all the trains from Helsingborg to Gothenburg, and from that place to Christiania. In Finland the electric light has been fitted in the sleeping cars running between Helsingfors and St. Petersburg; and on the Danish lines from Copenhagen to Korsod the same system of lighting is about to be adopted.

Although not strictly a Continental Note, we may mention that the King of Siam has subscribed for 2,875 shares out of the 6,900 of the electric light company in course of formation in Bangkok.

The following particulars have been published on the electric lighting of Saint Quentin (France) :-The municipality of St. Quentin have regulated the lighting of the town by gas by imposing certain conditions on the St. Quentin Gas Company. The company is required, among other things, to distribute the electric light in a given perimeter, in the public streets as well as to private consumers who ask for it, and under the conditions determined by the agreement, of which the following are the principal clauses :-The canalisation will be aerial, but the company will be able, in case of need, to place cables in trenches or in the sewers. The gas company may extend the electrical conductors outside the aforesaid line; it will be forced to do so when it is guaranteed a consumption of 750 watts for an annual duration of 750 hours, and per decameter of canalisation; this consumption being calculated according to the mean of a determined line. In every case the company will not be expected to prolong its lines beyond a distance of 900 metres, reckoning from the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. The company will supply the electric current in all the streets in which it may have conductors to every consumer who shall pay a subscription of three months at least, and will guarantee an annual average consumption of 300 ampère-hours per lamp of 10 candles, or in the same proportions. The electric current will be supplied by meter, consequently the subscriber will be able to instal in his house, and at his own expense, one or several meters, according to his choice, taken from among the systems chosen by the company and the municipal administration; or else the meters will be proportioned to the consumption of electricity of the consumer. will be subject, as to their exactness and the regularity of their working, to all the verification which the company or the subscriber may think necessary. The company will be held to furnish the meters on hire; the monthly hire being payable at the same time as the cost of the electric current. The following is the cost per month for line and maintenance of the meters :

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In consideration of this payment the company will have to lay down, maintain, and keep the apparatus in repair. The subscriber will have the free disposition of the electric current which shall have passed the meter. The price of the electric current for lighting will be at a maximum of 16 centimes (1 d.) per 100 watt hours. The installation of the lighting material will be made at the expense of the consumers by the company from the principal canalisation to the meter; the company reserves to itself the right of control over all the remainder of the installation, which must be arranged so as not to impede or obstruct in any way the service generally, and to work under the existing potential in the electric network. The authorities of the town reserve to themselves the right to instal in the thoroughfares, where there is an electric canalisation, arc lamps, or those of any other system; these lamps will be placed at their expense, and kept in repair by the company. This apparatus will be subject, as far as regards its method of working, to the same conditions as private installations. The price of this lighting is fixed at 1 f. 20 c. per kilowatt. The electric current for lighting will be supplied from the fall of day to 12.30. The authorities of St. Quentin reserve

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the right to lower the maximum prices fixed, as above, for the town and private customers every five years from the approval of the present agreement by the prefectoral administration, in accordance with the prices in force in Paris at the various periods; but it must be well understood that a lowering of price will only take place when it is established that the electricity companies distribute to their shareholders on an average 10 per cent. of the capital engaged, interest included, and redemption calculated at a period of ten years. The gas company engages itself to lodge with the authorities a rent of 11 per cent. on the net products of the sale of electric energy, under the same conditions as those indicated by the sale of gas. The company will pay besides, to the authorities, an annual sum of 100 f. per kilometre of canalisation, both aerial and underground. The town of St. Quentin concedes to the gas company the exclusive right of laying and keeping in repair on, or under, the public thoroughfares, conductors destined for the transmission of electric energy, either for lighting, motive power, and all other applications of electricity. The paving works to be executed over the trenches will be done by the authorities on the company's account, against a payment of 2 f. per linear metre for private branches, and 1 f. 50 c. the square metre for conduits running along the public thoroughfares. The authorities formally engage, during the whole duration of the new agreement, to oppose, by every means in their power, the granting of authority to place canalisations for gas and electricity.

NOTES FROM DENMARK AND NORWAY.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

THE question of a central electrical station for Copenhagen, worked and maintained by the Municipality, to which previous references have been made in the ELECTRICAL REVIEW, has at last been decided. The station is to be erected near the King's New Market, in the most central part of the town, where all the principal shops, cafés, and pleasure resorts are situated. The Royal Opera is also to be lighted by electricity. The dynamos will be capable of feeding 10,000 glow lamps. The installation, which is modelled upon those of Hamburg and Deptford, will cost about £80,000. The annual expenditure is estimated at £10,800, and the receipts at £15,200, there being thus a profit of £4,400. A glow lamp of 16 candle-power is to cost, inclusively, 4 öre (d.) per hour, whereas the cost of a gas jet of equal strength is just half; the electric light will therefore be a luxury. It is not considered that the electric light will affect seriously the use of gas, which is also supplied by the city; but the Municipality was of opinion that it could supply the light more effectively than private entrepreneurs.

Apropos of Fredensborg Castle, this well-known Royal residence now boasts also the electric light, 80 glow lamps having been fitted in the great banquetting hall, and the light will be extended to other parts. The other night the Royal dinner table, with all its occupants, were photographed by the light.

The electric light is also to be introduced into the city of Flensborg, a syndicate having obtained a concession for 10 years, when the city is at liberty to take the works over.

On the Danish mainland-Jutland-the telephone has been extended extraordinarily in recent years. Thus, not only all larger towns are now connected, but every little village has its local installation. Soon, also, there will be direct connection between the west and east coast. In addition, the State has laid a telephone net all along the west coast, round the Scaw, and down the east coast, whereby every fishing hamlet and lifeboat station has become connected with the rest of the country, a boon which need not be enlarged upon. Having established a certain connection, the State places the same in charge of the local authority for working and maintenance.

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