Distribution of the wires in a telephone cable is most conveniently accomplished, without moisture entering the cable core, by means of a terminal head, Fig. 95, mounted on a pole as shown at j in

Fig. 96. The pole thus equipped is called a "distributing" or "terminal" pole. An unusually strong pole is selected for this purpose and is placed as nearly as possible in the center of a group of telephone users. A platform p is usually provided on the pole to enable the lineman to work easier and quicker. The method of connecting up the terminal head is as follows: The lead seal at the end of the cable, used to prevent the entrance of air and moisture, is stripped off,

u

d

FIG. 96.-Distributing Pole Equipment with a Terminal Head

and the wires are inserted through the nozzle n, Fig. 95, allowing the lead sheath of the cable to project within the box b. The lead sheath is then connected to the nozzle with a wiped joint of solder, and the ends of the cable wires are soldered to the inside terminals c, etc. Moisture is driven out of the box by pouring in, and then pouring out, paraffin heated to about 300°. While the box and wires are still hot, the rubber gasket k and cover o are placed on the box and screwed tightly in place, leaving the end of the cable hermetically sealed. The outside terminals t, t, etc., of the box are then connected through short cables u and v, Fig. 96, with the drop wires h, d, etc., leading to the telephone users' premises. The dotted lines in Fig. 96 indi

cate the position of the outer iron cover of the terminal head when pulled down, a runway being provided in the platform p to allow the descent of the cover. The terminal head affords, incidentally, a convenient means of altering the arrangement of the circuits when desired, for all that is necessary is to change the cross-connections in the box. Protection from lightning and other strong currents can also be had by using a terminal head fitted with lightning arrester and fuses.

Pole Steps are usually placed on each cable pole; also on all poles more than 50 feet in height, and on all pointed poles. They are made of steel inch in diameter and 10 inches long, turned up at one end and provided with a thread at the other end. These steps are driven on alternate sides of the pole, in line with the cross-arms, and are spaced 18 inches apart on each side.

Splicing cables becomes necessary when the line is greater in length than that of the cable on one reel. Before beginning the process there should be provided a pan containing paraffin, a portable furnace for heating the paraffin to the boiling-point, a ladle, a lead pipe somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the cable and about 2 feet long, called the "lead sleeve," and a paper sleeve about 3 inches long for each joint. First, the paraffin should be heated; then the lead sheaths cut back 12 inches from the ends of the cables to be spliced and the exposed conductors dipped in the boiling paraffin to prevent the paper insulation from

untwisting and exposing the wires to moisture. The lead sleeve should then be slipped over one of the cable ends, and about 1 inches of the insulation on each conductor removed, the wires to be joined together being given the proper lengths so that the different splices will not be bunched together at one place, but evenly distributed over the 24 inches between sheaths. A paper sleeve is then slipped over one of every two conductors to be joined, as shown at A, Fig. 97, and after the wires of each pair in one cable are joined to those of each pair in the other cable, the twisted conductors are turned down as at B, the paper sleeves slipped over the joints as at C, and by means of the ladle hot paraffin is poured over the joints as at D until no bubbles appear in the hot liquid. The bunch of conductors is then wrapped with cotton serving, the lead pipe is placed with its center over that of the splice, and its ends which project over the two cable sheaths are hammered down and soldered to them, as at E, while the splice is still hot. The best flux for this soldering is the grease from a tallow candle.

Methods of Cross Arm Bracing. The three commonly accepted methods of cross arm bracing are shown at Fig. 97a. That at A is the system usually followed in which two brace bars are used for each cross arm. The system outlined at B is somewhat cheaper and is suitable for lighter line wires as only one brace is used for each cross arm. Sometimes it is desirable to allow the arms