intermediate distributing frame on the floor below. The layer of
cables, supported on the iron rack immediately above the answering-jack
cable runway, shown at the extreme bottom of the view, are those
containing the wires leading from the repeating coils to the cord
circuits.

An interesting feature of this board is the provisions for protection
against injury by fire and water. On top of the boards throughout their
entire length there is laid a heavy tarpaulin curtain with straps
terminating in handles hanging down from its edges. These may be seen in
Fig. 426 and also in Fig. 425. The idea of this is that if the board is
exposed to a water hazard, as in the case of fire, the board may be
completely covered, front and rear, with this tarpaulin curtain, by
merely pulling the straps. The entire force--both operators and
repairmen--is drilled to assure the carrying out of this plan.

The rear of the boards is adapted to be enclosed by wooden curtains,
similar to those employed in roll-top desks. These are all raised in the
rear view of Fig. 426, the housing for the rolled-up curtain being shown
at the extreme top of the sections. In order to guard the multiple
cables and the multiple jacks against fire which might originate in the
cord-circuit wiring, a heavy asbestos partition is placed immediately
above the cord racks and is clearly shown in Fig. 426.

[Illustration: Fig. 424. Subscribers' Board. Chelsea Office, New York
City]

[Illustration: Fig. 425. Subscribers' Board. Chelsea Office, New York
City]

[Illustration: Fig. 426. Rear View Chelsea Switchboard]

[Illustration: Fig. 427. Terminal and Power Apparatus. Chelsea Office]

A view of the terminal and power room is shown in Fig. 427. In the upper
left-hand corner the cables may be seen in their passage downward from
the cable turning section between the _A_- and _B_-boards. The large
group of cables shown at the extreme left is the _A_-board multiple.
This passes down and then along the horizontal shelves of the
intermediate frame, which is the frame in the extreme left of this view.
The _B_-board multiple comes down through another opening in the floor,
and as is shown, after passing under the _A_-board multiple joins it in
the same vertical run from which it passes to the intermediate frame.
The cord-circuit cables lead down through the same opening as that
occupied by the _A_-board multiple and pass off to the right-hand one of
the racks shown, which c