power used in pulling the cable through the duct
being utilized in unreeling it. If this latter is allowed to occur the
cable will be bent too short and the lead covering buckled or broken,
and also the cable may be jammed against the upper edge of the duct and
perhaps cut through.

If the reel is allowed to turn faster than the cable is drawn in, the
first three or four turns on the reel will slacken up, and the lead
covering may either be dented or cut through by scraping on the ground.
If the cable end when pulled through up to the block is not long enough
to bend around the hole more than half way, the rope should be
unfastened from its end, a length of rope with a well frayed out end
should be run through the block, and by fastening to the cable close to
the duct, with a series of half hitches, as much slack as necessary can
be pulled in. If this is properly manipulated there need not be a
scratch on the cable, but unless great care is taken the lead may be
pressed up into ridges and the core itself damaged.

Immediately after the cable is drawn in, if the joint is not to be at
once made, the open end or ends should be cut off and the cable soldered
up, as most cables are very susceptible to moisture and readily absorb
water even from the atmosphere. Where practicable it is always a good
plan to pull the cable through as many manholes as possible without
cutting the cable; for the joint is, especially in telephone or
telegraph cables, the weak point. To do this the rope should be pulled
through the proper duct in the next section without unfastening it from
the cable; the winch should be moved to the next manhole, and pulling
through then done as before. There should always be a man in every hole
through which the cable is running to see that it does not bind anywhere
and to keep protectors around the cable.

It is not advisable to pull more than one cable into a duct, and never
advisable to pull a cable into a duct containing another cable, but if
two or more cables have to go into the same duct, they should always be
drawn in together. Lead covered cables and those with no lead on the
outside should never be pulled into the same duct, for if they bind
anywhere the soft cable will suffer where two lead covered cables would
get through all right. Some manufacturers are now putting on their
cables a tape or braid covering, which saves the lead many bad bruises
and cuts, and is a valuable addition to a cable at ver