The San Francisco-Los Angeles Section of The Pacific Coast Telephone Cable Network

In 1926 it became apparent that increasing demands for telephone service on the Pacific Coast would warrant the completion of a telephone toll cable between San Francisco and Los Angeles before the end of 1930. This cable, which is the longest west of the Mississippi and which with buildings and equipment represents an investment of approximately $10,000,000 is strategically located for giving service between points on the Pacific Coast and to points on the North American Continent and the Orient. It was completed and placed in service September 2, 1930. It provides approximately 275 telephone circuits or about the same number as would three of the latest type of sixty-wire, six-arm openwire toll leads fully equipped with three-channel carrier telephone systems, and, in addition, certain broadcast and telegraph facilities. Two hundred and seventy miles of the cable is in underground construction, practically all being conduit which was placed specifically for this cable and other similar cables which it is expected will follow. Equipment associated with the cable is placed in eleven buildings along the route, five of which were newly constructed for this purpose. This paper describes the fundamental data used and the methods followed in engineering and locating the cable, the problems met in constructing outside plant and buildings, which were unique in the rugged and isolated section across the Tehachapi Mountains, and certain items of interest in regard to its operation and maintenance.