Show HOW PHONE SYSTEM BEGAN There Were Only Eight Subscribers ra and the Switchboard Was by byWay byWay Way of a Joke One switchboard switchboard with a capacity of ot eight subscribers' subscribers stations that stations that was waa the beginning of telephone service the first step toward the commercial development de de- development e- e of ot the late Alexander Graham Gin Gra ham Bells Bell's now famous invention A crude switchboard had bath been used in Boston In 1877 but only for tor expert expert- experimental mental and ond demonstration purposes Its chief function was to convince the people of Boston and casual visitors of the utility of the telephone and of Its future possibilities says Telephone Press Service The ancestor of the modern commercial commer Ommer commercial cial telephone switchboard was Installed installed In In- stalled In New Haven Conn In 1878 From Its eight lines has been evolved the network of wires and cables cubles which covers the country from coast to coast const From a single switchboard the number number num- num num ber of ot central offices within a city hog has Increased to over From less thana than a dozen subscribers subscribers' rs' rs stations the total within the limits of ot p a single city has hag mounted In sever several l c cases ses to over tWO n and d in e case e to over Under r one on fO lines line are st switched and c lar J ar now i planned with I n a I capacity more than double that number i i n I i i H alt |