TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18101, 17 June 1924, Page 7

TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION.

ISOLATED VALLEY CONNECTED.

Thursday last marked an important episode in the lives of the settlers of Lees "Valley, near Oxford, for on' that date through telephonic communication with ox 3 1 was established. Since the hoavy snowstorm of 1918, when the settlors of the valley were completely isolated, and runnors on skis had to be sent to ascertain how they were faring, tho farmers of the valley, a large number of whom are returned soldiers, have been endeavouring to secure telephonic communication with the outside world, and the Post and Telegraph Department has made a special effort to have the-line'completed before the snow set in in that district this year. , Tho Department has erected a line from the Oxford post office to tho entrance of Lees "Valley, a distance of about 15 miles, and the Lees Valley settlers have erected their own lines throughout the district to connect up with the Government line at its terminus. There are about ten settlers connected up, and the total mileage of the lino which they have erected is a little over 20 miles. The last connexion was finished on Thursday, and tho men working on the line were entertained to afternoon tea by Mr and Mrs H. J. Francis, of Lees Valley. Mr Francis expressed his thanks, on behalf of the settlers, to the Telegraph Department for tho assistance which it had given them. He also thanked the Department's linesmen for their work in connexion with the installation of the service