Local electric lighting service wires were strung along poles in this Maine community with a step-down transformer (from either 1,100 or 2,200 volts primary to 110 volts for electric customers) as seen along the left. On the right a much shorter telephone openwire lead is seen, primarily of the "alley" or "extended" crossarm line-construction technique for better wire clearance from adjacent trees and branches. This reduced maintanence and provided improved voice transmission and service, especially in wet weather when sagging tree branches came close to the bare openwire circuits.