Even if there was primitive multiplexing on those cables, I am fairly sure a 100 Mbps link could handle all of them these days with bandwidth to spare.

Edit: Telephony multiplexing didn't show up till 1910 but telegraphy multiplexing was around since the 1870s. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplexing

Can't imagine the weight of all those, never mind trying to find a particular one that was flaking out because some animal chewed through it or something.

C'mon bro, just one more phone line. Just one more and it'll be enough. Come on just one more line.

He's a menace, I tell ya!

Respect the hyphen!