New Apples in the Garden

Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction July 1963. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Some problems are perfectly predictable—yet not in the sense that allows a preprogrammed machine to handle them—
Eddie Hibbs reported for work and was almost immediately called out on an emergency. It was the third morning in succession for emergencies.
This time a section of distribution cable had blown in West Los Angeles. Blown cable was routine, but each instance merited the attention of an assistant underground supervisor.
Eddie climbed down the manhole with the foreman of the maintenance crew. There were deep pull marks on the lead sheath above where the cable had blown.
Where'd they get it? he asked.
It came in from a job on the East Side.
Sloppy work, Eddie said. Water got in the splice?
These new guys.... the foreman said.
Eddie fingered the pull marks. I think she's about shot anyway. How much is like this?
A couple of hundred feet.