LAND TELEGRAPH LINES.

?
 No. 11.

MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION

OP

LAND TELEGRAPH LINES.

SIEMENS BROTHERS,

Telegraph Engineers,
Manufacturers of Submarine and Subterranean Cables, Mate-
rials for Overground Lines, Iron Telegraph Poles, Insula-
tors, Instruments, Batteries, Electric Mink Exploders, and
Telegraph Apparatus of all kinds.
Contractors for Laying Submarine Cables, for the Erection ok
Land Lines, and for the Establishment of Telegraphic
Communication Generally.
ESTABLISHED IN 1847.
OFFICES :
3, GREAT GEORGE STREET, WESTMINSTER, LONDON,
S.W.
WORKS :
CHARLTON PIER, NEAR WOOLWICH, AND AT BERLIN,
ST. PETERSBURG, AND TIFLIS.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY J. B. NICHOLS AND SONS,
25, Parliament Street.
 3

MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF

LAND TELEGRAPH LINES.

A.—Iron Tubular Teleoraph Poles (Siemens’ Patent).

Telegraph line wire is generally suspended (by means of insulators)
from wooden or iron poles. The principal advantages in favor of iron
poles .consist in their superior durability and solidity, and consequent
capability of resisting injury.
Poles of soft wood require in some climates to be renewed every Wooden
two or three years, and they rarely last, under the most favorable pole8'
circumstances, above six years. Their durability may be increased to
some extent by injecting sulphate of copper into the fibre of the wood
(by Dr. Boucherie’s process), but this can only be applied to freshly-
felled timber, and is attended with considerable expense, whereas the
beneficial effect produced is not very decided. The frequent necessary
removals of wooden poles and the liability of the latter to give way,
involve continuous and expensive repairs of the lines and frequent
interruptions of the telegraph service.
Lines with well-constructed iron poles are much less exposed to Iron poles,
interruption of the telegraphic service, a renewal of poles being
scarcely ever required. The saving of continuous expenses of repairs,
and the establishment of an uninterrupted telegraphic service, will
A
 4
recompenso in a manifold deffreo for i• L 5
poles, whioh are therefore decidedlv t 1 "S " °f Ulc iron
nher° lo"« d«ta-ce, uncultivated co„C 'W0,Traded for (3rd.) A wrought-iron welded tube, combining great strength
linea with lightness ; it is fastened in the socket during erection,
rlimatic changes, heat and dam„„0,s , ^ r0adS’ ejttreme
■IMenlt to maintain the lines i„ ‘ „ “UtS’ &C'’ make ¡t more cither by means of a cement, or by the conical end of the
continual inspection. But, even i„ c7r md md<!r upper tube, fitting tightly into the socket.
tÍmber Í8 cIlea , a d
.ron expensive, wooden poles have ¡„T ^ l » (4th.) A lightning discharger, consisting of an iron rod eighteen
tiloso of iron. ‘an^ rarts been superseded by inches high, and half-an-inch in diameter, fastened into
Siemens' Siemens’ Patent Iron Polo h . the top of the upper tube, for the purpose of discharging
•ron jK>Io.
1 atmospheric electricity.
Obtam the greatest possible strength LTTT b 1,t7
^ ^ ^ to
possible weight, and to give each f h ' ’^ Comparing this pole in its combination of the different parts with
the entire po!e a convenient form for e„7, PrmC,i>al P“eS ““P08“« the established principles of construction above specified, the following
results are obtained :—
The square wrought-iron buckled foot plate, fig. 1, Plate I. gives Foot plate,
I'rincijiles
of con- naturally to the pole more stability and resistance against movement
struction Ä00d imn W^raptpet, h^'héent ^‘rdfr ti'<! COnStrnrtio" °f “ than poles without a foundation ¡date, or such as only employ under-
of iron
poles. manufacturera even to the present ^0 71^77°^ b7 man^ ground cross-bars. The application of foot-plates offers the further
interest and for the guidance of inf ' ^ ’ therefore' be in the advantage, that the poles need not be sunk in the ground more than
here th
r principles of consul“/ to point out half the depth which is requisite for poles without foot-plates ; and
o
— -rnn^ox^, tte », thus the expenses for labour, especially in stony grounds, arc consider-
The leading prinejpieg of construction are— ably reduced.
The cast-iron tube forming the lower portion of the pole combines Lower
strength with durability, and avoids the destruction of the pole by oxi- tu,’e-
hrXe.Ín nU P rtS
“ °f ‘h6 P”k' to
dation at the ground line. Such destruction would happen sooner or
r2)
- ctr * and reSÍ
— ^ Motive inflnences of later at that point if the lower part of the pole were made of wrought-
iron, which will oxidise and decay wherever exposed to changes of
humidity and high temperature, which cast-iron, it is well known,
(3). SfoMlitp and fimm^ of the pole after erection.
' /• baBy erection. does not do. Even galvanizing does not prevent a wrought-iron pole
(5). E»V transport of the different parts. from rusting and decaying wherever the iron is in contact with the
a tS
*' and V- represent these poles P ever-changeable dampness at the ground line ; and this destruction of
n n
(1st.) A dished 0r k , , J Each
P°,e insists of_ the pole will take place the sooner in proportion to the thinness of the
' buckled foot-plate of wm„„ï *• sheet-iron of which the Lube is constructed, or in places where the
« attached bp means of four Lta to m0USbU™- ^ch
-'Hi.) A cast-iron tube forming the lower portion of th , ground contains salts destructive to iron. Experience has proved
that the process of galvanizing (although it retards the rust and pahroniz-
of convenient length for carriage and tcnilaf ? *
socket to receive terminating In }l corrosion induced by atmospheric influences) considerably weakens àd”¡sable
wrought-iron by the acids which are used, gradually eating into the
metal under the zinc coating. The safer plan is adopted, with regard to
 6 7
Siemens’ poles, of dipping the wronght-iron tnho
facture,,, uud whfle hot, L hot oii.wLlh t, us d“ “T, “ ma'‘U- experienced in such operations, and even by the natives ol uncivilised
metal, and affords the best possible nro *• ¿ W
* into the coum-rito. vi i i
&C> Whilst these poles are more reliable, and, therefore, less likely to
Poles of galvanized sheet-iron, althong,!
8 when uew
are hable to bend or break after h. • - ' > lead to interruptions of the telegraphic service, they are also simpler,
single case has been known of a Siem'^ ^ COr^0de, whiIe not a stronger, more durable, lighter, and less expensive to lix in place,
decayed, although such poles are erected hT Ir°n. P0,e being
besides being less in price than any others of equal efficieucy.
ereCted 111 ev
ground. ery kind of climate and The total length of the poles, as usually employed, is when put
The welded wrought-iron upper tnh« c- together 19 feet 8 inches, not including the length of tne lightning
than an, other pole of 8¡m¡Iar ^ci , ^e”ms P»k » «ronger discharger, which projects 18 inches. The pole will stand 17 feet
resists corrosion better, being of fr„’„ , “ m°re d"rable anJ above the ground when erected, it being necessary to place it only
material without nVet8’„re::few°s ^^ ^ ^ 2 feet 8 inches in the ground. The test strains mentioned below are
8
cast-iron part. ^xed into the lower those which the respective poles will bear without breaking when
erected in the ordinary manner, and the strain applied with a leverage
materiii], is ionstmcted“»!™“'WeJ^“^ bU‘ “tr°"S in tbict”«s of of 17 feet, in a direction at right angles to the axis of tho pole (such
blnG gI eat 8trell ,, w
greatest durability, and at tho 9 *• ’ ^ »th the being the tests applied by the British Government).
Prc8Mt th k St
«.rf.ce to the .ind’ ' “ ^ These poles are usually manufactured iu the following live sizes : —
Iiave never been bent, broken or turn 1 lemen8
. ^ 6Tub,dar Poles No. 5 total weight about 184 lbs. test strain 5G0 lbs.
the buckled-foot-plate underground ‘andfe "“ÍT ‘r0nSeSt8-.l'.., No. 6 220 680
the wind ensuring the stabilit, 0f these Pü “ f^ CIP 8ed 40
° No. 8 254 900
No. 10 295 1,120
greater diameter of certain nthftr * P les after erection. The 1,350
the larger surface offered b7 the'r'to™!0"6 ^'hCCWr°n POleil’ md No. 12 340
their read, corrosion, must nat.u-all, tend to“ ;'“ “"fIlati™ "itb The prices of these poles are from £1 7s. and upwards, packed and
delivered free on hoard in London. The price varies however accord-
XX ^ - p-X eXhXxr r
Conreni- iron.
cnce for regard to I7r,X, ar°S0 ^ ^
transport. For crossing roads, railways, «fee. or places where poles have to carry Poles_fo^
a great number of wires, they are made considerably longer ; fig. 2, [ng8_
Plate I. represents a long pole of this kind, the wrought-iron upper
of the po.es is „„other tube of which is divided into two parts in order to facilitate transport.
These two lengths arc joined together by means of a cast-iron double
Parts socket, the joining being performed on the spot where tho pole is to
easilj pat
together. operation, and hXXered XX tX’ 7"’ ^ ^ be erected.
For light lines consisting of only one or two wires not exceeding
r °n Whate7Cr “Option of ground L w^T Ct ra f the
° °
«■o work has been carried „„t equal], weU hr bein8':reCt<!d'aaJ a diameter of 0-157 inch or 4 millimetres (No. 8 B.W.G.) No. 5 pole
1 y WelJ b7 men entirely i -
u for intermediate combined with No. 8 for stretching will prove efficient,
 s
especially if 8j,aip curves or ang|eg ^ . .
m,t ,l c
“Oi it is, howerer, safer to „so No. 10 as 6(r Z ‘
Although Siemens’ Patent Iron Tubular Poles have been intro-
bmation with No. 5. stretching poles in com-
Propor- duced only thirteen years, they have already found very extensive and
tion and Six or seren oniinaiy or intermedia^ ,
number of M 8tretehing Coraw
general application. The lines constructed for the British Govern-
Poles per P»ls ¡» the usual propel
PrOp0rtlou
’ . ment through Mesopotamia, Persia, Ceylon, and in many parts of the
Biile. msniators. as explained for
Provided the telegraph JinP f,n East Indies, are provided with such poles. They are also employed
proportion of 18 intermediate ^ even route, the through Russia, Georgia, and Persia for the Indo-European Line,
-ÜI be sufficient ; if, however, the ,ine T j" ^ PW s“"‘« «ilo
8 through the Argentine Republic and Chili for the Transandino Tele-
graph, uniting Buenos Ayres with Valparaiso. They arc extensively
to 5 stretching
sVrjtr 8h poles per „„¡a
“~‘ra8 »X 2/r::‘^ to 24 intermediate
curTes r a and
° ^'™- used in the River Plate States of the Argentine Republic and of
of a safe line. If the fer the construction Uruguay, fur all the Imperial lines of Brazil, also on many lines in
connt^j', „r the wires are snbL “ ! Z ^ Tm^ >ao„„tai„„us Mexico, Peru, Egypt, South Africa, Spain, England, Germany, &c.
Stays fur iron poles shown in Plate I. fig'. 3 are required to give Stays,
Unifor- 40 POks P
mity of Th
Sh0 ^, Z - "tfe nghttrr “f0“5 °f iC° ro“d «-on, additional stiffness to the poles in such cases where they are exposed
line mate- “ <i be specially desired ^ ^ emP,0yed '
rials. Miiption with a view to afford additional f m.“terials of a "aiform de- to an extraordinary side strain, as is the case with terminal poles at
aad erection, a line may be construetT^ '“ f0r tidr ^‘nbution angles or in curves of the line. Each stay consists of a wrought-iron
tren tnbnlar poles-either of the d m °M ^ “f Siemens’ clip with screw bolt and nut for fixing the stay to the upper part of
0nP On8 m tio ei1 the pole, a galvanized steel strand wire looped at each end, a
tretchuig or intermediate-the mmib r “ " »bnve as
-«e depending, as ^ ^ « per galvanized round wrought-iron rod 3¿ feet long, terminating in a
un
> bat also on the strength of the 1 ^ ^ ^ ““tUr° of the hook at one end and provided with a thread and nut at the other cud,
f" each case, onlr one u. J , ° poles
obosen. for fixing it to a square iron anchor-plate.

B.—Insulators.

Insulators afford the means of supporting the line-wire and of insu-

40 that Si
tubular poles ^ ^ oa>ons’ iron lating it electrically. Efficiency in the good working of Telegraph
lines is not insured by the application of insulators of good insulating
capacity alone, but of such as are capable also of resisting accidental
Special
mies. or wilful injury.
™PpHed, as, foHnX“Xe mCibrLPd 08 ^ ^ U6<!
«re also Several kinds of insulating materials have been applied for the pur- Various
pose, such as porcelain, glass, earthenware, ebonite, india-rubber, &c. ^beriaJs’
::r:b,epoieet°- th
° '“-f x»;? ?;roofs » and of various shapes. Long experience and extensive trials in all
climates have shown that insulators of porcelain, strengthened and pro-
tected by iron, are stronger and more durable than any others.
Insulators of various shapes, without the protecting iron hood, are
also supplied for use on such lines where there is less necessity of un
 11
Porcelain bell,C°',SÍSt ^ ''ÜUll,e
- P,, nt for ,on poles> md P1r^ z1 ttrzz Fig. 9 shows side elevation of a double porcelain hell stretching
insulator with cap and cxcentric for same purpose as figs. 5 and 7,
Plate II.
Fig. 10 represents a pair of control pole insulators. One pair of
in
^ -ntries these insulators is fixed to a pole at about every five, ten, or more
~er htore ( s
“ —- miles, to afford an easy means of separating and rejoining the line-
Porpose of wire for testing, and thus facilitates the removal of any faults or
stretching
“íi<1 intcr- interruptions that may occur.
niediate “®" “ iotern.XT ^TT f‘W° k,'”Js-‘he “
tretcIllI1
insulators. serves to secure the wire at o t • g insulator or strain Fig. 11 shows an intermediate insulator with double porcelain bell,
r>-d atabonterei7 680^ interral8 on tl]e line> M^r having a groove at the top into which the wire is placed and fastened
Six intermediate instdator« ‘ by means of galvanised iron binding wire.
Fig. 12 shows side elevation of a double porcelain bell stretching
siretchmgrtinsulators
iT withoot
in iron - r
;rnr?'
or steeM rced
mrebetween
''S fa“tened
t,re 8t
™”-
to Ike insulator with iron cap and notches for fixing the wire by means of
ex«ntnM or cams ^ *°able k„ol wUb ^ ^ two wedges.
'roen tie two notches of the do Iho0ks or t°p-caps. The Plate VII. fig. 25, represents a side elevation of an iron-hooded
a 4 h0 k8 ÍS
intermediate insulator for wooden poles, serving for similar purposes
aWire fixed T'
If “ ^ ‘o he detened :
P ° re re< bent ,, as the insulator shown, Plate II. figs. 4 and 6.
t each « be preferred to fasten ,1“ “ I“ired-
iflsnJator. Fig. 26 represents a side elevation of an iron-hooded stretching
insulator for wooden poles, serving for similar purposes as the insulator,
Plate II. figs. 5 and 7.
Fig. 27 represents a side elevation in section of an iron-hooded
insulator with twin hook (Brook’s patent) for wooden poles ; with this
insulator the wire is firmly held in the twin hook at the end of the
stalk and does not require the use of stretching insulators.
Äifis Plate VIII., fig. 28, represents a side elevation in section of a doable
porcelain bell intermediate insulator with malleable bracket, cap, and
ZTZh00i- ^^yto belaid J: excentric, serving for similar purposes as the insulator shown in
insulators with VT**611* 8Íde elevat
'on of iron i, , , Plate III. fig. 8, but for wooden poles.
08 Fig. 29 shows side elevation of a double porcelain bell stretching
««niators serve to r/the^rr ’ ^ ** ^ p'ler^^
advantage of ^ hrmly certain intervals • T insulator with malleable bracket, cap, and excentrics for wooden poles,
serving for similar purposes as the insulator shown, Plate III. fig. 9.
-YnTr Fig. 30 shows the front elevation of a pair of control pole insu-
lators with cap and excentrics for wooden poles, used for the same
h ■“‘»mediate in8ul,ltor. P mJ - • *»
“““«<= »-
to fasten the purpose as the control pole insulators shown, Plate III. fig. 10.
Fig. 31 represents a side elevation of a double porcelain bell inter-
mediate insulator, used for the same purpose as the one shown on
Plate III. fig. 11.
 12
Flg 32 s,lows 13
. - “■'le elevation of n donl,l„ WI strete
insulator with malleable bracket „„M, ‘ 7“ <l'ng
All iron hoods, cups, and stalks of the above insulators arc firmly Advan-
som
wooden poles in tbe same way
W y as th„
th , V for cemcnted to the porcelain bells. A cast-iron bell covering the insu-
- Plate III. 12. “ « -"'»tor for iron po,es
lator not only protects the porcelain cap from accidental or wilful bell,
Pig- S3 represents a side elevation r •
injuries, but also from wet ; this is essential in regard to good
Perforated iron hood, and malleable b“ ‘"»"'»tor with
wire to be fastened in the leg, of th et for
>™oden pole. insulation.
binding wire. the
'"»nlator by mem of iron Changes of temperature and weather cause numberless fine fissures
or cracks in the enamel or glaze on the exposed surfaces of all stone-
P'g- 34 shows side elevation of a a ,,
Jdator with iron c„p and eIeentrfc ^d T’"61401 be" in‘e™«I«to ware insulators, which cracks absorb the moisture of the atmosphere,
of which the insulator is Sxed m “nd ’"th » toof saddle, by means destroy the perfect insulation, and frequently tend to break the
insulator, especially when the moisture in the cracks expands in
ig. 35 shows side elevation of a d P,°f P°leS’ I,0,lses. &c.
msidator with iron cap and evcentrie 7 POrC°!“i“ bdl »‘etching freezing. With iron-covered insulators, however, the surface of the
Pose as %. 84. t™ »nd roof saddle, for same PJ insulating material is not so much exposed to the destructive action
Plate IX. fio- q/> .i 1 of the weather, and will preserve its soundness and good insulation
Porcelain mtenMdiate inmlatorhirt"^ ” ' ' 0 !t Cti0,, f do U
° “ " c hell for a much longer time than if unprotected.
From above reasons, iron-hooded insulators are decidedly preferable
in places subject to extreme climatic and atmospheric changes, and
also for places where wilful injuries are feared.
Siemens’ insulators have been extensively in use for more than
‘heinsnhitor to the wooden pole. "‘h CUrVed sta
«t to fastef twenty-five years, and in all climates—Turkey, Egypt, Persia, Meso-
potamia, India, Australia, Queensland, New Zealand, South Africa,
South America, Tropical North America ; in the coldest parts of the
»«fte whh8c!7vedTsatlÍkn “d “ d0 bie POrcel i
" “ ” hell inter
globe, such as Newfoundland, Russia, Siberia, &c. ; and in the various
countries of Europe, and have in all cases given entire satisfaction.
wooden telegraph ’pok repreS
™t sid
" elevation of a
The number of insulators (and poles) required per statute mile Number
varies from 18 to 20 intemiediate and 3 to 5 stretching insulators, per nule-
nr-- cinr ^ “b^ according to the nature of the ground and route selected for the line:
,,18U,at0rS
the n Ptovided with wire , • Tlle *«"■ "l and as an average 18 intermediate and 3 stretching insulators are recom-
mended. The latter are to be placed more frequently where the line
forms curves, and the poles at very sharp curves or angles in the line
should always be stretching poles, as previously described. If only
one kind of insulator is used, one will be required for each pole (see
“ uniformity of line materials ”).
The iron parts of the insulators are black varnished, or galvanized ;
the galvanizing is far preferable for the insulators, as the light and
galvanized surface prevents spiders and other insects from taking
 14
their abode in the interior of the cuns u. 1 15
good insulation of the line. ' "ls lni°rfere nith the practice it is convenient to take a length of six inches for this purpose.
The prices of insnlators, ns «hm™ i To carry out this test, a piece of the wire should be gripped by two
London, are from U. 3d. for thc ¡ , CSCn e'1’ 'kl'>n>-ed freo in vices so set on the wire as to have the given length between their faces.
including the necessary screws Mts ^ f°r the One of the vices should then be held still whilst the other is turned so
The prices rar^, howore acc ^ ’ . ^kets, saddles, &c.
as to twist one end of the wire round its axis, when each complete
and whether it is black ^
7 gaIvani2ed revolution of the second vice is to be counted as one twist.
made of iron, steel, &c ’ , and the hooks
The strain which wires of from one millimetre to six millimetres
'^®6#idea the insulators herein specified, all other kinds are made to
diameter should bear as a minimum varies from 70 lbs. to 2,510 lbs.,
and their ductility should be such that they would bear at least from
44 to JO twists.
The prices of wires vary, according to the diameter, from £20 to
,ron Wire Si W fi
' °™° Brothem snpplXw'T” ' ' A’"1 CABLES
' £38 per ton delivered free on board London.
Iron telegraph wire of an inferior quality can be supplied at prices
Oth0rWise lower by £5 or more per ton than those quoted before ; but for the
twisted joint and galvanised, as sh«n “d ' “re «-
construction of telegraph lines none but the best wire should be
»f -ron and steel stranded „1res are al ’ 'ate IV' AI1 «»da
employed.
-«■ver, long spans, for Te.egrap,, Unes
Cr0SS, g nVcre Copper wire is also supplied either plain or stranded for temporary Copper
Charcoal .ron w¡re is recommended al M ’ '” ’ *“■
military lines, lightning-conductors, &c.
fnpb ,mea
- 4Itl 0
> “gh dearer S,,itaWe for
Tele- Insulated wires are of various constructions ; the conductors are Insulated
Ir0n mre ¡t beS
> H ->■> necount of its Li ^ ‘ " ^ordshire either single wires or strands, and are of copper or (in strands) of a ^blca "
Z- I” ereCt m re rcI
’ ° “We in its dZ7ml7 r
^ combination of two metals, as copper and iron, &c., and are insulated
with one or more layers of india-rubber or gutta-percha.
If used for station connections the insulated wires are of a simple
construction with one insulating layer, and in some cases an outer
, he .1^
protecting covering of parafined tape.
galvanization, strength and to Jon and Ïr Unifc
™¡‘í, good
nnd must be strictly observed darin ,,C0nd“'0n8 sPeO‘fied hefore- For use in tunnels or for short underground lines, thc wires have a
onsure the supply of „ reliable tdemrif Bh0l
‘' thicker coating of insulating material and a stronger protection of
tape (Plate VI. fig. 1), or a braiding of best hemp (fig. 2). The
°"g ‘ to b= ^ accordingolrJ;,re'and “ W wires latter déscription is much used for military telegraphy.
Pnces Wires bear.ng Hl ^ ^ and not „cc„r(I¡ng * the¡r
For longer underground lines or for sub-aquatic cables the insulated
0n
ml 0r aS CreCtÍOn and
The J u
wire or cores (if more than one are employed) are twisted into a
Ensile strength ofinterrupted
th» • 1 , tZJ!7° g aph,c ^ ^
^rrice.
by tbe strand, then served with hemp and covered externally in a variety of
appheatiou of a specified weight without tte'' ^ ^ct
The best way to test the ductility 0f w'^ ntion of ie
«rs. ways by iron wires or copper sheathing, as shown by figs. 4 and 3
(Plate VI.) respectively.
‘wists which a given length of it will b ^ aeCertain tlle n'™ber
g
Fig. 3, Plate VI., shows a piece of Siemens’ patent copper-sheathed
“will bear without breaking In cable for underground and submarine lines. In consequence of its
 17
16

greater flexibility ami the smaller weight of cables of this construction, General Remarks.
compared with those covered with iron wires, they ofler the advantage
that a greater length of cable can be packed on wire drums for over-
land transport than is possible with a corresponding weight of a
Estimates are prepared to meet o! toe
heavier iron-sheathed cable. These properties of flexibility and
lightness make copper-sheathed cables especially convenient for land particulars as to the length “"/to be estabMied. It is
transport, and invaluable as snow cables for crossing summits of wires required, and num er ^ mstcnota that

snowy mountains, as in use on the Transandino Line from Buenos desirable in order to ensme ^ ^ erected 6h(mld be given as
Ayres to Valparaiso, for military telegraphs and underground frontier information concerning the 1 of t]lc ground

lines, fire alarum lines, and police telegraphs in large towns, electrical completely as possible : as, or ‘ or rocky ; the features
signals in mines, exploding purposes, &c. should he stated, whether soft or , P whethcr leTel or
It is sometimes preferred to lay the insulated wires for underground 0f the locality through ^^."aLe forests; if rivers arc
lines in cast-iron pipes, either of the ordinary form or split in halves mountainous, if covered wit ru cun.ent, and nature of bottom,

with test boxes placed at certain distances to facilitate repairs of the to he crossed, their width, streng ^ b(¡ o{ fte
wires. and if navigable or not, as cab ^ current, to a rocky
The prices of insulated wires, cables, pipes, test boxes, &c. are given heaviest and strongest kind if «r ^ ^ ^. ond ¡f town, are
on application, but it is desirable that particulars respecting the nature bottom, or to danger from anch ! ^ line u be laid nnder-
and locality of the place where the wires or cables are required should to be passed it should be spec e n ^ on ^c roofs of the
be given as fully as possible, in order that a correct estimation may be ground, or if poles are rcqmr countries concerning
formed of the dangers to which the cables, &c. may be exposed when houses, &, If the matenais ^ „ it is ais„
laid down, and therefore of the construction of cable most suitable to which it is difficult to obtain ^ to the means of trans-
resist such dangers. desirable that information should P ^ camcbi mules, &c. In
port of the snid materials, whet J u „¡red, it is also
D.—Tools for the Erection of Land Lines. order that a correct idea may c formed of ^ ^ ^ for the
Tool-chests containing screw-drivers, pliers, saws, hammers, solder- useful to know the conveyance of public messages, or
working of a railway toe, for the convey
ing stoves, and all the necessary implements for fastening the insula-
tors to the poles, for straightening, stretching, and securing the wire, for private use only. Bieiaens Brothers for the complete
0 y
are supplied at prices from £20 and upwards, according to the size Contracts are entered h lincs, including the supply
and contents of the chest.
Plate IV. shows some of the tools of special construction. Fig. 13
represents the levers for twisting the joints (shown in same figure).
Fig. 14 represents the winch with chain and devil-claws for straighten-
ing and stretching the wire. Figs. 15 and 16 are pulleys and chains
with devil-claws also used in stretching the wire. " ÄÄprra: ää
Spades, shovels, pickaxes, long ladders, &c., are also supplied if
required.
u
 18
the medium of a third party. Snrh ,};»>/>* 19
•
receive immediate
1
j• , attention, ■ will always
and
11 ,irect
' provecommunications
the I w «¡11
and are obliged to stretch at a distance of every fifteenth or sixteenth
pole. This has no greater inconvenience in the first instance than that
of rendering the operation of stretching with a brittle wire more
tedious ; but for the repairs afterwards, with inexperienced surveil-
lants such as the chaoushea, the difficulty will be materially increased,
and the task become more or less impossible.
“ The Instruments were furnished by Messrs. Siemens, and are in
every respect of the most excellent quality, suited also for submarine
communication; but the delicacy of the relay and the nature of the
connections render an European staff absolutely necessary.
on
PROGRESS ami PROSPECT? nfn TT\?r- ' ' ^ie “ The distances between the stations being very great, dial instru-
ments should have been furnished for intermediate postes de surveillance
if an European staff was to be organised; if, however, only the Turkish
chaoushes are to be surveillants, none would be required, as they could
poreclain cup-insulator with t ' th k
“ iron an(! not make use of these instruments.”
at every tenth post, by’far preffrable^t'^T“1 ,nSa¡aU"'S “°teh’
out Russia and Siberia is fir sf , ° one a(,0pted through- Extract from the “ CAPE ARGUS ” of January ID, 1864
in any Tdegraph IT**” ““ el
- 1 have seen “ I3y far the most important event of the month, regarded wnd a
being eminently suited to a ron, h^”1 “SUlat“S: ,nalities ! besides view to its ultimate effect upon the development of the resources of
securely suspended * C°"ntr5’' 05 ^ wire the Colony and its political institutions, Las been the public opening
of the Electric Telegraph between Cape Town and Graham’s Town.
h The formal opening took place on Friday, the 8th inst., when by
rr: * ^ ^-<-
be suitable for a Railway line of T 1 lnSU
^ WOuId no
» doubt, invitation from Mr. Wollaston, the General Superintendent of the
qualif ies For the rude transport Company, His Excellency the Governor, Lady Wodehouse, and suite,
to
the members of the Executive, the Judges, the Heads of Departments,
and numbers of them have been broken in tb.f ° fragile, and a numerous company of ladies and gentlemen, assembled in the
eipa. failing is that i„ 8n undnlating co^; t ^ itS P™-
tbe open groove at the head of the insulator ™ Cannot le ^'pt in large hall of the Commercial Exchange, which had been temporarily
been hound down with wire, the insulators being of ,n ¡T'jT ^ 1,33 connected with the Telegraph. The instrument was placed upon a
without thumb-screws to r^n; m ° im erfect
P pattern, table in the centre of the room, around which the company gathered
slantly lifted out of” 7 ^ ^ are eon- to listen to the explanation, and witness the illustrations of its action,
UDÎ
furnished for this set and Î y J> 8trainmS “sulators were not given by Mr. Wollaston.
“ The system of telegraphy employed is Morse’s, improved by the
contractors, Messrs. Siemens. Congratulatory messages on the
completion of the line were exchanged between His Excellency the
Governor and the Municipalities of Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, and
Graham's Town, and other persons. On the following Monday the
 20
21
line was opened for the use of the public an«! bnc • ,
employed. The „meant of business far ’exceeds '"H7 ing instrument at the distance of GOO miles with only fifteen cells is
P
scale of charges adopted is very moderate. ' ° ' The
n
a very strong proof of a well-insulated wire, notwithstanding the
“ The line is most substantially constructed nnrl advantage of a dry, warm atmosphere. To deflect a delicately-sus-
Cape Town and Graham’s Town -ir. t ■ ’ mess
^es between pended needle is another matter. With respect to the quality of the
supporting poles beyond the immediate neighbourhood of Cape Town
s! di,ta
”“of I know nothing; those I have seen are very good. It is a pity that
R yaI hears ,l h
mony to the character of the line^'T'T ° ’ 'S' testi- iron poles were not available; they are far cheaper than wood in tho
tLe editor of to
ttis paper, Sir Thomas savs“ " long run. Upon the whole, in my humble opinion, the Colony has
made a good bargain.’ ”
urge,« „„ 1 Mr
r— il ™
Wlr6 8,1011,(1 be
6, instead of number 8, because its t • ^ number

Extract from the “ REVISTA DE TEL E GRAP IIO S ” of Madrid

7^ »e-ha«« great„ tIlf„ ;™£dr f -«»of ,-4 to 1, of Ibth Avgust, 1865.
of the contractor, and i„stead, " ^^ ^
England " was introduced. Mr Wdd 1 , r ^gnph, in “ The iron posts are now generally adopted in many parts. In this
r E glai,d tho
after the contract was signed Little â " ^ country they have also been introduced. In order the better to
8 f
tract for ntan, months, Td hat m w" T ° oon- appreciate their efficiency, Sr. Don Casimiro del Solar (Director of
the meantime I rendered aU tL “ ^ ^ In Telegraphs for Porto Rico) was commissioned, in June last, to direct
»'and in support of the badly estai f h ^ as61stauco at my com- the erection of a lino outside the Alcalá gate. Having completed his
betWeen P rt
Elizabeth and Graham's Town and to ni « commission, Sr. Solar thus describes the result of his operations :—
m C sin be
tween Cape Town and Simons’Town It °r °" - “ ‘ After opening the holes near the wooden posts, the iron sockets
L lni a t0
were placed in the ground (after being coated with tar), and the earth
Za ' accompanied,
° “"7 to o“tmy
theasfcnm«K™ 0,,asU n1“"7 "aS 80t
contract. *MrWo“,^™
the Cape, , ' returned to well rammed down over the plate to „thickness of two-and-a-half feet.
firm of Siemens and Co., one of if not tb ’ ^ Mr‘ iIoe,tzer> of the The wrought-iron upper tubes, with insulators and lightning gnard
telegraph engineering firms „f ¿ d T8.1 Cek'b-ted scientific complete, were then lifted up by means of shearlegs provided for the
fD(i t0 be carried by their iron-clad ; i ’ "Jle 'VaS to be adoPted purpose, and placed into the sockets, where they were fixed, in a per-
.,S du6 of ouguging that firm I know"^,“1”8' ■ST0 Wh01 " tbe crcdit pendicular position, by three or four wedges. The interstices between
inquire. I only know that it wn* / " ^ ' ^ 0,7 business to the socket and wrought-iron tube were then filled with a cement com-
S
— - Co. hare 711™ ^ ^ ^ d‘) S'>' ^ause posed of sulphur and iron filings, and known in commerce by the name
oumng a loss t„ damaff;ng ¡t ^ and would prefer in- of “ caput mortum,” the tubes having been previously heated in a
Ex enm
the wisdom of the policy Tbn r • P ent has proved stove in order to preserve the cement in a fluid state while filling tho
7,0/ zw, 11a,,d i whole space.
Cape Tama to Graham's Tmn, ’ (By ! /r
™ “ ‘ As soon as the erection of the posts was completed, the removal
with the sections of the line j„i„ed ,n with T“® mCSSaee Í8 mc nt
“ ’ of the wires to these new and elegant supports was proceeded with,
H00U this operation being performed in the early part of the day in order to
-r iS authority for „mr rc,a7 )
-
(nt- I o work a register- avoid any interruption in the telegraphic service.
 22
23
“‘As the height of the iron posts is „nlv n
tlurd dimension, of wooden poles, sn o( '¿J0 S™e ^ ti"‘t ot ^ Extract of a Letter from John D. Den, Esq., of the Cape of
corr
<=<lunl number of leyel-erossinns “PO"ding to an (Jood Hope Telegraph Co. (Limited), dated Cape Town,
Through eneh of these pillar, fo„r stróng'ir T“ ”“"8 of bri*work.
1
December 18th, 1866.
Í ECrW bcnt
round at the lower end, while the upper!„d D " ’ “ I have been all over the lines now, and have them working as satis-
! WÍU
Passes through the foot plate of the pL wl I ‘ “ SCre'v’ factorily as can be expected ; but the poles should never have been of
10
rtom by strong nuts. Each of then ’ • ‘ tÍea SCro,red flrmly wood. I would have no wooden posts where a sparse population
Ported by three wire stuys^eord ng oT POStS ^ ^ ^ exists, and where transit is so difficult and expensive. Had these
an interred plate. ^ ‘0 Messrs S,KMras. ^ Jb lines been erected with firm iron posts the advantages would have
“ ‘ Though the final decision' as to the been almost incalculable. With the exception of a coat or two of
reme 1Ce paint, Siemens Brothers’ Iron Poles have required nothing for the
epends„„theresuItsofobsenati,,nstobemad
Wh,ch ha^ been erected for this nur d ' ^ Ír°n P°StS
°n SeVeraI triaI Hoes, last three years, and stand firmer than when first erected.”
advantages which are oZd b/2T “ the
i 0d insu
acknowledged. These inaulators are . '° ‘at«rs must be
fetching insulator. areTel:^:^^; ^7 and Parana, Argentine Republic,
18/Ä June, 1870.
: [d iy two we%e8 to the stalk of tl.P • , ^ W,re forms a
loop, Messrs. SIEMENS BROTHERS,
Wlt1 Dotche8 which is
' receive them. Bv thi! , eanS ^ Contin,,it
Provided 3, Great George Street,
conductor is not interrupted as in T • ^ y of the
Westminster,
“ *• An accident whicí hap ^d d ^f London, S.W.
confirms the great strength of these ° ^^ Gentlemen,
caught by a fended ear drawn hy ttl? ", A t,le Ca --was I have great pleasure in certifying to the great advantages I have
oot n„t,ee the wire, it was palled by The r ’“ ™“ ™
experienced in using your Iron Telegraph Posts for erecting Telegraph
t broke. A scrupulous e*ami„a«„„ " °f ""‘il
Lines in the Central Argentine Republic.
;>Çcst defect could be found either in ^
Their chief advantages consist in the easy management of the
erection of the entire posts, the facilities they offer for transport even
in uncultivated districts, and in their durability.
erperienced engineer, Mr. PauI
It is my full conviction that your Iron Telegraph Posts are the best
lateral strain (applied to that pnrí^rT"1'“" p0Sts wil'resist a
at present in use, and I find no difficulty whatsoever in the use of the
20U kilogrammes, and the straLn a ■« ««dl of
the ,nsni tor
cement and of the transportable fire. The heat required for melting the
if ^ ‘"c ground the stl“: l“50 ^ untii " ben the ^ cement being so low, the fire can be kept up with dry dung, grass,
tbe upper wrought-irou or break, i„ th . it beads iu
and weeds, which are to be found everywhere.
8 b Three men can put the conical tubes into the cast-iron posts without
^ness of the socket iutha^w^r:" ^^'
1,1 no wa
7 lessened.’ "‘
” «'* any shearlegs, but simply with the aid of a long crutch, and, if
necessary, even two men suffice to erect the tubes.
The cast-iron lower posts being interred in the ground, three men
can in one day erect, in the above manner, sixty upper tubes, and fix
the insulators thereon.
 24
I beg farther to add, that, beside, the advantages mentioned before,
P er0CtC,, 0ff0r tl
and
•LITstand very °ffirmly
’ , on" account "’ lemtfoot-plate
’ of the buckled 8 rf
" - ‘he wind
Tbe Siemens-Posts, being so ,ittIe 8„bject (o ^ ^
cidedly last longer than any other kind of telegraph post ■ and I am
therefore, convmeed that, throngh their many and well-tried adva'-

thLLL «!;:o,d ;h::L1,0813 t in a" ^

e“.ercd tI,e best know

"’
I am, Gentlemen,
Yours faithfully,
Fisciier-Treuenfeld PATENT TUBULAR IRON TELEGRAPH
Zaee DirectoT
~General of Thlegrapht in Paraguay.
3. 6T George St. West
LON DO.\
ar London, '¿Zrd November. 1872
MEssns. SIEMENS BROTHERS,
3, Great George Street,

Gbktlemen, Westminster, S.W.

«on of TeLrapbbnes inT° ^ been e"gagC,l “ the

for the Argentine Ren, T r l~SEnlrc ■>-<■ Corientes
tlmt t,me erected ab
20,000 iron posts of v ^ ‘T out
opinion c,pCd I/I/TITf-"i' ^^

I am, Gentlemen,
Yours faithfully,
Charles T. Stanquist.
miRgf
LEGRAPH POSTS
& t5fc. W&strnirieter,
LONDON, S. fV.

Narbtry ¿C’luh. U Quilt. S^äoUmrv

 Platel.

PATENT IRON-HOODED INSULATORS

'J. ¿rf' Gevrge St. W&sitninster.
JQNDOJV, s. n:

À-vbery A C’Lq/u 43, CastU Sl Holbo,n

 FIG 10

lSn im? wtfw's mtumm-r ^9

PATENT DOUBLE PORCELAIN BELL-INSULATORS.

3- & George St. Westminster',
- London, s. w.
LINE TOOLS.
3, GŸ George. St Westminster,
London, s. W.

JMm? A. C fan 43, CifaU. S'Eolicrn,

'll'"
C°kt),.4Z
 Plate VI

PATENT COPPER - SHEATHED CABLES,

GROUND and SUBAQUATIC WIRES.
.3, G* G<wrcj<ts JT, Wostminóter,
LONDON. S.W.

Iftry C°LuÄ> 4J Coutl*. S^.Holivrrv

K 43. (¿udt S'Bólborn,
Plate IX.
FIG. 36

INSULATORS
AND WIT
3, 0 !
 Hale X

TREE and SHACKLE INSULATORS.

(
3, G? George^ S WeotrrunjUr
London, s. w.

r i c . 4-9.

Jfauhn&Cluk43. GieiLS'Holbom