Polynesian., 1853-03-05
Tho following is a list of Lines now in
operation or construction in Canada;

i Tho following is a lis, of Lines now in
operation or construction in Canada;
j .Yilss.
The Montreal Telegraph Company's
line extends from Quebec 10 the
Suspension bridge at Niagara Falls lbs
! British North America Electric Tele-
/ graph Association, from Quebec 10
! New Brunswick frontier. 2e0
Montreal and Troy Telegraph Co,
from Montreal to New York State
! line ~
Bytown and Montreal TeIegraphic CO. lis
Western Telegraph Co., fron Hamil
ton TO Port Sarnia, at the foot of
Lake Huron li3
Niagara and Chippewa Lise. IL
/ Brantiord to Simcoe and Dover. 33
Kingston to Hamilton. 256
Total length in Canada. 9SS
In Prussia the wires are generally buried
about two feet below the surface, and carried
through rivers in chain pipes. About, 200
miles of telegraphic lines are in operation.
! In France about 7l0 miles, and in Ger
ma " about 3, 900 miles are completed.
In Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Tuscany,
Holland, Italy, Spain and Russia, great pro-
gress has already been made in establishing
! lines of telegraph, and communication will
soon be had between the capitals of every
| State on the European Continent.
| In India, a line has been laid between
Calcutta and Kedgeree, Il miles, and an ex-
tensive system is projected for that country.
The following interesting description of
the telegraph in India is given for the in
struction and encouragement OF those inter-
esed in the prosecution of telegraph lines
through somewhat similar regions Of our own
country:
From Calcutta TO Rajmoole, the conduc-
tor is laid under ground, in cement Of melt
ed resin and sand From that village
through the remaining distance 10 Kedgerec,
il is carried over ground on bamboo poles,
Is feet high. coated with coal, tar and pitch.
and strengthened at various distances by
posts of saul wood, teak and iron wood from
America. The bamboo posts are found TO
resist the storms which have uprooted trees,
the growth of centuries Though the bam-
boo soon DECAYS, its amazing cheapness
makes the use of it more economical than
that of more durable and more costly mate
rials The branch road from Bishlopore to
| Moyapore passes through swamp; the coun-
try is little less than a lake for five months;
| the conductor runs on the foot paths between
| the island villages, and for some miles Croft
ses rice swamps. and creeks on which no
road or embankment exists.
| The most difficult and Objectionable line
was selected to test the practicability of car
rying the conductors through swampy ground
and it has been perfectly successful. The
+, II uldee river crosses the Kedgeree line half
way and varies in breadth from 4 300 TO
! ), 500 feet. A grtta percha wire, secured in
the angles of a chain cable, Is laid across
under the river, and the chain is found to
afford perfect protection from the grapnels Of
the heavy native boats which are constantly
passing up and down.
The overground lines differ totally from
those in use in any other country In this i'm
portant respect. No wire is used Instead
Of wire, a thick iron rod, 4 of an inch in d.
ameter, weighing one ton 10 mle is adopt
ed-the heaviest wire elsew here used being
! only one cwt. TO the mile. The advantages
of these substantial rods are these: they pos-
sess complete immunity from gusts of wind
or ordinary mechanical violence; If accideu-
tally thrown down they are not injured,
though passengers and animals may ,rample
on them; owing to the mass of metal, they
give so free passage to the electric currents
that no insulation IS necessary; they are at
tached from bamboo to bamboo without any
protection and they work without Interrupt
ton through the hardest rains; the thickness
of the wire allows of their being placed on
the posts without any occasion for the strain.
ing and winding apparatus, whereas the ten
sion of wire exposes them TO fracture, occa-
sions expense in construction and much diff
Gu lty in repairs; the thick rods also admit
Of rusiing 10 take place without danger 10 an
extent which would be fatal 10 u wire; and
lastly, the rods are no more costly than thin
wire, and the welding occasions no difficulty.
The import snce OF this discovery of the SUI
perioriiy of rods over wire will be fully ap-
preciated in a country like India, where tho
line must often run through bowling will
derness, lenanted by savage beasts or moro
savage men, The lines must therefore pro-
tect themselves, and this is secured by the
use of thick rods. The entire expenditure
on this line was about i50 rupees a mile, and
it is estimated That the future ovcrsround
lines will be al the rate of $50 rupees u mile
for double line, river crossings and erection
of Offices being separate charge. The Pc
cuniary returns from the Calcutta and Ked-
eeroe line were originally calculated at about
300 rupees month, but they have been
more tim three times that amount a ru-
pee is about 5S c,s u. S. currency.
The CONTINENTAL Tour OF CARDINAL
WIsEMAS.-Cardlnal Wiseman presided
over grand ceremony at Cambria, to inau-
ourate a miraculous statue of the Virgin. stat.