Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-25
From the Rochester IN. " Union.
The Pacific Telegraph-How the Line
Was Carried Across the Plains.

Was Carried Across the Plains.
On Thanksgiving Day, the 2Sth ult,
large party of the wOrkmen engaged in cor
structing the Pacific telegraph from tn
Western borders to Salt Lake City. unde
the direction of Mr. Creighton, arrived a
Omaha on their return. Among them wa
Samuel P. Starr of this city, whe reache,
homo on Thursday last Mr.. Starr wa
engaged in the practical work of construc
tion, in the different branches, and he give
an interesting account of the manner il
which the enterprise was conducted. Tn
line had been constructed previous to Jul,
last as far west as Julesburg which is ol
the Platte river, 800 miles east of Denver
From that point to Fort Bridger-abou
700 miles the line was constructed by tn
party of which Mr.. Starr was one Mr.
Creighton had from seventy-fve to eight
men employed, and they were divided int,
three trains The men of one train du9
the holes, those of another cut down thu
poles and set them. and the third put VI
the wire. In the three trains there were
about seventy five wagons and seven hun.
dred cattle, including a few milch cows, tC
furnish milk for the men. The wagon:
contained from thirty-fve to forty-fve hun.
dred pounds each-consisting of wire, in.
sulatOrs, tools, camp equipage and prOyis-
ions. The trains were said to be the best
that ever started over the plains-the cat
tie being excellent, the wagons good, and
all that pertained to the comfort of the
men was in keeping with the rest. Good
tents were provided; also cooking stoves
and all the necessary utensils for providing
meals, and what was quite in keeping with
these-the best food that could be conveyed
over the plains and mountains.
The first pole was set on the 4th of July
at Julesburg, and the last on this section
at Fort Bridger, about 100 miles this side
of Salt Lake City. on the 10Th of October
The diggers' train went ahead, and got
along at the rate of about twelve miles
per day. digging about twenty-fOur holes
for each mile. The train which put up
the poles only made about ten miles per
day, and was about $50 miles behind the
diggers when the latter reached the end of
the route On the plains the digging was
easy, and the work went rapidly on-in
the mountains it was slow. owing to the
rocky soil
The poles were selected, cut, stripped of
bark by the men. and were then drawn out
by the cattle and distributed along the
line. In some localities excellent timber was
found in great abundance, hard pine being
most plenty, though some cedar was OBJ
.ainAA !. n~-a or dry pines were often
found In large quantities, some or wnIcn
would make three poles, each of suitable
size. In some localities the poles had to
be cut in the mountains and hauled over
100 miles Each pole is twenty feet in
length, and is buried four feet in the
ground. Through the Rocky Mountain
Pass, where the line runs, there are points
where the snow is known to cover the
ground to the depth of eleven feet.
The line is well put up, and is as sub
stantial as such line can be. 1t has a
single wire, not exposed to damage from
the falling Of trees, as care was taken to
avoid everything of that kind
The route adopted was mainly along the
road across the plains and through the
To shorten distances. where
The road ran in serpentine form, the tele-
graph takes direct line, following the
general course of the road. The track pur-
sued by the Western trains over the plains
s very crooked, often made 50 by the cat
lie dying in the path. When an animal
alls its carcass is seldom removed from the
rack-except as the wolves carry it away
oiecemeal-and trains which follow turn
'ut to avoid it, thus making crooked
rack, for the bones of thousands of ami
nails lie bleaching along the great paths
hat lead from the Missouri to the Pacific.
The constructors of this telegraph line
net with no hostile Indians, though they
aw many of the natives along the way, and
Ometimes suffered by their thieving depre-
ations. The Indian agent at Deer creek,
ixty-6ve miles above Fort Laramie, told
iIr. Starr that one of the Sioux chiefs con-
'ersed with him about the telegraph pro-
ect before the poles were set, and said that
Oles were to be set sixteen feet high, and
hen strung with wires closely from top to
Ottom. AS this would make wire fence,
Ii the buifaloes and other game would be
ept from coming down to the south. He
'Oked upon the project with disfavor; but
Ihen he understood that there was to be
ut one wire, and that sixteen feet above
he ground, he was quite relieved of his
ears and appeared to be satisfied.
Speaking of the manner in which the an
mails regard the telegraph, Mr. Starr says
he antelOpes were timid and distrustful.
Ierds of them crossing the plain would
top when they came to the telegraph, and
examine the poles before ventur-
lg to pass between them.
The stations of the telegraph operators
re chiefly at the stations of the mail com
any. from fifty to one hundred miles apart.
here are usually two or three persons at
lch station, taking care of the mules of !
lie stage company, and these are all the
'ciety the operator has. The work of re-
airing the line must, for the present at
asst. be performed by the operators, 60.
g out when they find communication with
Ie next station interrupted. The duty of ! !
operator and repairer is anything but = !.
lstime, and to Ierform it well requires !
lrdy, courageous men, who are not afraid =
be alone and to contend with snow and :.
orms and whatever else they may meet :
that vast wild region over which they :
ust sometimes travel. The right men :
i'll, in time, be found in the right places. !
ID of the successful working of the tele- :
nph to the Pacific. none are more conf . =
mt than the men who constructed it, and =
10, therefore, best know what obstacles :, y
e in the way. y !.
The party Of WOlkmeD with whom Mr.. a n
arr returned, came in wagons drawn by ~
ules, and were thirty-twO days in coming