, 1877-08-12

we're mored By telegraphic directions, and not
nncommonly during battles las, for instance. 6e-<
fore Atlantal troops werc in part, moved oy tsle-
the aides horse. During the battles about Dal;on,
Ga, ,Sholes Operator at Sherman|s headquarters)
was driven back by Rebel bullets, and, during the
rected his chief operator to be constantly by him;
EdNf. another headquarters operator. VAS sent
ahead to examine the telegraph lines just captured.
bridge, below Bridgeport, Ala, be was captured
and sent to Libby Prison. and 80 On 10 innnmesa~
bic instances.
road troop and supply trains by telegraph thereby
enabling railroad managers TO Keep large numbers
Of trains in motion over single tracks IN counter
directions. at the same time. This service alone
was inestimohlc. Then there were the usual con-
comltants Of the telegraph service such sending
private messages and keeping the North better
eated, than any people ever were before IN all OF
those operations the telegrapher5 enjoyed the full
est Confidence Of the officers ana were. without
exception. 70 far rs know. given the pas5~
word whenever they requested it. and in no
instance was an operator ever kuuwn to prove
recrcant to his trust. Some were captured, come
tier dnty, and lid it wsll. Sotwith.tandira, the
country never recognized their services any fur
ther tLan it did the mule drivers it paid their za
aries. se,at officers, however. whose services
we're Of infinitely iess consequence, were commls-
stoned, and duly recognized in official reports, as
they deserved to be; but the operators work was
accepted as matter Of course.
Sow. consider moment the position OF the tel
egrnph-opesators during the late general strike.
There was not 50 much ~ = whisper among
mcnt, Notwithstanding their wages have
bccn reduced within about . year past.
ssuin fe1 that operators ;ns, haa
raiiroad employees did. This country might now
have actual civil war. Great masses OF men with
ont ehosea leaders, drawn togetlter On Sudden &C.
leading to greater, the rioters wac the authors
tics were communicating ty special messenger,
would be conmitt1n. dcpredasions and organizing
force to meet counter organization: It was by
telegraph that troops thousand miles away were
ordered here in time to MD in protecting our citi-
xcns and property. During The late strike opera.
tors were greatly tex-nccessitate) oFerta1ed, and
when it cuded they were completely used up. The
| companies, Of course. paid extra for such
| oycrtsosis. What special reward operators viii
their second great test know not. It Is remark
t able phenomenon, that the Western Union Telc-
graph Compsny, the most thoroughly independent
Of the greut corporations Of this country, has made
| teiegraphng 10 cheap that we can now send mes.
| sagc5 and have them delivered i thousand miles
away, the same day, for the same price US cents
letter ito be callcd for,, taking week or more In
| SO doing. A Company go generous to its patron:
| is not likely to be forgcttal OF its employees;
th ps1 eanno be ha7
| fui for tic u'isdatn, prudence, and unset
t fshness exhibited By the tclcsraph1c fraternity;
1t has been demonstrated that th!s country coule
not long exist under ore Government without Fa'l'
roads and the telegraph. and that the people, whcn
either is threatened. quickly realize their depend
| eucc. 1t il In times when not threatened that
| would have such blessings also appreciated:
[ ". r. ?.
There is not harder working or more de
serving class in any community than the gen
| tlcmen OF the keyboard. They earn what they
get from the cradle to "30,' but they can never
| be taught to puuctuatc, aud hence their los
/ condition.