Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-01
Telegraph Pole CuriositieS.

1t is an ascertained fact that, under cer-
tain circumstances, telegraph poles nre
subjected to the attacks Of birds and ami
mails. 1t seems that in Norway there is
variety of tho woodpecker which is very
destructive to the poles. The bird is to
be seen pecking away at the wood until.
with that hammer-like movement of the
head peculiar TO the woodpecker. lie has
bored hole through the post. In study
ing why these woodpeckers should be so
busy with the poles, the solution is that
the bird, hearing the vibrations of the wire
so distinctly carried through the wood,
imagines that there is sn insect concealed
in the heart of the pole, and accordingly
tries to get at it.
But larger creatures than birds are de-
ceived by this vibration. Bears in Norway
are very destructive to telegraph poles.
This same vibratory sound they fancy is
the grateful humming of bees, and rush.
ing to tho post they look about for honey"
Fancy a bear mt the foot of a pole. his
mouth watering for the luscious food, and
not morsel of the dripping sweetness to
be found! His anger is at once aroused,
and in most reprehensible way bruin
scratches at the pole, and carried away by
his passion, works away ut the stones
placed at the base, doing his best TO bring
down the pole, not exactly satisfied in bis
own mind hut that after all there may be
honey hidden somewhere.
Indlsputable traces of bears about pros
trate posts and scattered stones prove that
this has really happened, writes Nj. Mel
sen of Christiania, who has studied this
subject. But, on tho other hand. tele
graph poles seem to frightcn away the
wolves, who look with suspicion at the
stretched wires, imagining them 10 be
some kind Of trap devised for their
destruction. when twenty or moro
years ago telegraph line was carried
over the mountains and along the valleys
the wolves totally disappeared, and spec
linen is now rarity" says Mr.. Nielsen.
In Sumtlla the public do not object to
telegraph poles, but tue elephants do.
About twenty times year they make a
raid on them. In May, 1876, troupe of
elephants tore down the poles tor II dis
tance of several furlongs, and hid the
wires and insulatols in the jungle, and
for three nights in succession they repeat
cd this performance as regularly as the
repairers rebuilt the line.
Monkeys and apes, on the other hand,
arc us mischievous from their adoption of
tho wires for swings and trapezes, and
their fondness for the glass insulators,
which they carry off as prizes.
ln Japan smaller enemies are 10 be
dreaded in the shape of spiders, who
adopt the wires as frame work for their
webs.
On one of tho treeloss plains of The
western states the buffalo looks upon the
telegraph poles as specially erected to
facilitate scratching, and throws himself
so cnergetically into his favorite recreation
that he knocks the posts down. An in
genious builder attempted to secure the
posts from this use by inserting bradawls
into the wood, but the buffalo found in this
a further desire to promote his happiness,
and scratched down more poles than ever.
Even the submarine telegraph has its
dangerous opponents, for since the adop-
tion of cables small worm has developed
itself which bores ills way through iron
wire and gutta percha, and lets in the
water. thereby causing loss OF millions
Of dollars.