The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-12
Id TINE 7ELEcRApHY.
The Early Days Of Telegraphino in
Texas.
FIRST LINES BUILT IN THE STATE
or Great Military service-Absorbcd
by the Western Union--Somc Of
the Old Time Texas Operators.

The following is IN interesting sketch OF
the establishment and maintenance Of the
first telegraph lines In Texas:
In 1859 party OF Houston capitalists
conceived the idea Of establishing tele-
graphic communication throughout portions
OF Texas, After careful consideration they
arrived at the conclusion that line run
ming from Galveston to Houston, thence
to Shreveport and Alexandra via Hunts
vile might provo remunerativo. They Sc
cured the services OF T. G. II. Smith as
contractor. who engaged to erect the line.
Tho country at that time was sparscly set
tied. In fact, n bowling wilderness. The
line was built along the stage road (therc
being no railroads In that rcgich In those
daysl. and was kept In repair by men on
horseback. who Travelled over the lonesome
region each day on an inspection tour
Contractor Smith with his gang, after n
long and arduous task. overcoming many
obstacles, succeeded In completing this
wonderful elephant. The parties who con
ceived the idea deserved credit for their
enterprise, but exhibited poor Judgment.
as the lines proved n failure financially.
and were sold for debt by the sheriff. Tho
whole institution collapsed and tho WIRE
excepting that portion between Galveston
ana Houston, was taken down. However.
there was not much of the wire to be
round, as tho ontcrprlging farmers along
the route discovered It's uses as n fence
member or for haling hay, aud appropriated
u large portion OF II.
| nj A
OF the Houston and Texas Central railway.
was general superintendent OF this streak
OF rust lie was assisted in the manage
ment by Captain G, c. Clute and l.. X.
Preston. Clutc. after the demollshmeut of
inc Inc continued that portion from Hous-
ton 10 Galveston In operation, and made II
pay expenses. Preston went into other
pursuits and was successful merchant at
hrSan, when II was the terminus of thu,
Houston aud TeNas Central. where he died
MI a. a, Szaho. the pruHcut city treas
urer was one OF the construction gang.
and kept an account OF all expenditures
and has the old account books In his pos
session yet MIR, Howe tnot NJ q Howe)
was iirst manager at Houston and was
succeeded by Mr.. Vaubtber. Mr. peckham
was manager at Shreveport At the com
m,nCcmcnt of the war the limo from chi
weston TO Houston was an absolute mill.
taty necessity and was placed In charge of
captain {. G.. clute, who also succeeded In
establishing llno along the Texas and
New orleans railway to Beaumont. which
also proved to be Of immense service to
the Confcderacy, lie had for his managers
chet Clark at Galveston and George Ellis
worth at Houston, Clark skipped out for
tho North us quick az possible after the
war began but Ellsworth FASTENED across
the river and Joined General John Nor
e gans command. He enjoyed the cnmpan-
ionship and confidence of Morlan sharing
dangers nfI ali ~ hat
s rotod cavalryman. Tho Fcdprals mad a
q standing offer for some time Of laIgd
a amount for the capture of Ellsworth who
= was originally Canadian. but made a
, magnificent record as Confederate sol
a der,
. The only telegraph lines In Texas at the
commencement OF the war were those be-
tween Beaumont and Houston and Houston
To Galveston. During the progress Of the
war Colonel l.. C. Baker established d
line from Shreveport 10 Crockett and Colo
mel n. p Shepherd, who is now m operator
in the Houston telegraph office, removed
an old line he had built. from nowhores TO
nowhercs. in Louisiana and Arkansas. and
rebuilt II. running from Crockett to llous-
ton. thus making through connection
from Shreveport to Houston connecting
General H. Kirby Smiths headquarters
with those of General Magruders, proving
Of inostimablc service 10 the Trans Mis-
sissipp department.
\ This IL a history OF tclegraphy In Texas
in the early days AS soon ns the war
, closed the Western Union OF the Northern
States absorbed the old Southwestern and
} Seaboard lines. running all over the South
: ern States east of the mississippi river and
also rakcd into It's capacious NAV the
star State" between Galveston and Hous-
ton and Beaumont.
The perfect network of wires today ranii-
flying every portion OF Texas is a wonder
~, work. Every hamlet has connection
either by phone or telegraph. TIE West
ern Union has performed n ,nyraclc almost
, lin the perfect service rendered. This COM
pany has had an entire monopoly OF the
. business for years. but u successful com
petitor IA now about entering the field and
, will 10 doubt make II lively for tho West
, orn Union in Texas, ns they have in the
balance of the United States II Will re-
J, iqulrc hIstlrrs for both companies when
: the Postal reaches tho cities Of Texas. Like
, England both companies will expect every
man to do his duty. and there VIII be no
idlcrs In the service OF either of these 81
gantic wrestlers. Competition Is great
thing in all branches. II creates a more
perfect benefit TO the public, as each VIII
vie with the other In excellence OF service
What a contrast the present with the old
system. In the pioneer days OF teiegraphy
I when Burton. Preston and Szabo erected
their then wonderful means OF commune
cation, II was considered great feat e
receive n reply TO a telegram from Gal-
weston or Shreveport the same day. while
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