120 DESTRUCTION OF THE UNDERGROUND WIRES IN PRUSSIA. 



to set up as quickly as possible and at the least cost 

 a subterranean system of communication embracing the 

 whole country, had prevented the provision of the wires 

 with an armature and a sufficiently deep imbedding, 

 to secure them from injury at the hands of workmen 

 and from the attacks of rodents. The attempt to re- 

 place the wires, thus rendered useless, by others coated 

 with lead proved fruitless, as the rodents gnawed to 

 pieces even the protecting lead-covering. Further there 

 was lacking a properly trained staff to keep the ex- 

 tended network of wire in good order, and to remedy 

 defects without deranging the whole system. In con- 

 sequence of unskilful searches and tinkering of faults 

 numerous soldered joints came into existence, which 

 were insulated in a very primitive fashion by patching 

 with heated gutta-percha, and thus gave rise to new 

 faults. It was therefore to be feared that the sub- 

 terranean lines would, in a short time, become quite 

 unserviceable. 



This sad state of things moved me to write a 



O 



pamphlet entitled <; A short account of experiences in 

 connection with the Prussian subterranean telegraph 

 lines" ? , in which I pointed out the existing risks and 

 made proposals for improvements in dealing with the 

 lines, but at the same time also energetically dis- 

 claimed responsibility, which was then on all sides 

 sought to be fastened upon me, for the collapse of 

 the system which I had suggested. It was only to be 

 expected that the publication of this pamphlet would 

 lead to differences with the directorate of the Prussian 



