INDIAN TELEGRAPHIC LINES. 



passing through Genoa under the streets and terminating in the 

 Ducal palace. 



It is stated that the insulation of the wires on this picturesque 

 line has been so perfect, notwithstanding the adverse circumstances 

 of its locality, that although it was constantly at work day and 

 night during the first winter, no failure of transmission or extra 

 ordinary delay ever occurred. 



99. Efforts have recently been made to extend the system of 

 telegraphic intercommunication to India. Dr. O'Shaughnessy of 

 the East- India Company's medical department, in constructing an 

 experimental line through a distance of 80 miles from Calcutta, 

 used, instead of wires, iron rods, being the only obtainable 

 materials. These were fastened together and supported on 

 bamboos. 



By experiments thus made, he found that the wires employed 

 in Europe would be quite inadequate to the Indian telegraph. In 

 England, where the lines are carried along railways, and where 

 there are no living obstacles to contend with, the thin iron wire, 

 called No* 8 gauge, answers its purpose well ; but no sooner were 

 the rods mounted on their bamboo supports in India than Hocks Oi 

 that largest of all birds, the adjutant, found the rods convenient 

 perches, and groups of monkeys congregated upon them ; showing 

 clearly enough that the ordinary wire would be insufficient to bear 

 the strains to which these telegraphic lines would be subjected. 

 It was found also that not only must the wire be stronger, but 

 that it must be more elevated, to allow loaded elephants, which 

 march, about regardless of roads or telegraphic lines, to pass 

 underneath. 



100. The telegraphic communication thus practically effected, is 

 subjected to attacks to which the telegraphs in this country are 

 but little exposed. Storms of lightning destroyed the galva- 

 nometer coils, and hurricanes laid prostrate the posts. Undaunted 

 by the opposition of the elements, Dr. O'Shaughnessy contrived a 

 lightning conductor for the instruments, and strengthened the 

 supporting props. 



Dr. O'Shaughnessy returned to England, and at Warley, near 

 Brentwood, made arrangements for producing 3000 miles of thick 

 galvanised wire, to be shipped for India; one of the earliest 

 lines undertaken, to be from Calcutta to Bombay. One of the 

 peculiar characteristics of the railway lines intended for India, as 

 contrasted with the English lines, is the greater distance between 

 the posts, which are higher and stronger than those generally 

 used. The thick wire is raised to a height of fourteen feet, on 

 posts nearly the eighth part of a mile apart. To obtain the neces- 

 sary strength to bear the strain, the posts are fixed with screw 



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