76 METHODS OF COMMUNICATION FOR FOREST PROTECTION 



To tie up the wire to supports, use tape or cotton twine, making a barrel hitch 

 as in Fig. 34. Do not let the wire come in contact with nails. Hang it from- the 

 nails by means of the twine. Make no spans greater than 75 ft. in length and do 

 not allow the wire to be drawn tight, especially where fastened to the limbs of trees 

 as the swaying is likely to break it. 



Leave the empty spools along the line at the end of each coil. Always run the 

 wire through the hole in the spool and place the latter well up in a tree where it 

 will be out of sight of passers-by. 



6 SETTING POLES 



Although for the most part emergency wire will be laid directly on the ground 

 or looped among the lower tree branches and over underbrush, yet cases sometimes 

 occur where a more careful placing is desirable. This can be very easily accomplished 

 by using light poles for supports. These poles should be straight, trimmed clear of 

 branches, about 10 to 14 ft. long and 2 to 3 in. in diameter at the butt. Any species 

 will do. They need not be peeled! and can generally be cut immediately adjacent 

 to the line. Send the pole crew well ahead of the wire crew to cut, trim, and dis- 

 tribute poles at 75-ft. intervals along the route. 



The pole-setting crew of three men follow the reel. This crew is provided with 

 the following tools in addition to those furnished for wire stringing: 



1 pole-axe or sledge-hammer 



1 4-ft. steel bar, or pointed pipe with drive cap 



With the hammer and bar two msn make the holes into which the poles can 

 be thrust. The third man makes a deep, downward hack in the pole at the proper 

 height, inserts the wire, ties it if desirable, and sets the pole in place in the hole 

 prepared for it, tamping it with his heel. Several crews may work simultaneously, 

 and with enough men cutting poles to keep well in advance of the reel the line can 

 be erected at a fast walk. 



Section 63 Maintenance 



Maintenance is extremely important. As often as possible a man should be 

 sent along the wire with the forked stick to see that it is kept well elevated above 

 the ground among the trees or bushes. A line that is left out for some length of 

 time may be very much improved in this way- If the line is broken, the break may 

 be very difficult to find. The only safe way to locate a fault is to run the wire 

 through the hand until the fault is reached. 



Temporary joints are best made by tying a knot in the two wires as shown in 

 Fig. 35. Peel off the insulation for about 2 in. on each wire and twist tightly to- 

 gether. Raise all joints above the ground and fasten to a pole or branch with tape. 



After each season the emergency wire should be thoroughly overhauled. All 

 temporary joints should be replaced by permanent joints, soldered, taped, and painted 

 with insulating compound. Bare places in the wire should be similarly repaired, and 

 pieces in which the copper conductor has been injured should be cut out. Reel the 

 wire back on the spool evenly and tightly and store in a dry place. 



Section 64 Taking Up Wire 



The same reel is used as for paying out wire but is reversed and hung on the 

 breast instead of the back. Insert an empty spool and tighten so that it will not 

 slip on the crank. One or two men should go ahead of the reel and remove the wire 

 from the limbs and bushes and place it in the road or trail so as to expedite reeling 

 in. They should start some minutes ahead of the reel, and at each half-mile joint 

 the wire should be cut and the ends made fast to a stake, tree, or some other solid 

 support. The men talcing down wire must run the entire line through their hands 

 so that there will be no ties left for the man with the reel to release. 



