410 MANUAL OF THK NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAPTER XXL 



TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT. 



(Supplied by the Superintendent, Malabar Coast Division.) 



Position. — The Indian system. — Strength of lines. — Number of Telegraph 

 Offices. — Staff. — Cost of constructions. 



CHAP. XXI. The Nilagiris are connected with the Indian telegraphic system 

 Telegraphs ^'*" Mysore on one side and via Mettapollium on the other. On the 



latter route the Government line is joined to those belonging to 



the Madras Railway Company at MettapolHum. 



The length of the line from Ootacamand to the Mysore frontier 

 is about 23 miles, and to Mettapollium about 20 miles ; total 43 

 miles. 



There are two Telegraph Offices on the Nilagiris ; one of the 

 second class — working hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.— at Ootaca- 

 mand, and another of the third class — working hours from 10 a.m. 

 to 5 P.M. — at Coonoor. 



The staff attached to the former consists of one Telegraph 

 Master and one Signaller, and the latter is worked by a Telegraph 

 Master alone. 



The above lines and offices are attached to what is designated 

 the Mercara Sub- Division in the Malabar Coast Division of 

 Government Telegraphs. The Superintendent is unable to furnish 

 particulars regarding the cost of constructing the above lines. 

 They formerly belonged to what was, prior to 1866, known as " the 

 Madras Circle," the records of which were, it is believed, on 

 the reorganization of the department in 1866 forwarded to the 

 Director-General's Office, Calcutta ; but whether they are still in 

 existence or have been destroyed the Superintendent is unable 

 to say. 



