ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 397 
The proper execution of the work — the construction of a trail of approxi- 
mately seventeen miles in length, which, starting from the foot of the mountains 
at an elevation of about 6,000 feet, had to be located in accordance with the 
topography of the mountains, and which was followed immediately by a telegraph 
line — rendered it necessary to change our camp often, thus causing a frequent 
changing of one terminus of the line while the other was permanently located in 
the office — Colorado Springs — at the foot of the mountains. 
The battery employed for the purpose, being located in Colorado Springs, 
was of sufficient strength to successfully operate double the distance, and of its 
efficiency I was fully convinced, having had occasion to test the same repeatedly. 
While camping in the lower regions of the mountains up to about 8,000 feet 
elevation, the signals arrived at either terminus of the line perfectly intelligible, 
yet, I noticed on several occasions that they were much more precise and marked 
at the lower station (Colorado Springs). I was at first puzzled to find a solution 
for this occurrence, but when, notwithstanding the most careful selection of a 
ground-connection, the intelligibility of the electrical signals received in camp, 
diminished with increase of distance and ascent into the higher regions of the 
mountains until, at an elevation of 11,500 feet (the timber line of the Rocky 
Mountains) not any were received in camp, while those sent down arrived in 
Colorado Springs plain and sharp, it appeared to me that such irregularity might 
be ascribed to the following cause : 
The electricity left Colorado Springs at the positive pole of the battery ; 
therefore, when the signals sent from that place did not reach camp at all or 
only indistinctly, it may be supposed that on such occasions the state of the at- 
mosphere was highly negative electric, and thus resulted in the partial or entire 
neutralization of the voltaic electricity, while in sending down from the negative 
pole, a stronger current was produced by the consolidation of the atmospheric 
and voltaic electricity, both being negative. 
Another phenomenon which came to my personal notice — though being felt 
more than seen — taught me a rather severe lesson. 
After the passage of a very severe storm which had been raging in the mount- 
ains for several days, not any electricity, could be perceived in my line and even 
that sensitive electrometer — the tongue — failed to recognize its presence, thus 
indicating a break in the line, and which I found to be at an elevation of approx- 
imately 9,000 feet. 
The day set apart for the repairing of the damage proved to be misty and 
rainy. Expecting a slight shock in making the connection I protected myself to 
the best of my ability, but the shock received upon nearly joining the two ends 
was such that upon twice repeating the experiment without success, my arms 
were rendered absolutely useless and pained me for a whole day. A few days 
later, on a fine and clear day, not any difficulty was experienced in making the 
desired connection. 
In August, 1873, while spending a few days in my office, in Colorado Springs, 
I noticed, during the passage of a heavy thunder-cloud, a very interesting phe- 
