Conservation Commission 151 



1 telephone (ordinary instrument) $10.50 to $27 . 50* 



3 dry batteries at $0.25 . 75 to .75 



1 ground rod %-in. by 5 ft .20 to .20 



1 protector . 50 to .50 



1 mile wire (No. 12 galvanized iron wire) 6.00 to 31.00'f 



50 split porcelain insulators 1.25 to 1.25 



Total $19 . 20 $61 . 20 



Telephone lines can be built usually by ranger labor, although it 

 may be necessary to secure the services of an electrician to attend 

 to the installation of the instruments. It is impossible to give any 

 average figures for the cost of the work of clearing out the right of 

 way and stringing the wire. These items are entirely dependent 

 upon local conditions, such as the size and density of the timber, 

 the character and amount of underbrush, the availability of trees 

 to which it is possible to attach the wire, etc. But little clearing- 

 is necessary, especially if a single wire is used. The clearing of a 

 right of way for the telephone line usually goes hand in hand with 

 the construction of the trail to the mountain station, for, unless a 

 great saving of wire can be secured by running the wire in a 

 straight line between the two points to be connected, it is desirable 

 to follow the trail with the wire in order to facilitate inspection of 

 the line by the observer. A lineman's test set is of great assist- 

 ance to the observer in keeping his line in good repair, and also 

 serves as an auxiliary instrument for emergency use. It should 

 be provided whenever the length of the line exceeds two miles. 

 The cost of a test set is about $10. 



The usefulness of the telephone is not restricted to the observa- 

 tion stations ; it is also of great value to facilitate communication 

 between different members of the patrol force and between the 

 administrative officers and members of the force. A forest which 

 is traversed by main routes of travel, such as railroads or wagon 

 roads, is usually tapped by the lines of the commercial telephone 

 companies. It may not be necessary to build more than a few 

 miles of line to connect certain points not already reached by the 



* Weather proof lock case. 



t No. 9 weatherproof iron wire. 



