132 
THE TELEGRAPH. 
wires are equally divided between them ; and these wires are, 
as far as possible, fixed the highest on the posts, because in 
that position they are less liable to get out of order from the 
contact or rupture of other wires. 
Each gang employed in the construction of the line consists 
of ten or twelve workmen, with occasionally the addition of 
one or two beginners learning the trade. A foreman or 
experienced line-layer has the superintendence of the work¬ 
shop. 
The first operation in the construction, properly so called, 
consists in distributing in the neighbourhood, the posts that 
have been sent to the different stations along the line. On 
Fig. 74. 
railways this is performed by means of small trucks pushed 
along by hand ; the distance gone through in a day of ten 
hours varies from four to ten miles, according.to opportunities 
for progress, as affected by the passage of trains, according 
also to the dimensions of the posts, the distance of the 
stations, &c. 
After the posts have been distributed, the next thing is fixing 
them. Two labourers and two young layers attach the insula¬ 
ting supports to the posts before these are raised up. Five or 
six men are engaged in making the holes in the ground, and 
the remainder of the gang are occupied in actually putting up 
the posts. Posts of moderate size are put up by hand ; those 
from forty to seventy feet high are raised by ropes and 
ladders. The holes are dug to the required depth in steps, as 
shown in fig. 74 at A and c. Care is taken also to make the 
direction of the excavation parallel to that of the wires A, and 
