28 o 
THE TELEGRAPH. 
carried in cases provided with drawers for holding the fasten¬ 
ings, &c. The cases can be opened and any articles required 
taken out without the case having to be removed from the 
mule. The cases, tent, table, and bags of implements are 
borne by one mule, while a second mule has a reel of wire or 
cable suspended on each side of the pack-saddle. The handle 
for winding is so arranged as to be easily worked, and it serves 
as a brake in paying out. But as this operation cannot easily 
be accomplished on the mule’s back, a hand-cart is used to 
carry the reel during the unrolling of the line. This hand¬ 
cart is very useful in broken ground, and for making short 
cuts where the road is tortuous; or, again, for crossing a 
stream or laying a submerged cable, when it can be placed in 
the stern of a boat. 
The staff for the work consists of a sergeant, two corporals, 
and twelve men. The vehicles containing the reels lead the 
way, the “ carriage-station ” follows. The sergeant goes before, 
marking out the route ; and the men, divided into three 
parties, share the labour as follows :—The first party dig out 
holes for the poles, if the line is to be an overhead one ; if it 
is to be a subterranean, they open out the trench in which 
the cable is to be laid. The second party is engaged with the 
paying-out of the cable or wire, forming the joints, &c., and 
generally with passing on the cable ready for laying. The 
third party fixes the wire to the poles and makes them secure, 
or lays the cable in the ground and fills up the trench. The 
poles are usually about 60 yards apart. The ground is 
examined and the route indicated by special officers, who are 
responsible for the whole of the telegraphic service. 
In a level country lj miles of wire can be put up in one 
hour, and 3 miles of cable can be laid in the 6ame time. 
Fig. 193 shows the details of all the operations we have 
described. 
The lines can be very readily and quickly taken up, five or 
six men being sufficient for the vork. 
When the line has been laid, small squads are stationed at 
intervals to protect it, and among these are workmen capable 
of repairing any accidental or wilful injury it may sustain. 
The military authorities punish very severely any intentional 
damage done to the line by unfriendly inhabitants of the 
