[ad] Advertisement for construction of telegraph line in Nova Scotia using patent insulators

Contract for Building an Electric

Telegraph from Halifax to Amherst

and Onwards, in the Province

of Nova Scotia.

SEALED TENDERS will be received until the 30th day of June next, for building a Line of Electric Telegraph, starting from the City of Halifax — following the public road on the western side of Bedford Basin, thence from the head of the Basin to the Eastern Post Road from Halifax to Truro, and from Truro to the north west boundary of Nova Scotia, passing through the village of Amherst — following generally the line of the Post Road, or such other line near thereto, as may be hereafter directed by the Commissioners.

The line will be built forty posts to the mile — said posts to be of Hacmatac or Cedar 25 feet in length, 6 inches in diameter at the top, stripped of bark, as nearly straight as the natural growth will permit, and each post to be set five feet in the ground, either in sand or gravel, and strongly embedded. — Where rock occurs, they are to be firmly secured by means of foot bands and braces, or by a wall of stone well laid, not less than five feet in heighth, wedging towards the poles; and where soft, or wet earth or clay is found the hole shall be enlarged sufficiently, and the earth replaced with stone, so as to prevent equally the poles from being disturbed or driven from perpendicular by the action of violent winds, or their up-heaving in soft and wet soil by the frost.

Where the line passes through forests, dead trees and all other trees, which, by falling, may touch the wires, to be cut down at the expence [sic] expense of the Contractor — the object being to prevent the working of the Line being affected by wind-falls.

The line is is to be constructed with a single line of wire, of the best quality, number nine, and weighing not less than 330lbs to the mile — such wire to be firmly connected with, and yet insulated from, the top of the posts, by the Patent Insulator — of which a pattern may be seen by applying at the office of the Provincial Secretary. It consists of a cast iron shaft, with teeth cup and cover, glass ball, with bolt and sholders [sic] shoulders, nuts and screws at each end to secure the wire firmly to the glass ball. The glass ball to be cemented in the cast iron cap, with a non-conducting cement, by a lining of some non-conducting substance between the bolt-head and the cover, so as to secure a perfect insulation, and to protect the glass from fracture and other damage.

The party contracting will be required to furnish necessary Registers, Batteries, and Magnets, of the latest and best quality of Morse's Patent, for not less than three stations — their different sites to be hereafter appointed by the Commissioners.

The whole line will be required to be completed in good working order, and ready to be delivered to the Commissioners or their Agents, fit for immediate use, on or before the 1st day of October next.

The Tenders will not include the cost of Pales [sic] Poles — the Commissioners having already arranged, by contract, for a sufficient number of these to build the whole line; and these will be laid down in such quantities and sites as may be required.

Ample and satisfactory security will be required for the due and faithful performance of the work, as above stipulated.

JOSEPH HOWE,

GEO R. YOUNG,

WM. MURDOCH,                                     COMMISSIONERS.

A. G. ARCHIBALD,

THOMAS LOGAN,

HALIFAX, June 1.