Paraffine vs. Glass Insulators

Paraffine vs. Glass Insulators.

THE following from the Philadelphia Press illustrates the advantages of glass insulation for telegraph lines. These facts, and the extracts from letters of Superintendent VANDENBURG, of the Central Pacific Telegraph, are especially commended to the consideration of the managers of telegraph companies, notably the Western Union, who still adhere to the absurdity of attempting to insulate telegraph wires with glass:

"On Friday, the 17th instant, there were received at the War Office, Washington, reports from thirty-seven stations-only one (Mobile) reporting 'light rain.' On the 18th reports were received from thirty-three stations, six reporting 'light rain,' six 'hard rain,' and two 'snow'. From four stations no report was received. Of the reports made at 7:48 A. M. on Saturday but fourteen were received in time for the afternoon papers, leaving twenty-three stations unheard from. Of the fourteen from which reports were received, four reported 'rain,' two reported 'fair,' and seven 'cloudy.'

"The reason why no reports were received from twenty-three stations was on account of the rain stopping the working of the telegraph wires.

"Fifteen years since the telegraph lines in Europe were affected by rain in the same manner, because they used glass insulators-the same kind as are used at present in this country; but by the substitution of a different kind of insulation in Europe this difficulty was remedied. The cost of the European insulators are about double that of the glass insulators, but the difference in cost is more than compensated by the reliability of communication. The loss and inconvenience to the people using the telegraph on Saturday, by the non-receipt and delay of their despatches, is difficult of calculation, the telegraph companies not being responsible for the bad working of their wires in rain-yet the cost of telegraphing in this country is from five to ten times greater than in Europe, where these difficulties are remedied by the better construction of their lines."

From Mr. F. L. VANDENBURG, Superintendent Central Pacific Telegraph lines:

"CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD Co.,

"SACRAMENTO, May 22, 1869.

"I worked my line on Brooks' insulators from Promontory to Wadsworth, 550 miles, through heavy rain, clear of escape, when Union Pacific could not work to Corin, 40 miles, through same storm. They use glass and brackets.

"F. L. VANDENBURG, Supt."

"SACRAMENTO, July 21, 1870.

"I have worked my No. 2 direct from San Francisco to Ogden every hour since the line was completed in May, 1869; distance way line runs nine hundred miles.

"On this circuit I use Brooks' insulators."

Another letter from Mr. VANDENBURG, dated Sacramento, Feb. 5, 1871, says:

"The glass and bracket lines have just recovered from a ten days' rain, but my No. 2 never made a slip, but worked through all the time."

Here is a circuit worked farther, and without interruption during the ten days' rain, than any glass and bracket line in fair weather. Facts are better than theories, and the above facts, in regard to actual results obtained from glass and BROOKS' paraffine insulators, should be sufficient to demonstrate their respective values for telegraphic insulation.