The Eckert Insulation Once More, Western Union wires

The Eckert Insulation Once More.

NEW YORK, Dec. 25th.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE TELEGRAPHER

HARRISBURG and Philadelphia have had their say about General Supt. Eckert's insulation - or non-insulation, as it proves - of the wires in his division - more particularly those running South and West; and it is but right that we of the New York office should add our testimony to theirs. We know, by annoying and laborious experience, that the statements in regard to this matter have not been overdrawn. The condition of these wires since the stormy season commenced has been disgraceful.

As you are aware, Saturday last was an exceedingly rainy and foggy day - one which was well calculated to demonstrate the excellencies or deficiencies of insulation on telegraph lines. Previous experience had prepared us for a season of trial and vexation on these wires, but, bad as they have proved heretofore, this last experience showed that the possibilities in that way had not heretofore been reached.

The wires were more completely played out than at any previous time this year. Repeaters and relays both proved nearly ineffectual, and the consequence was that a large number of business and other messages for New York and other cities failed to get through in time for delivery. Yesterday being Sunday, and to-day a holiday, a large proportion of these messages cannot be delivered before to-morrow (Tuesday). It is true that in the latter part of the day several of the North River cables were interrupted, but if they had been in order it would have made but little difference so long as the rain and fog continued.

It does seem to us operators that if the parties who largely own the stock of the Western Union Company, on which they receive no dividends, could spend a little time in the offices of the company during one of these stormy days, and see how, and ascertain why the wires work so badly, they would institute a reform which would give us a different system of insulation from that which, for some reason, appears to be in such high favor with our able and efficient (?) General Superintendent.

A WORN OUT OPERATOR.