The Telegraph in Iowa

The Telegraphs in Iowa.

KEOKUK, IOWA, Dec. 28, 1871.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE TELEGRAPHER.

ALTHOUGH with little experience as a correspondent, yet, as we seldom see any communications from this section in our organ, I will endeavor to set an example which it is to be hoped will be generally followed.

The telegraph business here is very lively, and the lines generally work very well, with the exception of the T. W. and W. R. R. wire, which works very hard, the difficulty, no doubt, being mainly caused by the bad condition of the cable across the river here, and the poor insulation of the line between this place and Clayton, Ill., a distance of fifty miles.

The Desmoines Valley R. R. wire is under the supervision of a true gentleman, Mr. H. H. Kinnaman, but who is, I fear, hardly strict enough as a disciplinarian. The operators along the line indulge too much in the reprehensible practice of "fighting circuit" while the wire is crowded with business, which seriously interferes with and delays the prompt transmission of dispatches. In stormy weather the line works rather hard, it being 240 miles long, with glass insulation. In the evening students are allowed to use the line for practicing, and as there are apparently one of two in every office, it becomes nearly impossible at such times to do any business over it.

Mr. W. H. Dolbear, formerly of the Chicago office, is the efficient and genial manager of the Western Union office here, and he is ably assisted by Mr. A. R. Pippitt, familiarly known on the line as "Pip," who is a first class operator and a jovial fellow.

Out this way we are very much interested in regard to the effect on the position and interests of the employes which the postal telegraph system would have if adopted in this country, and desire to hear more upon the subject through your columns.

THE TELEGRAPHER comes regularly, and is heartily welcomed on its weekly advent, and it has the best wishes, for its continued success and prosperity, of the Western telegraphers.

K. K. K.