New Military Line in Arizona

The New Military Line in Arizona, etc.

SAN DIEGO, CAL., July11.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TELEGRAPHER.

I HAVE collected and prepared for THE TELEGRAPHER the latest information from all sources in relation to the telegraph lines in process of construction and projected in this section of the United States, with such other telegraphic news as may be of interest to your readers.

No appropriation was made by Congress for the salaries of operators to work the military telegraph, and how the matter is to be arranged it is difficult to tell. There is an operator, who has a good paper mill in his knapsack, in one of the regiments stationed in Arizona. He may be detailed to assist Mr. Haines in working the line until Congress appropriates more money.

Major Egbert, with a detachment of the Twelfth Infantry, is still here awaiting instructions, and in the meantime retaining transportation at a considerable expense to the Government. This is an illustration of the economical manner in which the telegraphs would be managed under Government administration.

The following, from the Prescott (Arizona) Miner, will be found of interest:

"Capt. Geo. F. Price, Fifth Cavalry, and Mr. R. R. Haines, called on us Tuesday last, and gave some new information concerning the enterprise of connecting military headquarters here (by telegraph) with Tucson, San Diego and the 'outside world,' which we will endeavor to relate:

"Capt. Price will have charge of the soldiers who are to do the work. Mr. Haines is in the employ of the quartermaster's department, and will have general superintendency of the work, he being a competent line constructor and operator. Gen. J. J. Dana, the worthy chief quartermaster of this military department, will do everything in his power to build the line.

"The first 'field work' will be a reconnoisance [sic] reconnaissance from Prescott to Tucson, by Capt. Price and Mr. Haines, for the purpose of selecting the best and cheapest route. The captain thinks of following the trail over the mountains from Prescott to Skull Valley, thence through the head of Kirkland Valley, through Peeples valley, via Wickenburg and some point on Salt river to Maricopa Wells, the point of intersection of the line from San Diego to Tucson. Mr. Etaines thinks that the $50,000 already appropriation by Government will complete and equip the line from Prescott to San Diego, via Tucson and Maricopa Wells, and we are in hopes that it will. He thought, when speaking to us, that a portion of the material had already arrived at Yuma.

"The Western Union telegraph Company have contracted to furnish poles for the California end-wire, insulators, etc., for the entire job-and it is said that they have sold these articles at cost, or a little less. As the cost of transportation and labor will not have to come out of the appropriation, and as we look to citizens of Arizona living along the line of the proposed improvement to furnish poles as cheaply as possible, we have great faith in the speedy completion of the line. In this vicinity poles will cost but little. We look for active operations inside of a month, and for telegraphic despatches to the Miner inside of three months.

"The completion and working of the line will mark a new era in the history of Arizona, but of this more after its accomplishment."

A San Bernardino correspondent of the Los Angeles Star, writing July 3d, says:

"The contract for the necessary poles for the building of a line of telegraph from Los Angeles to this place has been let to Messrs. Meyerstein & Co. at one one [sic] one dollar and fifty cents each. The line is to be completed and in working order by the 1st of September. This is another step towards bringing San Bernardino into that close and intimate relationship with the outside world that is so imperatively demanded, in order to more fully develop her vat agricultural and mineral resources."

The following is from the San Diego Union:

"At New York, June 28th, the thermometer marked ninety-six degrees. In San Diego, on the same day, the highest temperature was seventy-three."

Mr. Thos. E. Atkinson resigned the managership of San Luis Rey, office just in time to let in Mr. Jno. McCarty, who arrived here a day or two ago from Florence, A. T., 400 miles east, whence he came on foot, thinking that he might get a job "building" post holes for the Government line, if not enough up to work. His wardrobe consisted of one "hickory" shirt, one pair of bag canvas pants, one pair of army boots. These latter fit him so well the T. and P. Construction Co. negotiated for their purchase, but finding it would not pay to put trucks under them, to use them for "dump cars, he gave them to a Chinaman, who "stepped" a mast in one and used it for a fishing smack. The other will have double decks put in and be used in the Coolie trade.

CLIX.