Lehigh Valley Railroad and other lines around Philadelphia, uses Brooks screw shank insulator

Telegraph Reconstruction and Extension.

THE Philadelphia and Erie R. R. (Eastern Division) have just finished and put in operation a new wire, on Brooks' screw shank insulators, from Sunbury to Harrisburg. The wires and offices on this portion of the road are being thoroughly overhauled and put in good order. A handsome new office has just been finished at Sunbury yard in place of the one burned last Spring, and the telegraph office and electric signal apparatus moved into it. West of Williamsport all the new work this season has been done with the Brooks insulator. The lines on the Eastern Division are now in first class condition, and reflect much credit on Mr. Rhoads, the division operator, in charge of them.

The Western Union Company are rebuilding their line on the Lehigh Valley R. R., the men being now at work between Mauch Chunk and Penn Haven. For some reason or other, perhaps owing to inexperience on the part of whoever has charge of the undertaking, the work is not being done as well as it should be, or as is usual with the new lines of this company. The usual glass insulator is of course employed, except upon the railroad wires, for which Brooks' has been exclusively used for the new work during the past two years.

The Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville Telegraph Company are building a new and very excellent line over the Catawissa R. R. The poles are of large size and carry two new wires on the Brooks screw shank insulator. The old wire and poles have not been taken down, and are still in use over a portion of the route. The work is now completed from Williamsport to the summit just above Quakake Junction. All the old offices have been refitted, the leading in wires tubed, etc. This gives the competing system of lines offices at Williamsport, Muncy, Milton, Danville, Rupert and Catawissa, all of them good sized and important towns, especially Williamsport, which is one of the best' paying telegraph points in the State, in proportion to its population. One of the wires is worked direct from Williamsport to Philadelphia, for commercial business. Mr. Sellers and his assistant, Mr. Spang, have displayed a great deal of enterprise and ability in the management of this company, and the extension and reconstruction of its system.

The reconstruction of the Pennsylvania R. R. Company's telegraph lines, on the Pittsburg Division, is progressing rapidly, and the wires have been changed over on to the new poles for a considerable portion of the distance. This is the best line of any length, considering both its mechanical and electrical qualities, that has ever been put up in this country, so far as we know. The poles are arranged to carry 12 wires on three cross-arms, with a glass on a top pin for the Pacific and Atlantic Company's wire. Brooks' insulator, with the excellent tie hook invented by Mr. Yates, of the Burlington and Missouri R. R. line, is used throughout. Mr. Suter may justly feel proud of this job when completed.