Questions answered on Brooks insulator

THE BROOKS PATENT INSULATOR.

IN response to our inquiry for information about the Brooks Insulator, we have received the very full affidavits as to its merits given below by experienced telegraphists. We also print in another column a letter upon the same subject. Both articles were furnished us by different parties, each without the knowledge of the other.

This subject of insulation, we hope, will be taken hold of by those most interested in its success - the operators - and have it proved to the satisfaction of telegraph corporations that it is their policy, not only for their own pockets and satisfying the demands of the public, but common humanity toward their operators, to find out and use the best known insulation.

We print these testimonials, not from any regard or friendship for the inventor - for, although we have long known him by name, we are but slightly acquainted with him - but to help the work along to the end to do our mite towards securing the best insulation, and because we believe, from the assurance given us by disinterested parties, and by our own tests made recently, these insulators to be the best now in use.

At first glance their price would seem to be against them, but when the ease and rapidity of putting them up is taken into consideration, saving time of gangs of men, it will be observed the expense does not exceed that of others.

The manufacturers are now supplying the New York, London and Newfoundland Company with several thousands, secured in brackets made purposely for this kind of insulator, to be used on the old and new lines of that company.

If any one can name or state an objection to these insulators we hope he will not hesitate one moment in giving in his testimony.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1st, 1866.

D. BROOKS, Esq.: - Dear Sir: - I have received interrogatories, numbered from one to fourteen inclusive, relating to insulation, etc. etc., etc.

Believing that L. S. Jones, formerly Chief Operator United States Office, Philadelphia, now Chief Operator at night in Western Union Office, Philadelphia, to be most familiar with all the wires, I have handed the questions to him for reply.

I believe Mr. Jones competent to answer the questions, and that he does so honestly and conscientiously.

Yours respectively,     J. MERRIHEW.

1st Interrogatory. - Are you familiar with the wire known as "No. 4 West" between Philadelphia and Pittsburg? What is its length?

Ans. Yes; I am familiar with No. 4 wire West. It is about three hundred and sixty miles in length.

2d. How is it insulated?

Ans. Brooks' Patent Insulator.

3d. Have you worked or seen No. 4 wire work through very wet and humid weather, and can it be worked to its full capacity at such times (I mean by capacity the condition of that wire, or any other more favorably circumstances; the weather being clear, and other conditions favoring the good working of a line)?

Ans. I have. I believe it could be worked to its full capacity.

4th. Have you ever seen the weather so humid or moist as to prevent the working of that line to its full capacity? If not to its full capacity, please state what percentage or proportion of its full capacity it could be worked at such times.

Ans. I have never yet seen the day, however bad, that No. 4 could not be worked to its full capacity. There being no actual interruption on the line, I mean, that good operators could do fully as much business in bad weather as they could in fair weather, under favorable circumstances.

5th. What kind of insulation do you consider the best to work a long circuit, putting the "Brooks Patent" out of the question?

Ans. I consider the Bracket and Glass the best.

6th. Do you know of any wires on which such insulation is used, and of what length are they? Which do you consider the best of these wires?

Ans. The United States Line wires from Philadelphia to Pittsburg are so insulated. Distance about three hundred and twenty miles. No. 3. now No. 10 West.

7th. Have you worked said wire, and how long? Have you ever seen the weather so humid or moist as to prevent working of that wire to its full capacity? If not to its full capacity, please state what percentage or proportion of its full capacity it could be worked at such times.

Ans. I have; about three years. I have seen it affected solely by moistness and dampness, so much that it could not be worked for hours from Philadelphia to Pittsburg.

8th. If a repeater were placed at a central and intermediate point, at what speed do you think said wire could be worked in such weather?

Ans. With a repeater midway between Philadelphia and Pittsburg I think the wire could have been worked at about half speed.

9th. Do you think additional repeaters placed on said wire would increase its capacity; if so, how much?

Ans. I think not. Not on that circuit.

10th. What number of insulators per mile on No. 4 wire West?

Ans. About fifty per mile.

11th. What number per mile on the wire referred to in your reply to the 6th interrogatory?

Ans. About forty per mile.

12th. What percentage of insulators has No. 4 wire over the other?

Ans. About forty per cent.

13th. Have you ever noticed No. 4 wire affected by the writing from another wire, or the wire on the other end of the cross arm, such results known as "induction, sympathy, or cross currents"? If so, to what extent? I refer now to the most unfavorable weather.

Ans. I have not; unless there was an actual metallic cross.

14th. Have you ever seen the time, during a very wet day, but what there was more or less "cross current or sympathy" on those wires on the same poles, insulated as per your reply to the 5th and 6th interrogatory?

Ans. During wet weather there is always more or less sympathy between all of them.

I have examined the answers to those questions carefully, particularly those referring to No. 4 wire and its insulation, and, after full consideration, I believe those answers to be truthfully and correctly given, so far as respects its capacities in very unfavorable weather.

I make this statement from my knowledge in working that wire, as chief operator on the western since the line was finished - about three years since.

Philadelphia, Sept. 28th, 1866.F. M. SMITH.

I have examined the questions and answers thereto by Mr. Jones, and can certify to their correctness, unless it is answer to question 7th. I don't distinctly remember the times when No. 10 was so affected that it could not be worked at all, though Mr. Jones, as he was chief operator, and had better opportunity of observation, says he distinctly remembers such times, though of not long duration.

The most common way of getting over the difficulty was to put in a repeater and open such other wires on the same poles as interfered through "sympathy or induction," as it is commonly called. The others are the answers I would give to those questions.

JAMES PARTRICK.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY ROBERT J. BLACK.

1st. How long have you worked or operated the printing instrument?

Ans. About twelve years.

2d. Can you work a "Morse instrument"?

Ans. I can.

3d. Are you familiar with the working of the wire known as No. 4 West from Philadelphia to Pittsburg?

Ans. I have had my attention drawn to its condition and its working under very unfavorable circumstances; that is, during the prevalence of rain and moisture, and at times when all other wires were most affected by the weather.

4th. Do you think you could work the combination instrument on that wire during the most unfavorable weather; if so, at what speed in comparison with the working of that instrument on a good wire under the most favorable circumstances?

Ans. I do; and I believe the instrument could have been worked at such most unfavorable times at its full speed and capacity. I mean by this, the full speed of that instrument under favorable circumstances of weather.

(To be continued.)