'Telegraph and travel. A narrative of the formation and development of telegraphic communication between England and India, under the orders of Her Majesty's Government, with incidental notices of the countries traversed by the lines.' [‎304] (341/782)

11
il »-! "
t III' M'f
t
E r i
TELEGRAPH AND TRAVEL.
On the 7til January, 18C7, Major Smith reported pro-
oress. The report was, on the whole, satisfactory, but
he was beset with difficulties. Dry-rot and white ante
had proved formidable foes ; and a large number of poles
had already been replaced : for a great part of the line
every pole had to be taken out and examined. There
was great difficulty in getting beasts of burden, and in
the province of Kara there had just been on epidemic
among the mules. As " no amount of pressure could
induce " the Persians to replace the decayed or useless
poles he congratulated himself that the cost of moving
was placed in his own hands. _ " When the work is com
pleted," he writes in conclusion, " and the 2,000 iroii
poles added, which I understand are being sent out
by her Majesty's Government, I am very sanguine of a
satisfactory result."
On the 1st August, 1867, the Director forwarded to
the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. reports of his assistants. Lieu
tenants St. John and Pierson, regarding the completion of
the double line of telegraph from Bushahr to Tehran, and
from Tehran to Karmansbah, respectively. It was ex
plained that a short distance still remained to be done
betweenKarmanshah and the Turkish frontier; otherwise
the work was over.
Lieutenant St. John's report is dated 7th June, 186 .
We commence quoting it, from his allusion in the seconc
paragraph to the Convention of 18G.3 .
"The day that the. news of its signature was transmitted to
Mr. Walton and myself, working parties were sent on a - sec 1
of the line to complete the necessary repairs he bie le se • o
in of winter, and the line was made as secure as P osslb e ^
out the reserve of poles, the necessity for which )e ^
often impressed upon the Persian authorities. But the temp