'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.' [‎313] (350/782)

LIEUTENANT PIER SON'S REPORT.
313
" I entrusted the charge of the work from Tehran to Zerra a
section about 150 miles in length, to Corporal Hockey, R.E and
gave him as assistant Corporal Peattie, E.E., lately arrived in
the country. They commenced work on the 28th February bv
which time all the insulators required for this section had
reached Tehran, and had been distributed alon^ the road Start
ing from Tehran they put the line into thorough repair, replacing
2.2 poles by new ones, and preparing it for the reception of the
new w,re by the second insulator on each post. About
28 miles in all of the course of the line were altered, as expe
rience had shown that certain parts of it became inaccessible in
winter. Returning on the 81h May, Corporal Hockey strained
np second wire and completed his portion of the work on
the 28th May He deserves great credit for the satisfactory
manner m which he accomplished his task.
"Prom Zerra to Karmanshah, a section of 150 miles, was in
the charge of Corporal Fowles, RE. He commenced work at
Hamad an on the 1st March, and completed the erection of the
second wire as far as Zerra, about 50 miles, on the 17th The
posts of the first 8 miles from Hamadan had to be entirely
removed, and the course of the line altered, as it originally ran
rough a series of vineyards and gardens that baffled all attempts
at efficient inspection and maintenance. 175 new poles had
been provided for this 50 miles, but were found insufficient. The
wor' was not delayed on this account, but Corporal Fowles has
about 200'"f 8 *] ^ thlS P0rti0n ' and is now e Wd in renewing
about 200 of the remaining posts. On the 19th March, starting
a^am from Hamadan, he commenced working in the Karmanshah
o^ffh fir f 4 mileS 0f thia Piece had also t0 be moved
of the vineyards, and on the 5th April he had brought the
second wire to the top of Asadabad Pass, 24 miles from Hamadan
having renewed 70 of the old posts. Unfortunately Corporal'
ow es at this time fell seriously ill, in consequence of his un-
muting exertions while constantly exposed to the exceptionally
'• ather he had met with during these operations.
11 hea i ri "g of th e stoppage of the work caused by the illness
veliev^hin, Tr 8 ' 1 ^ Colour - Ser g eant Chatti n, RE., to
mi - This non-commissioned officer had come out in