Improvement in Telegraphy. An En
glish engineer dm invented a new tel
egraph joint, which, it ia claimed, pre
sents a simple, cheap and efficient
means of dealing with one of the prac
tical difficulties of subterranean tele
graphy one, in fact, that seemed al
nioit insnnerable.
This m-w joint is formed by removing
the coating from the two ends to be
united and. joining: the cleaned wires
by what ia techinally known as the
"bell hanger's twist," no solder being
necessary. The twist is then warmed
slightly and covered with a rough coat
ing of insulating compound, somewhat
thicker than the original diameter of
the wire. The joint, while warm, is
i:acel in the lower Halt ot a email
ooden block about three inches long
ind one inch wide, fitted internally
with a groove for the wire, widening in
the middle into a niche about one and
one-half inches length for the reception
of the compound covered joint. - While
the compound is vet warm, the upper
half ot the mould in shape corres
ponding exactly with the lower one
is placed on the top, and by means of
a clamp, screwed down until the two
wooden surfaces are pressed hrmly to
gether. While in this position, they are per
manently fixed by half a dozen ordin
ary urass screws, and, the compound
bavinx hardened, the claniD is remov
ed and the joint complete. The cavity
in the mteiior ot the block in which
the copper euds meet, leing complete
ly tilled with the compound, the insin
uation is all tlmt could be desired,
numerous eiiteiiineuts having satisfac
torily tested the electrical qualities of
the arrangement the wooden cover
ing obviating all danger of "leakage"
or separation of the wiies through
bending. - ..
