Re: Drat!

Grant, if you are around on Sunday which would be the 18th, I'd be happy to show you some stuff out in the wilds. Sorry I can't be there today (Sat.)
SV Telegraphy Dept.? This brings up a good question which is: to what extent did the SVRy use telegraph? Bob Bergstrom mentioned to me that in the early 1900's, I am thinking by 1910, (I think he has a specific date) SVRy changed their corporate articles to include the operation of a telephone company from Baker to Burns, Ore. From old photos, there were about 10 wires strung along the ROW. They had a number of telephone booths along the ROW based on the 1916 Structures Valuation Report. An interesting irony is that the telephone line along the ROW outlasted the rr. I believe the phone system to Austin/Bates lasted into the 1970's and to Whitney a bit later. I assume the local ph. com. took it over at some point. One of my freinds mentioned that when the local ph. co. abandoned the line, they just cut down the poles letting the crossarms and insualators fall to the ground. Apparently their was a widespread harvest of old insulators that survived the crash to the ground, by those interested in such things.