Certain straight pine-trees, at suitable distances from each other, and,
as nearly as possible, on a right line between the two cabins, were
selected as poles, and their tops were cut off about twenty-five feet
from the ground. All trees and branches that would be apt to interfere
with the wires were cut down, out of the way.

At one time--for this matter of putting up the wire occupied several
days--there were ten or twelve negro men engaged in cutting down trees,
and in topping and trimming telegraph poles.

Each one of these men received forty cents per day from the company, and
found themselves. It is probable that if the Board had chosen to pay but
twenty cents, there would have been quite as many laborers, for this was
novel and very interesting work, and several farm-hands threw up their
situations for a day or two and came over to "cut fur de telegraph."

When the poles were all ready on each side of the creek, the insulators,
or glass knobs, to which the wires were to be attached, were to be
fastened to them, a foot or two from the top.

This was to be done under Harry's direction, who had studied up the
theory of the operation from his books and under Mr. Lyons.

But the actual work proved very difficult. The first few insulators
Harry put up himself. He was a good climber, but not being provided with
the peculiar "climbers" used by the men who put up telegraph wires, he
found it very hard to stay up at the top of a pole after he had got
there, especially as he needed both hands to nail to the tree the wooden
block to which the insulator was attached.