Buffalo

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", October 1976, page 27

Larry Larned of Hebron, Connecticut, sent in the following paragraphs from the April 1969 issue of Railroad Magazine:

"When the railroads were pushing the American frontier westward in the 1860's, the thundering buffalo herds were quite a problem in the maintenance of communication lines. About the only solid perpendicular objects on the vast treeless prairies were the telegraph poles erected to carry the wires.

"Buffalo herds followed the railroad for hundreds of miles using the poles to scratch themselves. Many poles toppled over, causing interference in communications. In an effort to remedy the situation it was decided to stud the telegraph poles with shoemaker's awls from about ground level up to the height of a buffalo head. The theory was that the needle-sharp points of the awls would discourage buffalo from using poles as back scratchers.

"The entire Midwest was scoured for shoemaker's awls, which were installed on the poles. Although the buffalo loved the relatively smooth poles to which they were accustomed, they now stampeded to use the improved back scratchers! Telegraph poles toppled more than ever. The railroads had not taken into consideration the massive, tangled mat of hair in the buffalo coat, or the solid satisfaction afforded by the comb-like stud of awls. It was decided to remove the studs and reset poles as needed."