A couple of articles have been written about the Trans-Siberian Telegraph Line which mostly concentrated on the North American section of the line through the British Columbia wilderness (The Collins Line). I thought it might be interesting to write a short article concerning the building of the line on the other side of the Pacific Ocean with some fascinating possibilities.

In August, 1865 a party of men landed at Petropavlovski, Kamchatka to survey the eastern coast of Siberia for the route of a telegraph line and to look for wooded areas that would supply poles. Three main teams were to survey the 1800 mile route. The experiences and hardships encountered in traveling this untamed and wild land are too numerous and detailed to relate in this short article. If you wish to read about this expedition, I highly recommend George Kennan's book, Tent Life in Siberia.

In 1867, after two years of exploration, the route was determined and construction efforts were already underway, such as, gathering logs suitable for telegraph poles and constructing station houses. Materials were delivered to Gizhiga by the ocean vessel the "Clara Bell" for distribution. Among these materials were 50,000 threadless insulators and brackets. Presumably, similar materials were delivered to the area around the mouth of the Amur River to the south. Workers waited for a shipment of tools and other materials before work could go into full force.

On July 15, 1867, the fateful news was delivered by the ocean ship the "Onward" from Western Union to abandon building efforts. The news included the report that the Atlantic cable had successfully been laid. It was a bitter disappointment to the workers because the impossible task of building the telegraph line across miles of frozen tundra and desolate wilderness was materializing into a reality. 

The most thought-provoking item from a insulator collector's standpoint is those 50,000 threadless insulators! What happened to them? Are there any to be found in Siberian antique shops? (If they have such a thing as an antique shop over there.) Hey, any of you Siberians seen any 735 Chesters or Tillotsons lately?!?