Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1884 — An Ingenious Expedient. [ARTICLE]

An Ingenious Expedient.

The telegraph wires in London are not all above ground, as is the case liei«e, but belong to, the underground system. The main wires are laid through the big tunnels, in which are the gas and sewer pipes. These tunnels are big enough for a man to walk through easily. The branch pipes, containing the side wires, running off from the main line for several miles, are much smaller, of course; and the workman must be very careful not to lose the connections between the larger ami smaller wires. Not long ago, however, some men who were repairing one of these-lateral wires failed to attach to it a leading line by which the wire < ould be drawn bick into its place. The blunder seemed to involve great loss, for it looked as though the whole side pipe would have to be dug* up to replace the wire. In this dilemma,' a remarkable, step was taken. A rat was caught, and around him was tied one end of a very fine steel wire. He was placedin the pipe; but, after running a few yards, he stopped. Then came another curious step. A ferret was put iu after the rat. As soon as the rat heard the ferret coming behind it, the fine wire began to pay out. It was feared that the rat would show, fight, blit it. did .not; and the complete . circuit was made by both rat and ferret. When the rat came out at the other end of the pipe, it was caught; and by means of the fine wire, the telegraph wire was drawn through. So the rat saved the telegraph company thousands of dollais.