"high taxes on the land you're using" Lines (power, telegraph, gas, etc) are generally run on easements purchased from the underlying landowner. Right-of-ways

"high taxes on the land you're using" Lines (power, telegraph, gas, etc) are generally run on easements purchased from the underlying landowner. Right-of-ways and property for railroads were often government-granted, so it was easier to negotiate with the railroad for an easement for a telegraph line than with a few thousand individual landowners, any one of which could easily raise your costs by refusing to allow you to go through their land. "government not allowing you to bury lines below roads and other obstructions" In the 1800's this was not really a big problem. Besides, telegraph lines generally ran on poles.