[TowerTalk] Cable TV hardline question

[SJ W3TX]

Today the power company took down the overhead lines coming up the 700ft
driveway to my farm (in preparation for moving our circa 1870's farmhouse to
the frontage of the farm onto a new foundation).  For the asking the power
company gave me the telephone poles (ahh...a great place to put up a 6 or 10
meter yagi).  When the cable tv guy was up in his bucket truck taking down
the cable hardline I asked him "what are you going to do with the cable"  He
replied "we have to throw it in the dumpster".  I told him I was a ham and
might be able to use it, so they gave me the cable for the asking.  He also
said they throw out hundereds of feet of this stuff everyday!!

So the question is, is the 75ohm aluminum shielded hardline of good quality
or not?  Is it acceptable for running trunklines to the beverages? How long
will it last buried not inside a pipe?