HISTORICAL SKETCH ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH: INCLUDING ITS RISE AND PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES. BY ALEXANDER JONES, " I'll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes."- Siiakspeark. NEW- YORK: GEORGE P. PUTNAM, 10 PARK PLACE, M.DCCC.LII. zTL Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by ALEXANDEE JONES, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New- York. john f. tkow, r .;.-:.•. * • i ; « ;, PfilNTEB AND STEiUSOXTPafe,' ,'''.,'' ' " » \ 49 Ann-st TO THE MERCHANTS OF NEW-YORK, IN HUMBLE ADMIRATION OF THEIR PATRIOTISM, INTELLIGENCE, AND ENTERPRISE J THE FAME OF WHOSE DEEDS IS RECORDED ON THE ICY BARRIERS OF ARCTIC SEAS, IN THE EARLIEST AND LATEST TRIUMPHS OF STEAM, AND IN THE UNEQUALLED SPEED OF THEIR SAILING VESSELS, NO LESS THAN IN THEIR LIBERAL ENCOURAGEMENT OF WORKS OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, AND TO WHOSE PATRONAGE, WITH THAT OF THE PUBLIC PRESS, THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS ARE LARGELY INDEBTED FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SUCCESS ; THIS IMPERFECT WORK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. mqi yno PREFACE. Electeicity is the poetry of science ; no romance — no tales of fiction excel in wonder its history and achievements. Viewed in its terrible atmospheric manifestations, no element would seem less likely to be brought under the control of man, and, in feebler currents, made to do his bidding, than it : yet, such is the result. We find it, in one instance, like a skilful chemist, elabo- rately analyzing bodies supposed to be simple alkalies, and showing them to be compounds of metals and oxygen. Again, we find it at work in attempts to manufacture dia- monds. Anon, it turns physician, and endeavors not only to heal the sick, but to bring the dead to life. In another case, we find it employed in the plastic art, and, like an expert ope- rator, making beautiful and delicate copies of works of sculp- ture, and engraving in masses of solid metal. Again, we find it working in the sun's rays, and on the surface of Daguerreo- type plates, delineating the human features. It is, again, engaged in dissolving gold and silver, and applying them to the gilding and plating of other metals. "We find it, at another time, employed in blasting rocks from the mountain side, or in removing them from the chan- nels of rivers and harbors. Again, it stands ready to enlist its services beneath the banners of contending armies, to engage on either side, in fearful slaughter and destruction, and then Vi PKEFACE. suddenly send to the ends of the earth, the news of its own defeat or victory. Finally, it turns its electric attention to the movements of "Father Time" and undertakes to give him lessons in regular- ity and speed. In one instance, we find it conveying messages of intelligence in advance of time over a continent, measuring the degrees of longitude, and dropping copies of its news at each hamlet, village and town, in its flight over mountain peaks, " Where Alpine solitudes extend ;" across valleys wide, and rivers deep and strong ; and as quickly at its post again. Anon, we find it working a hall or city clock, making it accurately mark time in exact seconds, show- ing its slow but steady flight. Again, we find it turned policeman ; sounding its whistles and alarm bells, to arouse drowsy firemen or sleepy watch- men, calling them quickly to a raging fire, murderous assault, or marauding burglary. Again, we find its magic power at work in securing the doors and vaults of our buildings, or it is found standing sen- tinel over our treasures, ready to sound the alarm on the first- touch of the robber. It also is prepared to pursue the rogue, fly in advance of his steps, and drop pictures of his person and features at each station on its way. Not only so ; but it stands ready to turn coast-guard, to sound whistles or bells over dangerous reefs or rocky shoals, and thus timely warn vessels of impending danger. Where, in the most extravagant records of fancy — in the wildest dreams of the marvellous — can we find a hero, how- ever lauded and deified, whose most astounding deeds ever compared, for one moment, with the exploits of electricity ? Yet, its mighty triumphs are but half revealed, and the vast extent of its extraordinary power but half understood ! PKEFACE. VU In the following pages, we have humbly endeavored to describe, chiefly, the workings of the electric fluid in reference to electric telegraphs. Beginning with the earliest notices of electrical laws, exhi- bited in the practicability of conducting the fluid to a distant point from the place of its generation, whether developed by a frictional machine or a galvanic battery, we have briefly fol- lowed it up, through its different epochs, to the present time. It was not necessary, in our plan, to give a complete his- tory of electricity, nor to notice, in detail, the long array of the names of philosophers made brilliant and immortal by their labors and discoveries, and who contributed so largely to the development of the laws which govern electrical science: such prolixity would fill volumes. Neither have we been able to bring before the reader the names of all who have, in some way or other, made sugges- tions, or contributed, in some form, to the establishment of electric telegraphs. Atmospheric electricity has undoubtedly coexisted with other elements of creation. And some have supposed that it was the primary element, employed in the fiat of creation, and yet remains that universal power of attraction and repulsion, by which worlds are sustained in their orbits ; while, at the same time, it is the life generating and supporting principle in all existing forms of vitality. Thales, the oldest of the seven wise men of Greece, taught that water was the primeval element of all other things apper- taining to the earth, and this doctrine was current up to the period of Paracelsus, about the dawn of the sixteenth cen- tury, when the one element was extended to four — water, air, earth, and fire. These elements were soon after found, them- selves, to be compound. It seems to us, that it would have been more wise, had Vlll PREFACE. electricity been fixed upon as the simple, all-powerful and pervading element, instead of water. We derive the word electricity from the Greeks, who dis- covered that when amber (called by them electron) was rubbed, it exhibited properties of attraction which it did not otherwise possess. This property in amber, it is said, was first observed by Thales, six hundred years before the birth of Christ. Several accounts of electrical phenomena were also recorded by Aris- totle, Theophrastus, Pliny, Caesar, and Plutarch. It was not until the seventeenth century, that the attention of philosophers was strongly attracted to the subject of elec- tricity, and various new facts relating to it were first discov- ered. Early in the eighteenth century, it received increased attention, and many of the greatest minds were led to investi- gate its laws, and to ascertain the nature of its effects, which, on being published, surprised the world by their striking novelty. In 1745, CUNENS, a philosopher of Leyden, discovered (what has since borne, not his name, but that of the town in which he lived) the Leyden jar, or phial. This gave a new impulse to electrical science, which was soon after followed by the discoveries of Dr. Franklin and others, some of which we have alluded to in our brief chronological statement. M. Monnier, the younger, discharged a Leyden jar through a wire of four thousand feet in length, but could not estimate the velocity of its speed. Elliott, of Edinburgh, first constructed an electrometer for measuring the quantity or force of the fluid. Abbe JSTollet, of France, also showed by experiment that the electric fluid could be conveyed to considerable distances. * It is said that the Marquis of Worcester alludes to tele- graphs in his famous "Century of Inventions: 1 Eobert Iiooke, PREFACE. IX in 1684, presented a paper to the Koyal Society, " showing a way how to communicate one's mind at great distances;" probably by a visual telegraph. In 1773, Odin, of France, suggested the possibility of instantaneous communication. • For discoveries and suggestions made by other parties in reference to electricity and its application to telegraphs, we refer to our chronological table. In the present age, when education is becoming so univer- sally diffused, when the knowledge of great and important sciences has passed from the few to the many, when new dis- coveries are rapidly following each other in all the useful pur- suits of man, encouraged in our happy country by free politi- cal institutions, we must believe that new discoveries will be made in electricity and its applications, and that, in the pros- pective and brilliant future, the perfection and extension of electric telegraphs will meet with their due share of success. In submitting our brief and imperfect production to the public, we feel sensibly impressed with the diffidence common to authors, and especially to those unused to appear before the world in that capacity. We have been compelled to discuss subjects of painful delicacy, either in defence of truth or in the way of personal explanation. In doing this, we have endeav- ored to respect the feelings and merits of all interested parties, and neither to give nor intend personal offence to any person whatever. We have had to write our work at leisure moments, snatched from cither daily occupation, and chiefly during evenings, or at night. We therefore have to crave the indul- gence of the reader for such errors as may here and there pre- sent themselves. Our aim has been, to describe electricity and electric telegraphs in such a popular form, as to enable a party X PREFACE. not previously and fully initiated, to gain a clearer and better knowledge of the subject. The facts regarding electric telegraphs have multiplied so rapidly of late years, and their extension has become of such general and public utility, that some work of the kind, em- bracing all the leading points of their history up to the pres- ent period, seemed necessary. Trusting that our labors will be found, to some extent, both useful and entertaining, we have the honor to be, The public's very obedient and humble servant, THE AUTHOR April, 1852. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Preliminary Remarks, ....... 1 CHAPTER II. Chronological Statement of Discoveries in relation to the Electric Telegraph, 7 CHAPTER III. Brief Explanation of Terms, and of Instruments, illustrated with cuts, . 13 CHAPTER IV. Telegraph Litigation : Evidence, Decisions, ^ CHAPTEK XL EXPENSE OF BUILDING AND OPERATING THE LINES. The local expenses at jthe stations, or offices, vary according to circumstances or legalities. A large expense arises from the use of acids, and the decomposition of metallic zinc, in the batteries. From some data gathered from inquiries made in the proper quar- ter, it is estimated that the zinc cups employed in the batteries average about twenty-five to thirty for every one hundred miles of telegraph wires throughout the United States. On routes where there are two or three separate telegraph lines, under dif- ferent patents, the number of zinc cups required will be double and treble the quantity named ; but on some single routes, with small stations, the quantity is, of course, much less. But, for the sake of calculation, we will assume that the average is thirty to the hundred miles. Now, assuming the entire length of lines to be 12,000 miles : to work them will require the use of 3,600 cups. Each zinc cup weighs from 2 to 2| lbs. If we take the latter estimate, the weight of the 3,600 cups, will amount to 9,000 lbs of metallic zinc. These zinc cups under- go total decomposition, and have to be entirely replaced with* new cups every six months ; hence, for the year, the consump- tion of metallic zinc will be 18,000 lbs, which at 8 cents per lb, gives only an aggregate cost of $1,440 per annum. Some com- panies renew their cups more freely ; and if we add the ex- pense of transporting the cups, it is likely the whole consump- tion of metallic zinc, may reach $2,500 to $3,000 per annum. The next heaviest expense connected with the working of the batteries, arises from the consumption of nitric acid. This is poured into the porcelain cups, in which are placed the slips of platina foil. Nitric acid, of best quality, costs about 11 THE ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH. 97 cents per lb. It takes about 1 lb. to every eight porcelain cups, or about 12 J pounds to every 100 cups. Now, as we have shown that 3,600 zinc cups are required, hence, to work them, they require an equal number of porcelain cups. Thus, to fill them once, for operation, will require about 450 lbs. of nitric acid, which at 11 cents per lb., will cost $49 50. This acid loses its power and requires to be entirely renewed about twice a month in the main batteries, and daily in small local batteries, of only two or three cups each. Hence the con- sumption will cost, for all the lines, $1,188 per annum, which may be considered a low estimate. Taking wastage and ex- pense of transportation into account, it is possible the amount may reach from $1,500 to $2,000 per annum. The next expense is that of sulphuric acid ; but as it is only used in small proportions, and differs in strength and quantity used by each battery, we cannot arrive at a probable estimate. As it only costs 6 or 8 cents per lb., and its value is trifling, in proportion to that of the nitric acid, we will pass it over. To each battery of 100 cups, six lbs. of quicksilver or mercury is employed, to rub over the zinc cups, for the purpose of causing them to resist decomposition by the action of the acid. The mercury costs about $1 25 per lb., and if six lbs. per 100 cups per annum be employed, it will cost $7 50 per 100 cups, or $370 per annum. If we add incidental expenses, the amount may reach $500 to $600 per annum. The aggregate cost of 'materials consumed in working all the telegraph lines on the continent for one year, may be summed up about as follows, viz: : Metallic Zinc, say $3,000 Nitric Acid, . . . . . . 2,000 Mercury or Quicksilver, .... 600 Breakage, Wastage, &c, . . . . 500 $0,100 By this statement, it will be seen at what comparatively small expense of materials, the electric fluid is daily sped to all 98 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF parts of this vast country. Further improvements will likely reduce the present cost of materials. % The offices in New- York employ on an average four young men in each, as operators and clerks. Those acting as clerks are generally also capable of writing with the instruments. In country offices, or in places of small note, one or two operators are sufficient. The wages paid for their services differ in dif- ferent offices. The chief operator receives the highest wages — varying, probably, from $1,000 to $1,200 per annum. Some companies also employ a person known as the superintendent of their lines, who has the immediate control and supervision of the whole. It is customary with most, if not all the offices, when the operators have reached the hour for closing, or have finished their day's work, if required by the press or other parties to keep open for a longer period, to charge those giv- ing the order extra for their services. As two have to sit up in each office, the usual charge is 50 cents per hour for each person, or $1 per hour for each office. The offices in New- York manage the delivery of their own messages. For this purpose they employ, on an average, about five boys each, for twelve offices, making an aggregate of about sixty boys. The wages paid these boys is from two to three cents for each despatch delivered, if below Canal street, or within about a mile from the offices. If beyond that dis- tance, or after night, the charge is 12 \ cents for each despatch. If in distant parts of Brooklyn or Williamsburg, the charge is 25 cents. Each boy carries a small book or register. The envelope containing the message is endorsed with the address of the party to whom it is directed, and the name of the office at which it was received. The time at which it was received is inserted over the message, and within, the place from whence it came, with the date, &c. When the boy delivers the despatch, the recipient is re- quested to write his name and residence in the boy's book, and the precise time at which he delivered it. These books must always be produced at the office when called for. Besides the help previously referred to, many of the offices THE ELECTKIO TELEGKAPH. 99 employ what may be termed a battery man, whose duty it is, every night, to remove the zinc cups from the acid cells or cups, and, after cleansing them in clear water, to set them by until they are required for use next day.« CHAPTER XII. STATISTICAL AND OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE OPE- RATIONS OF SEVERAL LEADING LINES, SUPPLIED BY THE OPERATORS, CLERKS, AND SUPERINTENDENTS ATTACHED TO THEM, IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING INQUIRIES. 1. What is the greatest distance from which electric messages are actually transmitted ? 2. What are the tariffs of transmission ? 3. What classes of dispatches are entitled to precedence ? 4. What is the average number of words (accidents apart) which are transmitted along a single wire per minute? If the different telegraphs differ in their rate of transmission, state it ? 5. At what rate can dispatches which arrive in telegraph cipher, such as Morse's and Bain's, be reduced to ordinary writing ? 6. What quantity of telegraphic matter forms an average per day ? 7. Give examples of days on which you receive extra quantities ? 8. To what extent do you receive telegraphically the de- bates of Congress ? 9. What convention exists between the New- York journals for telegraphic news ? 10. To what extent is the telegraph used for commercial correspondence ? This would be best illustrated by the ex- pense incurred by two or three of the greatest commercial houses. 11. Is the telegraph extensively used for social corre- spondence ? THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 101 12. State the cases in which there are competing wires, and illustrate the effects of competition by examples ? 13. Are interruptions frequent, arising from atmospheric electricity ? 14. Or from other, and what causes? 15. How many breaks are there in the communications between the most distant stations, &c. ? 16. Is it practicable for correspondents to keep the subject of their dispatches concealed from the employees of the tele- graph, and is this object often, or ever practically attained? Answers to the foregoing questions made by Mr. O'Reilly at his Telegraph Line Office, 180 Broadway. 1. The actual distance from which messages have been, and are now transmitted on this line, is 1,100 miles — from New- York, to Louisville. To do this, it is found necessary to place two batteries in the circuit at distances of four hundred miles apart, for the purpose of renewing the electric current, part of which escapes from defective insulation and atmospheric causes. There is no doubt but that, in a more advanced stage of telegraphing — which may be but a short time hence — that New Orleans and New- York will be placed in instantaneous communication with each other* To enable this to take place, requires, in the first place, a line substantially built and thoroughly insulated. It may be remarked, that it is but two years since, when to telegraph three hundred miles on a single or unbroken circuit, was considered a feat ; now, from improve- ments made since then in telegraphs, we can send over one thousand one hundred miles — easier than we could three hun- dred at that time. In our Cincinnati office, two years ago, and up till very lately, they used a separate battery for each line. From a series of experiments made, one single battery, of no greater strength than those formerly used, now works eight distinct and separate lines, with no apparent diminution of strength, and at a great saving of expense to the office. 102 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF • 2. The tariffs depend, in a great measure, on the compe tition which the lines have to meet. From New- York to Pittsburg, the rate is sixty cents for ten words, distance foui hundred miles ; ten words to Cincinnati, distance seven hun dred and eighty miles, is but seventy-five. Owing to the com petition existing among four or live lines that connect Cincin nati with New- York, by adding the rates and distances on three or four of the lines, it would give, as an average : — That ten words of a message (the address and signature of sender and recipient are not counted in telegraphic messages,) are transmitted, in long distances of over four hundred miles, at the rate of one cent ; three hundred miles, about six mills ; two hundred miles, about five mills ; one hundred miles, about four mills ; and lesser distances in proportion. .■ 3. Classes of messages entitled to precedence, are govern- ment messages, and messages for the furtherance of justice in detection of criminals, &c. ; then death messages, which in- cludes cases of sickness when the presence of a party is re- quested by the sick and dying. Important press-news comes next ; if not of extraordinary interest, it takes its turn with the mercantile messages. 4. Average number of words may be stated at twenty to twenty-three per minute ; a higher rate could be obtained, but as nearly all operators copy from their instruments and re- duce messages from ordinary writing, the above is considered rapid enough — as an expert operator can indent his Morse characters on his register faster than most men can write with a pen or pencil. 5. The messages, as quick as they are written by an opera- tor at the extremity, are copied at the other extremity by the receiving operator on a printed slip of paper, prepared for that purpose ; then passed from the operating to the receiving room, enveloped and sent out for delivery. So that no delay need take place, if each one attends to his duty. 6. That is a question that cannot well be answered here as regards this line, as we are at the extreme point, and we are not one of the feeders to the line. New- York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore messages for the West and South, all pass THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 103 through the Pittsburg office. From the last report of the line from Louisville to Pittsburg, presented to shareholders by the superintendent, the following statistics are stated. It may be mentioned that this section is 450 miles long, distinct as a property, but under one management. 9 Statistics of the year 1850 — Pittsburg and Cincinnati Telegraph Line. Number of words transmitted 3,602,760 Number of dispatches recorded .... 364,559 These are exclusive of free matter, necessarily large at all times. Average hours of labor, fourteen hours per day. The recorded dispatches for 1850, on the paper of the registering instrument, covers a length of 1,704| miles. Cash receipts at the different offices of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and Louisville Telegraph Company, during the year 1850. Louisville . . . . $22,000 08 Madison 2,155 99 Lawrenceburg 292 60 Cincinnati 18,970 97 Dayton 2,727 55 Springfield 631 37 Columbus 3,403 49 Zanesville ....... 1,628 36 N. Washington 72 37 Wheeling 2,525 71 Steubenville. 87808 Pittsburg ....... 17,992 17 Total receipts for 1850 .... $73,278 74 Record of Dispatches — 1850. Pittsburg 73,900 Steubenville 5,020 Wheeling 12,100 N. Washington . 242 Zanesville 5,079 Columbus 12,885 Springfield 2,700 104 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Dayton 9,968 Cincinnati 156,000 Lawrenceburg 1,000 Madison 10,325 Louisville 74,660 Total number of entries for 1850 . . . 363,879 This table, of course, shows a double entry — one at the office whence sent, and the other where received ; yet the record as given, showing as it does all the business created by each office named, also shows thereby their intrinsic value. 7 and 8. We do not receive Congressional reports. We are not in communication with Washington. 9. The rates for press-matter on this line are as follows : Per Word. New-York to Pittsburg 3 cents. Philadelphia 1£ Other dispatches between that and New- York . . 3 New-York to Wheeling ..... 3 Zanesville, Ohio 3 Columbus, Ohio 3 Dayton, Ohio 4 Madison, Ind 4 Louisville, Ky 5 Nashville, Tenn. 6 Memphis, Tenn 6 Jackson, Miss 7 Vicksburg, Miss. ....... 8 New Orleans, La 8 St. Louis, Mo. 6 Lancaster, Penn. 2 Harrisburg, Penn 2 Philadelphia to Pittsburg l£ Wheeling 2 Zanesville ....... 2 Columbus ........ 2 Dayton 2 Cincinnati . 2 Madison 3 THE ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH. 105 Per Word. Louisville ........ 3 cents. Nashville 4 " Memphis ........ 4 " Jackson 5 " Vicksburg 6 " «. New Orleans 6 " St. Louis . 5 " Harrisburg ....... 1 " Lancaster ........ 1 " Other dispatches between other places : Per Word. 200 miles or under . . . . .1 cent. 500 " or over 300 2 cents. 700 " "500 3 " 1,000 " " 700 4 " 1,500 " " 1,000 5 " 2,000 " " 1,500 6 " ♦10. It is used to a great extent, in conveying secrets of rise and fall of markets ; for instance, a man may be pur- chasing goods in New- York, gives his reference to the mer- chant — said reference being perhaps 700 or 800 miles away from him — by the aid of the telegraph he can know the stand- ing of his customer, even before the purchase is completed. There are bankers, brokers, &c, in Wall-street, that receive and send, on an average, six to ten messages per day, through- out the year. 11. Yes, to a great extent. It oftentimes occurs that a party desires to "converse" with, another 300 or 500 miles off. An hour is appointed to meet in the respective offices, and they converse through the operator. I have known in- stances of steamboats being sold over the wires — the one party being in Pittsburg, the other in Cincinnati. Each party wrote down what they had to say, higgled awhile, and finally con- cluded the sale. Their correspondence was filed away, like other messages, and kept for reference, if ever called in ques- tion. * It is often used by parties, when from home, correspond- ing with their families. Sometimes it is the messenger of a 106 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF woe, deep and afflicting ; and anon, that of heartfelt pleasure. In the early part of this year, the Astor House of New- York, and the Burnet House of Cincinnati, had a series of telegraphic parties. An account of one of them, taken from the Cincin- nati Gazette, is herewith appended — the parties conversing being about 750 miles apart — about twice the length of Ire- land. A Telegraphic Party. " On Friday evening of last week, by previous arrangement, the Astor House, in New- York, and the Burnet House, in this city, had a family telegraphic party. They assembled respectively in the office of the O'Reilly line in each city. " They talked over family matters, interchanged congratulations, and drank each other's health, spending an hour in electrical and spi- ritual intercourse. As the spiritual was about commencing, the opera- tors of the electrical in Philadelphia and Pittsburg intimated their willingness to join therein ; and forthwith orders were sent to the Mo- nongahela House, at Pittsburg, and Jones's Hotel, in Philadelphia, to furnish the needful champagne. It was done. Cincinnati then asks — " Are you all ready ?" Pittsburg answers — " Glasses charged." Phi- ladelphia — " Corks just popping," and New- York responds — " Aye, aye." " The following toasts were then drank : — ' The O'Reilly Telegraphic Operators — Our thanks for exchanging family congratulations between the cities of Gotham and Porkopolis.' To this toast the operators made appropriate responses, thanking the Astor and Burnet Houses for the champagne, hoping that all the ' pain' of the respective families might be all ' sham-pain' — and concluding with the following toast : ' The Burnet and Astor Houses — May the skin of one gooseberry make " night-caps" for all their enemies.' Drank with three cheers. To this sentiment the two ' Houses' replied simultaneously, and so highly com- plimentary to the operators, that they withheld the report, regarding it as ' private and confidential.' Here ended the first telegraphic party." 12. Where two sharp competing lines are in one city, strenuous efforts are made by both to be "ahead," especially on the arrival of a steamer bearing important commercial or political news. One illustration will suffice. THE ELECTRIC TELEGEAPH. 107 Some time back the Asia arrived at Quarantine about 8. P. M. — was detained an hour by the health officer. The agent of the New- York Associated Press and of the New-Orleans Mer- chants' Exchange, Mr. Jones, to gain but a few minutes, had a boat in readiness when the Asia brought to. A small bag containing the latest news was handed over the steamer's side, to the small boat. By great exertions she gained New- York half an hour ahead of the Asia. The bag was opened — a copy of her news was handed to us, addressed to the Merchants' Exchange, New-Orleans, signed Jones — to work we went. It was being transmitted over the wires amid the thundering of the Asia's cannon, as she rounded the point ; and a complete synopsis of her commercial and political news was received in Louisville, 1,100 miles in the interior, before the ship had actu- ally reached the city. I may add that the telegraph would be more extensively used than even now by the mercantile community, if its correctness and accuracy were improved. These inaccuracies arise altogether from the carelessness of operators, and not from any defect in the medium employed. These annoying drawbacks would nearly all, if not wholly dis- appear, by the enforcement of a more rigid discipline, and im- posing a greater responsibility on the operators. Whichever line takes the lead in this much called for reform, will meet its due reward from the public. 13. Interruptions from atmospheric electricity have been greatly reduced of late, and it is confidently expected that they will, at no distant day, be entirely overcome. One 6f the means used at present is, by putting on a lightning arrester near to the recording instrument. This arrester is formed of a little glass globe, surrounded by a semicircle of small points, like needles, that approach quite close to the ball. These points carry off the lightning to the earth before it reaches the instrument, causing but a momentary interruption. The dimi- nution of interruptions by thunder-storms has been reduced thirty per cent, by this means alone. Other causes of inter- 108 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ruption are accidental, — trees, &c, falling on the wire and snapping it. 15. If a line is well insulated, it will work 500 miles on a single circuit. There are two lines in New-York that work to Buffalo, the distance about 500 miles. Some lines that are in bad condition work but 300 miles, and others, with difficulty, 260 miles. 16. Yes ; quite practicable, and coming more into use every day. * One eighth of the dispatches between New-Orleans and New- York are in cipher. For instance, merchants in either city agree upon a cipher ; and if the New-Orleans correspondent wishes to inform his New- York friend of the prices and pros- pects of the cotton market, instead of saying, " Cotton eight quarter — don't sell," he may use the following : — Shepherd — rum — kiss — flash — dog. The one message will come as cor- rect as the other, and be wrapped in mystery to all through whose hands it may pass, and be only intelligible to those it is intended for. I have many times seen messages written in German and French sent over the wires, and it was " Greek" to all in the office. The operators are not very fond of those kinds of messages ; they prefer the English. During the busi- ness season at New-Orleans, a great many messages, written in cipher, are received in this city on the eve of a steamship start- ing for England. They are mailed, and their answers may be brought back, by the returning steamship to Halifax, to New- Orleans, couched in the same mysterious language. They traverse the wires from Halifax to New-Orleans, impervious to the eye of the most curious.** Answers from Bairfs Telegraph Office, 29 Wall Street, New- York. 1. In answer to your first question, I would say that the greatest distance that messages are transmitted by telegraph, without rewriting, is on the lines between New- York and Buf- falo, a distance of about five hundred miles, and the Morse and Bain lines on this route transmit dispatches daily, without a repetition, and on a single circuit, without a repeating magnet. THE ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH. 109 Several lines have worked a longer distance by the use of re- peating magnets, as they are termed, which is done by making an electro-magnet in one circuit break and close the next cir- cuit, making the same vibrations on every magnet in the second circuit, as made by the operator in the first circuit. Under this arrangement, any number of circuits may be added on, until the lines reached round the globe, and the writing in the last circuit would be as perfect as in the first. Messages have been transmitted in this way over a thousand miles, with- out a repetition. 2a The tariffs of transmission vary materially in different sections of the country. It would be difficult to arrive at an average per mile throughout the United States. Every line makes ten words its maximum for one price ; and the tariff from New- York to Boston is twenty cents for the first ten words, and two cents for each additional word, a distance of 240 miles,* while the tariff from New- York to Washington, 280 miles, is fifty and five cents. Competition has done much to reduce the rates on every route, except between New- York and Washington, which remains the same as when the first line started. The tariff from New- York to Buffalo, 500 miles, is forty and three cents. • 3. I believe the rules and regulations of every company give precedence only to the press and police, or official dis- patches. 4. The difference as to rapidity between the instruments in use, is but little, if any, taking a day through. The House instrument, I think, is capable of transmitting more words in a minute, than either of the others, but to balance it a great deal of time is consumed in adjusting the instrument, as the instruments receiving and sending are required to run alike. From seventy-five to one hundred letters per minute, is prob- ably about the number transmitted in ordinary business mes- sages, on an average. The " fast method," as it is termed, in- vented by Mr. Bain, is capable of transmitting correctly 1,000 * Since reduced to fifteen cents for each ten words, and two cents for each additional word. 110 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF letters per minute, but the process of preparing the message to be transmitted, takes quite as long as to transmit it by either of the instruments. 5. Dispatches are transferred to writing as fast as they are received. They are either copied by the operator receiving, or read by him to a copyist as fast as received. 6, 7, 8, and 9, I suppose, refer entirely to the New-York Herald, and which you can answer more correctly than I. 10/ The telegraph is used by commercial men to almost as great an extent as the mail. This can be better illustrated by the number of messages sent and received between cities, where close commercial interests exist, during the hours be- tween 10 A. M. and 5 P. M. For instance : — There are trans- mitted daily, between the cities of New- York and Boston, be- tween 500 and 600 messages, two-thirds if not three-fourths of which are transmitted between the hours above named. I know of some houses which pay from $60 to $80 per month to the telegraph : and I do not know but there are others who pay more. The amount paid by a commercial house is govern- ed by the excitement there is in the market, of the particular article they may be dealing in. If there are " ups and downs n in the market, money is lavished upon the telegraph freely. * 11. Many dispatches, of an entirely social character, are daily transmitted over every line ; and, since the reduction on many of the routes, they form a very large portion of the busi- ness. It is extensively used by the travelling public, who dis- patch to their friends their progress, &c. • 12. There are competing lines now in operation on every important route in the United States, except to New Orleans by way of Charleston and Savannah. The effect, on some routes, has been to double, if not treble, the business. In 1849, when there was no competing line between New- York and Boston, the Morse line transmitted, on an average, between two and three hundred messages daily, while the average now transmit- ted on the three lines, is between five hundred and six hundred. The same ratio may be applied to all the other routes where the tariff has been lessened by the competition. • 13. and 14. Interruptions of a few hours' duration are THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Ill quite frequent during the hottest portion of the summer sea- son from atmospheric electricity ; but less so since the inven- tions of several ingenious protectors have been put in use. These protectors are made so as to bring several sharp points of metal connected with the ground as near as possible to a plate put in circuit with the wires, so that when the wires are overcharged with atmospheric electricity, it jumps off on these sharp points and passes to the ground. Interruptions most frequently occur from breaks in the wires, caused by hail storms, or the prostration of poles, wires and all, by the fall- ing of trees, or the like. 15. I do not understand, from this question, whether you wish to know how many times communications are repeated between distant points, or how many times lines are interrupt- ed. The latter I could not answer ; and the former I am un- able to state positively, but believe that dispatches are repeated some four or five times between here and New Orleans ; there are four repetitions between this city and Halifax, and four between here and St. Louis. Your sixteenth and last question I answer, by saying that it is practicable for correspondents to keep the subject of their dispatches from the operators and clerks — this is attained by the use of ciphers, which are quite extensively used between brokers and the like, both for the purpose of concealment and to save expense, as they substitute a word for a sentence. I believe this is principally done for the latter, as persons using the telegraph must care less about having their business ex- posed to operators and clerks, or rather are better satisfied of the fact that telegraph operators and clerks, from their con- stant handling and reading of messages, become as it were dormant to the subject mentioned in the dispatch, they having no interest in the matter. I cannot illustrate this fact ; but I know it to be one from experience. During the past four years I have had charge of one or more lines, and never as yet heard of the contents of a dispatch being divulged. In great haste, J. Mc Kinney. * We understand that the Bain line between New- York and 112 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Boston on the 17th of April, 1852, actually transmitted 500 messages, besides 5,000 words of foreign news, for the Asso- ciated Press. % Answers from House's Printing Telegraph. "1. The longest line we have is about 1,000 miles — extend- ing from New- York to Cincinnati. Messages are transmitted that distance with ease ; and no doubt we shall be able to tele- graph direct from New- York to St. Louis as soon as our line, now building, is completed. 2. The tariff is published complete. — (See last part of this work) 3. 1st. Government (free). 2d. Police. 3d. Death. 4th. Press. All others, in the order received. 4. Thirty to thirty -five words, when written in full. A system of abreviations used in news messages — say fifty words per minute. The proceedings of the Democratic State Con- vention, in the fall of 1850, containing 7,000 words, was trans- mitted from Syracuse to Buffalo in two hours and ten minutes ; which was at the rate of about fifty-four words per minute. There is one rapid operator upon our Buffalo line, that has written 365 letters in one minute. There is a very marked dif- ference in the speed of the different telegraphs. We prefer how- ever not to state our opinion, fearing those who are interested in other systems would complain. We have our own views. 5. Not applicable to this line ; the slips being delivered as printed by telegraph. 7. On arrival of steamers ; any sudden rise or fall in any leading article of merchandise. •10. The receipts from twenty leading commercial houses doing business through us, average $500 each per annum. We have a few customers whose telegraphing will amount to $1000 each per annum, t 11. It is, to quite an extent. •12. There is competition on nearly all the routes. Its ten- dency to reduce rates has been equalized by an increase of business generally. Between New- York and Buffalo the re- ceipts of the Morse line in 1850, when there was no competition, THE ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH. 113 were about $49,000. There are now three lines upon the same route, and the receipts of the united lines in 1851 considera- bly exceeded $100,000. Competing lines to a reasonable extent increase telegraphing, as business men rely with more confidence upon having their messages transmitted. Two lines upon the same route are rarely out of order at the same time ; and as the lines have been made reliable, telegraphing has rapidly increased. Competition between New- York and Boston has reduced prices altogether too low. The three lines have nearly all the business they can do, and sometimes more than they can do well ; yet the receipts of each line are less remu nerative than those of some other lines which do less work.* 13. A heavy thunder-storm in the immediate vicinity of a line causes interruption, by charging the wires with electricity, destroying the effect produced by that from our batteries. 14. Other interruptions occur from falling trees, moving buildings, and carelessness on the part of the people in the country towns through which our lines pass. 15. Our system requires a complete circuit — way stations forming a part of, not breaking the main circuit. Copies can be dropped through the way offices. 16. It is practicable, though not of frequent occurrence. Correspondents often receive their own dispatches, the con- tents being known only to the operator writing them at a dis- tant station. Half an hour's practice would enable a person to write his own dispatches." By the slightest inspection of the wood-cut, representing House's Printing Telegraph, it will be seen that it has keys arranged in front like those of a piano, with the letters of the alphabet marked on them. An operator, in sending a mes- sage, merely touches or depresses them with his fingers like a person playing a tune on a piano, causing the letters to be printed by a similar instrument at the opposite end of the wire. The following are the press charges between the points named : On the reports of Congressional proceedings and other news from Washington to New- York, five cents per word up 114 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF to the first 500 words ; and one-third less for all words over 500 and nnder 1,000, and two-thirds reduction for all words over 1,000 and up to any quantity above that number. Be- tween Philadelphia and New- York, the House line charges one cent a word for the press. The Morse Washington and New Orleans Seaboard Line whose office is at the corner of Hanover-street and Exchange Place, make no deductions in favor of the press, long or short, and have but one list of prices for all messages. Each of the three lines — Morse's, House's, and Bain's — from New- York to Boston, charge the press one cent per word on all news messages, of whatsoever length. The lines connecting Boston with Halifax, charge the As- sociated Press at a fixed rate per steamer, for all messages not exceeding 3,000 words. The Canadian lines make no distinction in their charges for tolls between private messages and those for the press. Answers to Telegraph Questions made by Morse's New- York and Buffalo Line. 1. Messages by telegraph have been actually transmitted over one continued circuit through 1,500 miles of wire. They are sent daily, and in the ordinary business of this line, 540 miles in a single circuit, without any re-writing. 2. Tariffs of transmission have no certain standard for computation. Competition reduces them materially. The average estimate may be as one cent (halfpenny) for ten miles on local business, and seven-tenths of a cent for ten miles for through business. The tariffs annexed to the list answer the inquiries. (See prices at the end of this work.) 3. Reports for the press, communications relative to sick- ness and death, and police messages, are entitled to prece- dence. 5. When intelligence is abbreviated, reports are sent at the rate of 2,000 words per hour ; when not abbreviated, about THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 115 ten words per minute. I have sent forty messages in forty consecutive minutes. 4. Morse's or Bain's telegraph cipher can be and are re- duced to ordinary writing at the instant they are received — a copyist writing down words dictated to him from the slip of paper by the operator ; and it requires a skilful and rapid penman to keep pace with the telegraphic transmission and reading off by the receiving operator. 6. Three thousand words of public business matter, and three thousand of reported, and about one thousand words relative to line business, in the daily adjustment of accounts, may be considered a fair day's work. 7. During the sittings of conventions, or elections, or the arrival of steamers, often from 2,000 to 8,000 words are re- ported. On some occasions of market excitement, the private messages are nearly doubled. 8. Debates of Congress are received at an average of about 4,500 words per day, and transmitted at the rate of 1,600 words per hour. 9. Two conventions exist between the leading New- York press (seven morning papers now forming one, and two or three evening papers the other), who employ correspondents at important distant points to collect and forward the news ; and other local agents to receive and re-write on manifold paper a copy for each paper in the association, distribute the same, and re-send the same news to the press at other points. *10. The telegraph correspondence of two or three private houses we could mention, amounts to about $1,200 per an- num. 12. Between New- York and Boston, and New- York and Buffalo, and south to Philadelphia, there are three competing companies — and six wires for each route. The tariff from New- York to Boston has been reduced from 50 to 20 cents per ten words for private messages. This is the greatest re- duction made by competition. § 13. During the summer, interruptions occur about twice a week by atmospheric electricity. Sometimes the irregularity of current thus caused is entirely overcome by the adjusting 116 HISTORICAL SKETCH. skill of the operator. Sometimes, during thunder-storms, it is dangerous .to attend to the instrument. Interruptions from the falling of trees, wearing out of poles, or the effect of vio- lent storms, occasionally occur. 14. Eight or nine breaks occur between New Orleans and Quebec, when messages are re-written. In good weather, only four or five interruptions occur between the same places. 15. The concealment of the subject of dispatches is practi- cable ; and although (unless sent in the cipher of a correspond- ent) they are necessarily known to the operators and copyist of the companies, yet instances have been rare in which pub- licity has been given to them. CHAPTER VI. SPECIMENS OP TELEGRAPH SIGNAL WRITING AND PRINTING. The following specimens of writing exhibit the alphabets of Swaim and Stienheil, and embrace an extension of the princi- ples involved in each (as seen at p. 52 of this work), so as to denote all the letters required in the sentence, composed in their respective ciphers. The reader will perceive, at the slightest glance, that the same signals, or ciphers for letters, can be changed at will, to represent other letters than those they stand for ; and both Morse and Bain have occasionally modified their signal alpha- bets, an operation applicable to all kinds of cipher writing. Communication. INDEPENDENCE WAS DECLARED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE UNI- TED STATES ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1116. Written by Swaim) s Alphabetical Ciphers. In depen den c e •i ..i .... i ..|. i ..| .... i ..| ...| i was dec lar ed ••••i • i i -i i- i i-- • -i i-- i •••• bi t he peo p i I •••-•• i i . i i i i i i i • i • • i i i i • 1 e o f t h e U I I- I --I I I I-- --I I- I I I I --I I-- ni ted S tat es 118 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF on t he fo u • •I --I ..| I- I I I I III- •;] ...I I- r t h J u li se • i |....| i- i i i -i --I I-. I 1.....1 |... I yen teen h u • Ml. i ..j -.1 |. I I .-l ill ..| I... nd redand se v ..| I |.. I --I •••• !••• I -I I I- en t y si x i .-I --i i--i I-..-I i I I i Written by StienheiVs Alphabetical Dots or Signals, in two rows varying in perpendicularity as well as in numbers. Independence was dec 1 ared bi t he peo p le of the United States on the fourth Juli seventeen hundred a nd s eventy six Written according to Morse's Alphabet. In de p en den ce w as dec la red b y the peop 1 eof the U nited States on the 4 t h o f J u 1 y 1 7 7 6 THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 119 Written by Davy's and Bain's Alphabets. I n depe n de n cew as decl aredby t he — p e o P 1 e f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s n t h e 4 t h f J u 1 y 1 7 7 6 Printed by House's Electrical Printing Telegraph. INDEPENDENCE WAS DECLARED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE FOURTH OF JULY SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX CHAPTEE XIV. CONNECTION OF THE PRESS WITH ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS— EAR- LIEST COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NEW- YORK AND OTHER POINTS— CROSSING THE NORTH RIVER— SYSTEM OF NEWS RE- PORTING—COMMERCIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL CIPHERS— TEL- EGRAPHIC ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. *"The first telegraph office ever opened in New- York, was in the basement No. 10 Wall Street. This was selected for the re- ception of messages by the Morse New- York and Washington line. The operating office was in Jersey City, where it remain- ed for a year or two before any successful attempt was made to cross the North Kiver, which at all times has caused much annoyance to the Southern lines. The Morse company, to en- able them to establish a permanent communication over the river, extended a line from New- York up the eastern shore of the Hudson for near 60 miles, when reaching a narrow part of the stream, with great elevation of land on either side, they stretched a wire acoss it, and from thence continued their line chiefly on the western bank of the river, southward, until it formed a junction with their main line terminating at Jersey City. They had previously experimented with imperfectly in- sulated wires sunk on the bottom of the river, but they were either hooked up by the anchors of vessels, or failed properly to conduct the fluid. The long extension of their line up and down the river also failed to work satisfactorily, and to keep it in repair and working order was found very expensive. Some party finally suggested the use of Gutta Percha as a coating for wires, and to be used for submarine purposes. It was tried and found to answer remarkably well. And wires coated with this material are still used as means of communication from the Jersey shore to New- York, anchored on the bottom of the THE ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH. 121 Hudson, and in places twenty or more feet below the surface. Occasionally one is drawn up on an anchor, but by having two or three wires immersed at a distance from each other, if one is injured, resort can be had to the others. , This discovery of the non-conducting properties of Outta Percha was an im- portant step in the progress of telegraph lines, and all the con- ducting wires about telegraph offices are coated with this ma- terial. Its first application was of American origin, it was afterwards adopted in England, and was successfully used in combination in insulating the wires stretched across the channel between France and England. We have used the same substance for insulating lightning rods attached to our dwelling with success. A stout wire or small rod may be coated its whole length, or be made to pass through staples coated with it. The coated wire may have a free sharp point, secured above the chimney top, and after- wards carried through in any direction to reach the ground, or nailed by strips to the house, while the lower end being free, is sunk a proper depth in the ground. This new plan will be found cheaper and better than any other. House's New- York and Philadelphia Telegraph Company crossed the Hudson near Fort Lee, about ten miles above the city, by erecting high masts on either side, and stretching a steel wire from one side to the other ; allowing for its sag, the length being about a mile. The most frequent interruption occurred in winter, when, from the accumulation of sleet or ice on the steel wire, it would break. The Bain Company also crossed the river near the same place, by a somewhat similar method. Owing however to frequent interruptions to the wires extending over the river in all forms, all three of the lines found it necessary to keep offices and instruments in Jersey City, to which they could repair when necessary, and this be- came quite frequent in winter. It was early in the autumn of 1846, when the writer of this handed in his first message for the newspaper press at 10 "Wall Street. It contained a brief account of the launch of the U. S. sloop of war Albany at the Navy Yard Brooklyn, and was directed to the Washington Union. 122 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF 4 In 1847, the three Morse lines then in existence concen- trated in Post's Buildings, corner of Hanover Street and Ex- change Place. The following year they scattered, and the ten or twelve different lines now occupy offices at a number of places ; but which are chiefly confined to "Wall Street, and its vicinity. § Soon after the first lines of telegraph were put in opera- tion, it became apparent that they would necessarily become important media for the transmission of news for the press. At the commencement, the papers proceeded to employ them with some caution and hesitation ; their dispatches were usually brief, and as much condensed as possible. The ex- penses were heavy, and only a few papers in each city at first employed the lines to any material extent. Among the ear- liest and most liberal patrons of the telegraph, were a few members of the New- York press. When the telegraph was set to work between New- York and Philadelphia, and afterwards had progressed as far south as Kichmond and Petersburgh, in Virginia, the Mexican war was in full blast, and hence its utility to the press in forward- ing army news was such as, in a measure, to force them into its employment. The free use made of the telegraph, by the papers referred to, caused others to enter the field, and finally to unite with them in their news arrangements. They ultimately adopted a plan of running a daily horse express between Mobile and Montgomery, in Alabama (about two hundred miles), to expe- dite the news to the southern terminus of the telegraph line, in advance of the mail. This, however, when the line was extended sufficiently far south, was abandoned. When the line was carried east to Portland, in Maine, the press then, which comprised all the chief morning papers of New- York, ran an express from Halifax, on the arrival of each steamer, to Annapolis, from whence a steamer conveyed it to Portland, from thence it was conveyed by telegraph to Boston and New-York. The leading Boston papers also par- ticipated in this arrangement. The cost of getting the news in this manner averaged near $1,000 per steamer. When the wires reached St. John's the expenses were reduced, and final- THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 123 ly, when they reached Halifax, they were brought down to the simple cost of transmission, or to about $500 per steamer. Mr. D. H. Craig was the special agent of the Associated Press in these enterprises. At the outset there was a want of system in the collection, transmission and distribution of telegraph news for the press. It became apparent that the employees in the telegraph offices could not be expected to collect news at important points, and forward it. Their occupation confined them to the immediate duties of their offices. Hence the business of telegraphing brought into requisition Telegraph Eeporters. We were among the earliest to engage in the occupation ; we commenced with the commencement of telegraphs, and when the whole system was new and imperfect, and in a manner without organization. We early invented a kind of short-hand system, or cipher, intended greatly to abbreviate commercial news transmitted by telegraph, a notice of which appeared in the Herald in 1847. This was so arranged, that the receipts of produce and the sales and prices of all leading articles of breadstuffs, provi- sions, &c, could be sent from Buffalo and Albany daily, in twenty words, for both cities, which, when written out, would make one hundred or more words. This plan of abbreviation, or some modification of it is continued on the same route, be- sides others, to the present day. Copies of the cipher, either in manuscript or in print, were placed in the hands of corres- pondents who could either compose or translate messages for the press. Another party also contrived a cipher, but on an entirely different plan. Our first effort was found in its daily use to be imperfect, and we soon prepared a second edition. We commenced sending and receiving commercial reports by it early in 1847, between New- York, Baltimore, Boston and Buffalo, and subsequently between New- York and Cincinnati, New Orleans and St. Louis. # Mr. F. O. J. Smith, the controller of the New- York and Boston Morse line, established his charges at fifty cents for each ten words. We received a daily report from Boston of the markets over his line, of ten words in our cipher, which, when translated for the press, made at least from fifty to sixty. 124 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Mr. Smith thinking we were getting more than our moneys worth, decided that five letters constituted the average of En- glish words, and directed that all the letters in a message sent in cipher, should be counted, and the whole divided by five for the number of words, and charged accordingly. We then, thinking other lines might follow his example, set down and ransacked Walker's Dictionary for a collection of short words, and in no case as far as practicable did we select one with more than five to six letters. After much labor we had a new cipher ready for the press. When printed it made about 70 or 80 pages octavo, and altogether, the edition com- prising only a few hundred copies for private use, cost us a con- siderable sum of money, on account of the large amount of figure work. Mr. Smith soon after decided that three letters made an English word, and we then abandoned receiving mar- kets over his line from Boston, but supplied some of the papers in that city for some time with New- York markets prepared by it, and also used it on lines leading to Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Buffalo. We have also made another manuscript edition of our cipher, which we have still on hand. In preparing ciphers, only plain English words could be introduced, and so arranged, that one could stand for, or be interpreted to mean half a dozen others. Thus taking flour, the first" word beginning with a consonant, would express the condition of the market, the second also beginning with a consonant, but with a different signification, would indicate the price, and the third commencing with a vowel, would in all cases express the quantity. The following may suffice as examples of ciphers for flour, wheat, and corn, with an abbreviated table for quantities. From these specimens it may readily be seen, that a similar compila- tion of words beginning with consonants, can be greatly extend- ed, and made to embrace all the conditions and prices of every leading article of commerce, and the quantities affixed to words beginning with vowels, can be extended to much larger quan- tities. The samples annexed are very brief extracts from a complete book of ciphers, in which the words expressing the conditions of the market for each article, are largely multiplied ; THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 125 such as those beginning with B in alphabetical order, for the state of the flour market. The words commencing with G are also multiplied to express its prices. The words beginning with this letter are sufficiently numerous to give the prices for all the different kinds of flour, from the lowest to the highest grades. When the words beginning with G have given fig- ures for a particular kind of flour, beyond which it is not likely to sell, a heading for another grade is introduced, such as "Michigan" or "Ohio," and other words beginning with continued in alphabetical regularity, to express the prices appertaining to each. The same course is continued when we come to wheat, where words commencing with K stand for general commercial remarks, and those beginning with D for prices. In the case of corn, words commencing with L stand for general remarks regarding the trade, and those beginning with F for prices. In each case it is apparent, that the words can be so multiplied, as to embrace all general remarks applica- ble to the markets, as well as to prices and quantities, while quantities in all cases are taken from the table of words be- ginning with vowels ; which table, also, can be extended so as to embrace the highest amount of figures necessary to be used. Proper words can also be employed to express the fractional parts of prices, as in cotton sterling exchange, &c. The foregoing conditions were carried out in our primted book of ciphers. Examples from System of Commercial Ciphers. FLOUR The following words can be used as indicating the condition of the flour market. Baal. The transactions are smaller than yesterday. Babble. There is a good business doing. Babe. Markets dull ; buyers do not enter freely at the higher rates demanded. Baby. "Western is firm, with moderate demand for home trade and export. Bare. Firmer, with fair home demand, including lots for export. 126 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Back. Market shade firmer; but owing absence private advices, buyers and sellers do not meet. Bacon. Dull, but if any thing shade firmer. Bad. Market for common and fair brands of Western is lower, with moderate demand for home trade and export. Badge. Fair demand for Western flour ; market without material change. Badly. Market has been rather heavy, but we notice no material change in prices. Basin. There is a speculative demand at better prices. Button. Market quiet and prices easier. Prices. — Pure Genesee, in Albany. Cairn, - $4-37 Calx, - $5-06 Car, - $5*75 Cajole, ■ - 4-44 Came, - 5-12 Carat, 5-81 Cake, ■ 4-50 Camp, - 5*18 Carbon, - 5-87 Calf, ■ 4-56 Can, - 5-25 Card, - 5*94 Calid, - 4-62 Canal, - 5-31 Care, 6-00 Calif, ■ - 4-69 Cane, - 5-37 Cargo, - 6-06 Calk, 4-75 Canoe, - 5-44 Cark, - 6-12 Cale, ■ 5-81 Canon, - 5-50 Carle, 6-18 Calm, - 4-87 Cant, - 5-56 Carol, 6-25 Calp, ■ ■ 4-94 Cap, - 5-62 Carp, 6-31 Calve, ■ 5-00 Capon, - 5-69 WHEAT. If it be necessary to give "half cent" quotation, add the termina- tion of "ed," as "decayed," 126£. Kale. Dull, but prices are firm. Khan. Firm, with good milling inquiry. Kata. Supplies of Western mixed are larger, and prices heavy. Kaw. Steady and firm. Keck. Fair demand ; firmness holders checks operations. Kedge. Fair milling demand for prime. Keek. Prime Ohio in good demand. Keel. Moderate inquiry ; market steady. Keen. Prime in fair demand ; market firm ; common descriptions dull, with downward tendency. Keep. Firm, but dull. THE ELECTKIO TELEGKAPH. 127 Keg. Held above the views buyers. Kelk. Not much inquiry. Kell. Demand only for prime parcels, which are scarce, and held above views buyers. Kelp. Wheat easier, especially for low grades. Genesee. Dale, 97 Date, 109 Deal, 121 Dally, - 98 Dater, 110 Dean, 122 Dam, 99 Datam, - 111 Dear, 123 Dame, 100 Daub, 112 Debar, - 124 Damp, 101 Dauber, - 113 Debit, - 125 Dance, - 102 Dauby, - 114 Decay, - 126 Dank, 103 Daunt, - 115 Decent, - 127 Dare, 104 Davit, 116 Deck, 128 Dark, 105 Daw, 117 Decoy, - 129 Darn, 106 Dawn, - 118 Deem, 130 Dart, 107 Day, - 119 Deep, 131 Dash, 108 Deaf, Prefixes. 120 Defer, 132 "re, r 1 Jol. "de," i«J. Terminations. «ed," J. "able," 1. "ing," 1}. "memy • 2. CORN. j8^~ See instructions as to Wheat. Label. Is steady at yesterday's rates. Labor. Good inquiry. Lac. Easier, with better inquiry. Laced. Held higher ; transactions limited. Lacing. In brisk demand. Lack. Firm, and in good demand. Lade. Very firm. Laden. Heavy, owing to large receipts. Ladle. Good request at better prices. Lag. Market lower. Lagger. In fair request. Laid. Not so active, but without change to notice. 128 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Lain. Foreign news ; unsettled market ; no sales of importance made. Yellow Corn. Fang, - 57 Fault, - 67 Feign, - • 77 Farce, - 58 Faun, - 68 Feint, ■ • 78 Fare, - 59 Favor, - 69 Fell, • 79 Farin, - 60 Fay, - 70 Felt, 80 Farm, - 61 Feal, - 71 Fen, 81 Fash, - 62 Fear, - 72 Fence, • 82 Fast, - 63 Feast, - 73 Feud, - • 83 Fatal, - 64 Fed, - 74 Fenny, • ■ 84 Fate, - 65 Feel, - 75 Feral, ■ - 85 Fatly, - 66 Feet, - 76 Ferny, • • 86 Prefixes. " ex," delivery within a few days. " un," delivery during month, "in," delivery during next month. "re," £ a 1. "de," \ a \. "ed," \ Terminations. "able," 1. "ing," l£. "ment," 1 to 2. The following may represent quantities of any article sold Abot, 100 Admit, 3,000 Agage, 10,000 Abaft, 200 Adduce, 3,500 Aid, 11,000 Abuse, 300 Ache, 4,000 Aim, 12,000 Abase, 400 Acute, 4,500 AH, 13,000 Abash, 500 Adept, 5,000 Air, 14,000 Abate, 600 Adore, 5,500 Agast, 15,000 Abide, 700 Adorn, 6,000 All, 16,000 Able, 800 Adult, 6,500 Alert, 17,000 Abode, 900 Affix, 7,000 Allow, 18,000 About, 1,000 Afloat, 7,500 Alone, 19,000 Abut, 1,500 Aft, 8,000 Apart, 20,000 Abond, 2,000 Age, 8,500 Alude, 21,000 Adapt, 2,500 Agape, 9,000 Amaze, 22,000 If we send the following words by telegraph, "bad, came, aft, keen, dark, ache, lain, fault, adapt (nine words,) the fol- THE ELECTKIC TELEGKAPH. 129 lowing will be the translation : " Flour Mo/rket for common and fair brands of western is lower, with moderate demand for home trade and export. Sales 8,000 bbls. Genesee at $5 12. Wheat, prime in fair demand, market firm, common description dull, with a downward tendency, sales 4,000 bushels at $1 10. Corn, foreign news unsettled the market ; no sales of importance made. The only sale made was 2,500 bushels at 67c." (sixty- eight words). On some lines each figure used is counted as a word, while in other cases they are only counted for the num- ber of words in which they can be spelt. , In translating a cipher message many terms have to be understood, such as bbls., bushels, hhds., cask, &c. * When competition in telegraph companies sprung up, the rates of tolls in many directions became materially reduced. Hence between New- York and Boston, ten words, which for- merly cost fifty cents, or five cents a word, are now for private parties forwarded for twenty cents, or two cents per word, and all newspaper messages are sent for one cent per word. The sea-board line via Washington to New Orleans, make no de duction for the press, and charge $2 40 for ten words, and four teen cents for each additional word on through messages When the first line was opened to Washington, the charges were high and no deduction allowed on dispatches for the press hence, it became necessary to form congressional ciphers; several parties attempted to arrange them ; among others was Mr. Wills of Baltimore, who made a very good one. We without any knowledge (at the time) on our part of the plan upon which he had proceeded, went to work to make one for our own use, and printed it. In forming this cipher, one word, as in the commercial cipher, was made to express many others. A few samples taken at random from our printed book r will suffice to explain its nature. * Senate. Babble. From the committee on finances, reported. Babe. From the committee on commerce, reported. Babel. From the committee on manufactures, reported. Bacon. From the committee on agriculture, reported. 9 130 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Bad. From the committee on military affairs, reported. Badge. From the committee on naval affairs, reported. Badly. From the committee on militia affairs, reported. Baffle. From the committee on public lands, reported. Beal. Keported a bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury. Beak. Reported a bill authorizing the Post Master General. Beam. Reported a bill authorizing the Sscretary of the Navy. Beard. Reported a bill authorizing the Secretary of War. Beat. Reported a bill authorizing the Attorney General to — Bed. Reported a bill authorizing the Secretary of State to — Beer. Reported a bill authorizing the President to — Basket. The resolution from the House was taken up. Baste. The Chair laid before the Senate a communication from — Bath. The debate was continued to the hour of adjournment. Bating. The Senate asked for a committee of conference on — Battle. The Senate agreed to a House proposition for a commit- tee of conference on — Bawd. Presented resolutions adopted by the Legislature of — Bawl. An interesting debate followed, in which several Senators participated. Resolutions. Bent. Submitted a resolution that the President inform the Senate. Benumb. Submitted a resolution that the Secretary of the Treasury inform the Senate. f Beray. Submitted a resolution that the Secretary of the Navy in- form the Senate. Bereft. Submitted a resolution that the Post-Master General in- form the Senate. Berth. Submitted a resolution that the Secretary of War inform the Senate. Besot. Presented the credentials of — Bestow. Presented the credentials of his colleague. Appropriations, dec. Braze. The naval appropriation bill was taken up, and — Bread. The Indian appropriation bill was taken up, and — Brew. The army appropriation bill was taken up, and — Bribe. The bill to reduce and graduate the price of public land was taken up, and — THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 131 Brick. A bill in relation to the Military Academy at West Point was taken up, and — Bride. The river and harbor bill was then taken up, and — Motions. Cinder. Motion referred to the committee on foreign relations. Cimeter. Motion referred to the committee on patent office and post-roads. Civil. Motion referred to the committee on claims. Clad. Motion referred to the committee on pensions. Claim. Motion referred to the committee on military affairs. Miscellaneous. Cave. The resolution referring the President's message to appropri- ate committees, was then called up. Cavern. The Speaker called him to order. Cavil. The bill granting bounty lands to soldiers, was then taken up. Cellar. Resolutions came up for consideration. Cent. Several messages in writing were received from the President of the United States by the hands of his private secretary. Chaff. Gave notice that he would at an early day ask leave to in- troduce a bill. Chain. Then addressed the committee. Chant. The Journal was then read and approved. In transmitting reports, the blanks intervening between the cipher word and the explanation, was filled with the actual name of the member connected with the subject, giving his surname only, unless either house contained more than one party of the same name, and then the first name was given. The whole of the cipher words were arranged in alphabet- ical order, both for the Senate and House, and made to em- brace almost every variety of proceedings, with parliamentary, judicial, diplomatic, and executive phrases, and in some cases the heads of debates pro and con, in reference to well-known party subjects. We prepared a cipher for legislative proceed- ings, assisted by Wm. Lacy, Esq., of Albany. We made two manuscript copies, which are still preserved. The proceed- ings of the long sessions of the New- York legislature of 1849 132 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF and 1850, were transmitted by it ; but the reduction of tolls caused by the competition of the Bain and House lines, ren- dered their further use unnecessary. The press at first, owing to the expense, would not agree to receive more than would make from the half to one column of the Sun newspaper. We then supplied them under a weekly contract, and paid our own tolls and reporters' fees, in all direc- tions. When we received a scrap of news we endeavored to make the most of it the facts would justify, by writing it out as full as possible. Thus often, from a small page in manu- script of congressional reports in cipher, have we written out enough to fill a column of the Sun. On one occasion we fell into an unpleasant error. A certain quasi-democratic measure was taken up, and just as it was announced that Eeverdy Johnson (a Whig of Maryland) had risen to speak to it, the wires gave out. On looking over the heads of our ciphers to find out if possible what a Whig would likely say in op- position to it, we briefly endeavored to make the honorable member say some very clever things against it, which duly appeared next day in the city papers which we were supplying. When the mail came to hand we were chagrined to find, that Mr. Johnson so far from making a speech against the measure, had actually advocated it. We also received a letter from our Washington reporter, begging us never again to take any mat- ter for granted ; otherwise he should lose his credit, and be ruined in his business. We never after that attempted a sim- ilar liberty. As good luck would have it the affair blew over without exciting any public remark. The erection of competing lines, with an increase of wires on the first, and introduction of better modes of insulating them, led to such a reduction of tolls on reports for the press, that our congressional ciphers were laid aside. The reports were afterwards obtained as we now see them. It was several months after the first New- York and Wash- ington line was opened, before scarcely any reliance could be placed on it. And the few brief messages we sent to the Union were suspended, on the ground of their being received in an unintelligible form. Those received in return by us THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 133 from the south for the New- York press, were equally blind and puzzling. We recollect on one occasion sitting up to a late hour at night, waiting for a piece of news. When, how- ever, it came to hand, we studied over its meaning till our head ached. We finally, in a fit of despair, made as near as we could & facsimile copy of it, and sent it to the press. It was not long before a printer's devil from one of the offices returned with the copy, and said, " The foreman, sir, says that he cannot read your copy." " Please give him our compli- ments," we replied, " and tell him that we cannot read it our- selves." This irregularity and illegibility was owing to the imper- fect construction of the early lines, and to the want of experi- ence on the part of operators, copyists, &c. In copies of our congressional cipher, the word " Dead" occurred, opposite to which stood the following explanation : "He," (Blank, a member of the Senate), "after some days' absence from indisposition, reappeared in his seat." The Hon. John Davis, a senator from Massachusetts, had been confined by illness, but became convalescent, and reappeared in his seat. Hence the reporter in Washington telegraphed, in his report of the Senate proceedings, "John Davis Dead," which, in the hurry of writing out, was sent to the press lite- rally as it came. The same message was overheard in the telegraph office in Philadelphia, by another reporter, who also gave a literal copy to the papers there. A literal copy also reached Boston. It drew forth a great number of the most complimentary eulogiums on the supposed deceased from the press, which Mr. Davis had the satisfaction of reading. The error, the following day, was corrected by telegraph as far as practicable. Mr. Davis is still alive, and a member of Con- gress (1852). In June, 1848, the Whig Convention met in Philadelphia, and it became extremely doubtful who would receive the nomi- nation for the presidency. It seemed to lie between Mr. Clay, Gen. Taylor, Gen. Scott, and Judge McLean. The day on which it was believed a decision would be made, we devised a plan 134 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF to get the news of the event in advance of all others. There was then no line across the Hudson Kiver ; and when the news arrived in Jersey City, it would have to be sent over on a ferry- boat. We therefore provided a set of flags. That mounted with a single piece of white cloth, was to indicate that Gen. Taylor was nominated. Another, with a red flag, was to de- note that Mr. Clay had received the nomination. Two white flags on the same staff was to indicate Gen. Scott as the nomi- nee, and two red flags on a staff were to denote the result in favor of Judge McLean. We took a young man from the Courier Office, gave him a white signal flag, to answer us when we should take our position on the west side of the Eiver. We placed him on a pier near the Courtlandt Street Ferry, and gave him the necessary instructions. About 10 to 11, A. M., we crossed over. It seems that there was. unknown to us, a party employed by a company of brokers, to telegraph the price of stocks from the top of the Merchants' Exchange to Jersey City. One man would stand on the top of this build- ing, and, on waving his flag, would be answered by another man, who would wave a white flag as a token of his readiness to receive communications. The figures of prices of stocks would be indicated by the motions given to the flag from right to left, horizontally, &c, by the operator. The man who re- ceived the numbers in Jersey City, would re-send or telegraph them to Philadelphia. After I had placed my young man, at about ll£, A. M., the brokers' man in Jersey City stepped out on the pier, and waved his flag to the man on the Ex- change as usual, as a token that he was on hand. Our young man, seeing this white flag waving on the pier, supposed it to be ours, and immediately ran to the newspaper offices, and in- formed them that Gen. Taylor was nominated. It produced great excitement, and was telegraphed east. On reaching Portland, Maine, 100 guns were fired. The eastern line soon after gave out, and the news could not be contradicted. It turned out that Gen. Taylor was not nominated until the suc- ceeding day. We could relate many other curious incidents in connec- THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 135 tion with, early telegraph operations, many of which are quite amusing. •We afterwards ascertained that a combination of brokers, in Wall-street and Philadelphia, had previous to the erec- tion of the electric telegraph line between New- York and the latter city, established a private semaphoric or visual tele- graph. Their plan was to station men on eminences at every six or eight miles, with telescopes in their hands. They were "also provided with flags. At the first call of stocks at 11 o'clock in the Board of Brokers, at the Merchants' Exchange, the prices at which the stocks chiefly dealt in, sold at, would be given to the flag-man on top of the Exchange, who would communicate the quotations to another flag-man in Jersey City, or on top of Bergen Hill, and he to the next, until Phi- ladelphia was reached. The sales in Philadelphia would reach New- York by a similar method. The order in which they were sent, indicated what stocks were referred to. The flag was attached to the end of a short stick, held in either hand. All the figures could be represented by the po- sition in which the flag was held or moved. Thus, if the flag was held at right-angles to the body, it might be taken to mean any one of the ten digits. When held up directly over the head, it might indicate a second figure. Other figures could be represented by changing the flag to the left hand, and varying the motions accordingly. When held perpendicu- larly over the head, it might mean that the market generally was up ; and when held down at a sharp angle to the body, it might indicate the reverse. Half revolutions to the right, would give half numbers ; the same to the left, quarters — and over the head, eighths. It was said that the news by this plan could be trans- mitted in about thirty minutes. The chief originator and su- perintendent of the scheme, was said to be a broker in Phila- delphia, who retired with a fortune. 9 Lottery dealers, also, contributed to sustain that or a similar line, for the purpose of transmitting the drawn numbers of successful tickets. Some wealthy men in Jersey City, at one time extensively engaged 136 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF in lotteries, it is said, derived important advantages from this kind of visual telegraph. Within a year or two after we had engaged in telegraph reporting, an association of three or four reporters was organ- ized, who employed others in various important localities to forward and receive news for the press. Their services were either paid for at stated weekly salaries, or in steamers' and other news forwarded in exchange. The press were charged so much per week each, while the reporters paid tolls and all other expenses.. This association only lasted about twelve months, when it was dissolved, and, as far as New- York was concerned, we became the agent of the New- York Associated Press, for all news arrangements of a commercial and miscel- laneous character throughout the United States. A committee of the Press attended to the foreign news received by steamers at Halifax, which was the more necessary, owing to difficulties which had arisen between them and Mr. F. 0. J. Smith, the president of the Morse Eastern Lines. • The association thus formed consisted of six morning pa- pers, viz. : Herald, Sun, Journal of Commerce, Express, Tribune, and Courier and Enquirer. The Times has since joined the Association, making it consist of seven instead of six. We received and distributed the news, paid all tolls and other expenses necessary to conduct the business. We em- ployed reporters in all the principal cities in the United States and Canada, and, on receiving it in New-York, would make about eight or nine copies of it, on manifold paper — six for the New- York press, and the remaining copies for reforward- ing to the press in other cities and towns. To this had daily to be added the New- York local and commercial news, ship news, &c. The remuneration for services was made to depend chiefly upon what we could obtain from papers in other cities, such as Boston, &c, for the news of all kinds reforwarded, in- cluding the local intelligence. The agent had an office sepa- rate from the press, but centrally located, where he employed generally an assistant, besides one or two other parties either as Clerks or aids, with an errand boy or two. * In reporting Congressional proceedings, the usual plan was THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 137 to employ two reporters in Washington ; one for the House of Kepresentatives, and another for the Senate. The reports of the House would be sent by one line, and those of the Senate by the other. The plan upon which the members of the Associated Press acted in obtaining extra news, was such, that any one of them could order any particular kind of news, such as proceedings of conventions, &c, and the others were to exercise their op- tion whether they would take it. If all should decline it but one or two, those one or two were expected to bear the whole expense. One of the earliest telegraph feats, after the extension of the telegraph lines west to Cincinnati, was brought about by the agency of the New- York Herald, and before any regular asso- ciation of the press was formed in New- York. It became known that Mr. Clay would deliver a speech in Lexington (Ky.), on the Mexican war, which was then ex- citing much public attention. Mr. Bennett, editor and pro- prietor of the Herald, requested us to have Mr. Clay's speech reported for the paper. We at once proceeded to make ar- rangements to carry it into effect. We had a regular and efficient reporter already employed in Cincinnati, a Mr. G. Bennett ; we also had a Mr. Thompson in Philadelphia in co- operation with us for some papers there, and which agreed, if the speech was first received, to share the expense with the Herald. The Tribune in New- York, and the North American in Philadelphia, agreed to start for a report of the speech, in opposition. From Lexington to Cincinnati was eighty miles, over which an express had to be run. Horses were placed at every ten miles by the Cincinnati agent. An expert rider was engaged, and a short-hand reporter or two stationed in Lexington. When they had prepared his speech, it was then dark. The express-man, on receiving it, proceeded with it for Cincinnati. The night was dark and rainy, yet he accomplished the trip in eight hours, over a rough, hilly country road. The whole speech was received at the Herald office at an early hour next morning, although the wires were interrupted for a short time in the night, near Pittsburg, in 138 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF consequence of the limb of a tree having fallen across them. An enterprising operator in the Pittsburg office, finding com- munication suspended, procured a horse, and rode along the line amidst the darkness and rain, found the place, and the cause of the break, which he repaired : then returned to the office, and finished sending the speech. The Philadelphia North American, upon whom the Tribune chiefly depended, failed to get its report ; and the latter pur- chased a copy from the Herald. The expense in securing the speech by express and tele- graph, amounted to about $500. * The telegraphs have derived a very large share of their revenue from the press. The whole expense, for telegraph reports of all kinds, have some years cost the New-York As- sociated Press (six in number) probably about $5,000 each, or a total of $30,000 per annum. The average for the past five years probably has not been less than about $25,000 to $30,000 per annum. During long sessions of Congress it ex- ceeded this amount. • Sometimes a single paper availed itself of the privilege of ordering long and expensive reports of meetings, speeches, con- ventions, &c, in which its associates participated or declined as best suited their estimate of the value of the news. In case the other papers refused to receive it, the whole expense was borne by it. The Herald is the only one of its associates which publishes a Sunday paper — hence it takes all the tele- graph news which is received on Saturday afternoon and night, and pays the whole expense of the tolls. In managing the financial affairs of the business, we soon found it necessary to arrange a system for conducting it, and afterwards rigidly adhered to it. We proceeded thus. All the telegraph offices in the city were required to send in their accounts weekly. These were exam- ined and all set down in a general bill, to which was added office and other incidental expenses. The aggregate sum was then divided into six parts, and submitted to the treasurer of the association, on whose approval the respective amounts THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 139 were collected from the associated papers. On each Saturday we paid off all the telegraph bills, and office expenses, and commenced the following week de novo. In case any paper had failed to pay, its news would have been stopped. Papers supplied in Boston and various other places, were expected to pay monthly. At the expiration of each month their ac- counts were regularly forwarded. If any country paper failed to make monthly settlements their news was discontinued. The bills of our correspondents for services, were also paid monthly. The system thus organized worked quite smoothly, and gave very little trouble : our services, however, were severe. Help, with the proper tact and necessary prior instruction, could not be had. We were compelled to take inexperienced and youthful parties, and by long drilling to create as it were our assistance. We had also to hunt up and secure the best Eeport- ers in all parts of the country. The business required our personal attention day and night, Sunday and Monday. Often on stormy nights in winter, when our errand boys were either ill, or absent in Jersey City, have we gone round at twelve and one o'clock, and delivered messages with a snow or sleet storm beating in our face ; and having, at many of the offices, to climb three or four pair of stairs to find the composing room. For months at a time we seldom retired before twelve to one o'clock, and then had to be on duty through the next day. During state elections we were frequently up all night ; and at the Presidential election in 1848, we remained up for three nights consecutively. The tolls on the returns on that occasion cost the associated press, some- thing over $1,000. Our services were thus continued, until the 19th May 1851, when we resigned the general news agency, after having de- voted from five to six years of unremitted health-wearing toil to the business, and were succeeded by D. H. Craig Esq., who con- tinues to act as such at the present time ; though we continue to prepare the commercial news for the associated press, which is sent off daily through Mr. Craig in all directions as previously 140 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF done by us. This change has relieved us of night work and many annoyances which seemed in a measure inseparable from the business. The vexations endured were aggravated by dissensions which grew up between the managers of some of the Morse telegraph lines and the press. There were also contentions be- tween the members of the press in Boston and other places, fan- ned if not engendered by the jealousies of some of the Morse lines, and especially by those under the control of F. 0. J. Smith. This gentleman refused to have steamers' news come over his line from Halifax, for the associated press, unless they dismissed Mr. Craig, then acting as their Halifax agent. This led to a rup- ture, by which the press of Boston became divided. The asso- ciation retained Mr. Craig, and ran a locomotive express at an enormous expense with each steamer's news, from Portland to Boston, there being no telegraph between the two points but that owned by Smith. From Boston it came over by the Bain's line to New- York. The association also, by its encouragement, caused a company to extend the Bain line from Boston to Port- land, where it united with the lines extending thence to Hali- fax, and which were beyond the control of Smith. The war was a very fierce one; many pamphlets appeared on both sides, including one by Mr. Craig in his defence against Smith's charges. The latter left no stone unturned. Among other efforts to thwart the Association, it is said that he en- deavored to get control of one of the links on the Halifax line east of Portland. He also appealed to the Provincial Legislature of New Brunswick, and protested against the management of the Halifax line by its superintendent ; but all without avail. His success in putting the newspaper press by the ears, was not only less difficult, but more complete. At one time Smith refused to receive and transmit private messages handed in by merchants and others for Halifax, or to let any thing come over his line from thence. The Morse New- York and Buffalo line was managed on a sys- tem almost as peculiar, under the direction of its president, T. S. Faxton. When the Bain and House lines were completed, be- THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 141 tween New- York and Buffalo, and came in competition with his own, he demanded that unless all the news we were in the habit of sending for the papers west, went over his line, that he should decline sending our reports unless they were pre- paid in advance at private rates ! Some of the press desired to get our news over the Bain or House lines. It was in vain we urged upon Mr. Faxton, the propriety of leaving the press to choose which line they would prefer to have their news by. It would not all do, and as we persisted in dividing our news as requested by the press which we served, we soon after received a notice from the chief operator at the office in New York, Mr. Johnson, that other arrangements had been made, and our news would not be sent : that is, Faxton had engaged to serve a majority of the papers we had been supplying, for less money, and to in- clude the expense of reporting. The line then employed a young man in opposition to us, whom we had instructed and brought up to the business. He was also patronized by F. 0. J. Smith's line in its eastern arrangements, in combination with a portion of the Boston papers, who had defended its course in opposition to the New- York Associated Press. Irregularities also prevailed occasionally on the Morse sea- board line. On one occasion, important California news was started for us^at New Orleans, in advance of all others by half a day, which never came to hand; while the same news reached the opposition party in due time. At another period, the burning of the St. Charles Hotel, in New Orleans, was put in for us at a late hour on a Saturday night, soon after which the wires became involved in the flames. Our dispatch was the only one which left the city that night concerning the fire ; and communication was not re-established until about 12 o'clock next day ; yet, strange to say, our opponent, alluded to above, not only received the news in advance of us, but had it reforwarded over Smith's line, and published in the Boston papers in advance of us. Not only so, but some members of the press in that city, who patronized us, wrote angry com- plaints for our having been beat with that important news ! Our difficulties were equally as great in getting news from 142 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF New-York to New Orleans. So much so, that the Merchants' Exchange, which we were serving, abandoned the line alto- gether, and requested us to send their messages by the western or O'Keilly lines ; and, if it failed to work, to send none ; by which course our business was seriously damaged. We could name other instances of similar management. We appealed to the President of the Morse New Orleans line for an explanation ; but no satisfactory solution ever came. We appealed to the association, and desired that such proceedings should be made public. They seemed duly impressed with the injurious con- sequences of such management, and caused us to make re- newed complaints to the President, promising, if no satisfac- tory answers were obtained, they would then publish an account of the matter. Nothing further was developed or ex- plained, and the subject was dropped ; soon after which we retired, as previously stated, from the general news department. We could on some occasions have justly appealed to the courts of law for redress ; but this we declined to do. From the facts stated in connection with the management of some of the principal Morse lines, it can be readily imagined to what tyranny the press and the people of the United States might have been subjected, had the claimants under the Morse patents succeeded, by expensive lawsuits, in beating off all competition, and securing in their own favor an unrestrained and uncontrolled monopoly ! As a further illustration as to the method in which busi- ness was conducted by some of the lines at that time, we give extracts from an address made by Marshall Lefferts, Esq., Pre- sident of the Merchants' Line, to the stockholders, in 1851 : " As to our Southern and Western business, it has fallen off because of our inability to perform the obligations either with profit or credit to ourselves. We found it necessary to issue a notice to merchants, stating that we would use our best endeavors to forward dispatches beyond the terminus of our own line, but could in no way guarantee their transmission beyond. I must explain, Gentlemen, the nature of this : A. presents himself at our Boston office to send a message (for instance) to New Orleans. We receive and send it to New-York, and there hand THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 143 it over to one of the Southern lines, paying them at the same time the price of transmission for the whole distance, we simply deducting for our service performed. And so the message is passed on, either to stop on the way, or by good luck to reach its destination. If it does not reach its destination, — and which is of such frequent occurrence, — the sender of the dispatch presents himself at the counter of our office and demands the return of his money. After giving us on the spot the most undoubted evidence of the fact of the message never having reached its destination, we inform him we will make inquiries, and if we can learn which line is at fault we will return him his money. We make inquiry, and when I tell you we can get no satisfaction, it is al- most the universal answer ; for they all insist on having sent the mes- sage through. We explain to the sender of the dispatch, and while he protests, most justly, we are not in a position to refund him his money ; for you will bear in mind that we have received but a moiety of the amount for our service, and to refund the whole would be to give back not only what we had fairly earned, but also that which the other lines had .received and pocketed, without performing any service. Of the large number of such mistakes and miscarriages which have come under my notice, we have not been able to refund one out of ten. Now what is the effect of this gross mismanagement of the public interest ? No argument, no explanation, — for none can be made in equity or justice, — can satisfy the individual who has been the loser, to a greater or less degree. He has not studied how many lines are to be the bearer of his dispatch ; — he paid the money to us for its transmission, and al- though we have performed our obligation as stated by our notice we agreed to do, and he has no legal claim upon us, yet I say he has a moral claim, and failing in its enforcement, he becomes disguste'd with both our line and the system. It is true that he still finds himself com- pelled to use it, but I ask you what is the difference between merchants or individuals using it by compulsion, to keep pace with the times, or his being able and happy to use it as a convenient and reliable means of executing his business ? The application I mean as general, — and what is the effect produced ? On the other hand, what would be the effect, could some of the glaring abuses which clog and fetter the enterprise be removed ? I told you we had avoided the Southern and Western busi- ness, and that our receipts were less in consequence from this source ; but the reason you now know, and I trust appreciate. Better that we should not send a single message, than do it at the expense of our re- putation and our conscience. 144 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Some few weeks since I received from Mr. Craig, at Halifax, the indefatigable agent of the Associated Press, a letter touching upon this subject, and I quote from two or three of the letters which passed be- tween us : — New-York, 26th Oct., 1850. D. H. Craig, Esq., Halifax. Dear Sir, — Mr. O'Reilly has handed me your letter of the 11th inst. re- specting the working of the line between this city and Halifax, and instancing some mistakes, errors, or wilful neglect. It is needless for me to say that / most heartily agree to the plan proposed by Mr. Gisbourn, i. e., that the line in fault shall pay the other lines which have done their work correctly, and by which means also the sender of the message will get hi3 money refunded. I have been endeavoring to get all the lines to come into such an arrangement, and still hope for success. I have further, in two or three conversations with Messrs. Hudson and Andrews, urged them to use their influence to bring about such an arrange- ment, or any rules and regulations to govern the lines, which will put a stop to this plunder of the people. You may build line after line, and cover the United States with this net- work of wires, but neither the business of Telegraphing nor its convenience to the public be appreciated, till they can get in return for their money, other than carelessness, errors, and insults ; and I know of no surer way of reaching the evil as a beginning than the plan you propose ; and I therefore most willingly accept the proposition of Mr. Gisbourn, and we shall soon see which are the lines at fault. I have, like yourself, lately had occasion to inquire into the loss of a message, but I could get no satisfaction, and how absurd it is to have business conducted in such a manner. I do not intend to say that our line makes no mistakes, or is not in some cases at fault ; but I wish to find out the errors, and have them corrected by a more efficient staff of operators, and when we are not at fault, have the blame and expense rest upon the right shoulders. I have seen the Superintendent of the Portland line — Mr. C. Hudson — and he is also quite willing to enter into a similar arrangement. I would suggest, as a means of arriving quickly at the line at fault, that the office from which the message starts should, in case of complaint that it did not go through, require the original to be returned ; thus I hope to see all made satis- factory in that respect. I shall at all times be most happy to receive your suggestions, And remain, dear sir, Yours very truly, Marshall Lefferts, Pres't N.Y.&N. E. Tel. Co. 5th Dec, 1850. {Extract.) Craig to Mr. Lefferts. " I was very much gratified a few weeks since, to receive your obliging and perfectly satisfactory letter, and I am happy to inform you that it was regarded with great favor by the Commissioners of their line. I was especially glad to find THE ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH. 145 that I had not, in my voluntary assurance to the Commissioners, overrated your sense of what constitutes justice between Telegraph Companies and the public. Your views were responded to fully and in every particular by the Commission- ers, and they, with my permission, inclosed your letter to Mr. Jardine, of the New Brunswick line, and took that occasion to reiterate their firm resolution to insist upon having an entire reform in the whole system of doing business, and thank heaven we can now send dispatches correctly, or else secure tho prompt return of our money." I hope that those to whom Mr. Craig has referred the subject will not (and I know them to be desirous to render their lines worthy of all confidence) let the matter sleep, but by a well regulated understanding between the companies between Halifax and New- York, set an exam- ple which must soon be followed by others. What I propose is that, by agreement, messages not sent through within a given time after they are received, — or messages which have had errors made in them, or which, for any fault of the line, fail to be of service to the party in con- sequence of delay, — that in all such cases the money shall be refunded ; and that the arrangements for carrying out this agreement be of such a character that speedy justice can be done the applicant by the return of his money ; and that the line offending shall pay the full amount refunded, so that those lines which may have performed their work promptly shall not lose by the carelessness of the other. Is there any thing unreasonable in this as between the lines ? and is it not rational towards the public ? Let this single correction be carried out, and it will cause the working of the various lines to be more closely looked after, and those clerks who are careless and indifferent, to be replaced by those more competent and faithful ; and therefore the merchant will not only have his money refunded when properly demandable, but there will be added a general guarantee to the reliableness of the Tele- graphic system. With your sanction, I propose that an appeal through the public prints be made to all the lines, asking them to join in such an engage- ment, and, as they consent, let the public know which lines are willing to deal upon just principles, and which not. Clear the enterprise of the shackles which now weigh it down, put it in the hands of men satisfied with a fair remuneration, and alive to its national importance, and who shall set bounds to its extension and usefulness ! Travel back, as but of yesterday, only six years, and see the few posts and wires — the cum- bersome machinery — its slow and inaccurate mode of writing — and now take up the daily journals, and see their pages teeming with telegraphic 10 146 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF news from all parts of the Union ; and if a few years have accomplished this, what may we not expect from the next few which are to follow ! I have but one other point to which I ask your attention, but it is nevertheless one of much importance — I allude to the non-intercourse policy — which those lines or companies, known as the Morse lines, have set up. The case stands thus : messages which may be sent from Philadelphia, for Boston, coming to our office — we being out of order, or for any other reason — we take them to the Morse line ; they will refuse to receive them, although tendered their regular charge for trans- mission ; and the same rule applies to all their lines throughout the. country. Can they sustain themselves before the public when the facts are understood ? Why, the same rule applies if any of you were a pas- senger from Philadelphia, for Boston, and when presenting yourself at the New-Haven depot, you are told, " We know you came by the Am- boy line from Philadelphia, and we are sueing that company for an in- fringement of patent axles, and you cannot go on our line." Such is the refusal of telegraph messages, and I say it is an outrage upon jus- tice, common sense and honesty. Their refusal rests simply upon a per- sonal quarrel, with which the public have nothing to do, more than they have with all squabbles from one end of the country to the other ; and to us it makes no difference beyond the collateral effect which, of the abuses of the system, it brings upon us by disgusting the public with the system and the manner of conducting the business. See how it is further carried out on our Buffalo line. We expected to make ar- rangements with the line to and through the Canadas. An individual (a Superintendent of an intermediate line of about twenty miles in length) said he would rather have all his messages mailed at Troy, for New- York, than that they should pass over our line. Such a course might suit his feelings, but it fortunately happens that his messages are the property of others (and his generosity to the Morse line is being generous on others' means), and their voice, sooner or later, will be heard from Maine to Georgia, demanding the correction of these abuses. In the hands of men, regardless of the trust over which they are placed as directors, what can we expect of those whose duty it is to obey, and who should have an example of better faith set them ? I will make no particular allusion — I am now speaking generally of the system — for my object is not to raise hostility or personal animosity, but simply to lift my voice as one against the injustice which now attaches itself to the business as conducted, and, by pointing out some of the more glar- ing abuses, lend my feeble assistance to the welfare of the enterprise. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 147 It is often the case on lines, that when they are out of order, to mail their dispatches to their offices, and thence distribute them ; and in one case which I looked into personally, it stood thus : A message was sent from Boston, over our line, for a point beyond New- York ; we handed it over to the line here, paying them something over $3 for it. Shortly after, complaint was made that the message came to hand on the same day as the letter by mail ; and on investigation, I found that the telegraph message had been mailed the same day on which we handed it to them, for which service they saw fit to pocket the three dollars. Surely this is telegraphing with a vengeance. At other times, they are thrown amongst the waste paper of the office, or perchance they are given a more respectable death by pitching them into the stove. These things are no fiction — they are facts — and by no means of rare occurrence. But gentlemen, I have no wish to tire you by such details ; but that they have a direct and important bearing upon the success of our company cannot be doubted, and by calling your atten- tion to them, I feel confident your suggestions will lead to good results." The plan of non-intercourse was commenced by F. 0. J. Smith, prior to the erection of any competing lines between New- York and Boston. Soon after the rupture between the Morse patentees and O'Eeilly, he refused to re-send any dis- patches to Boston, which reached New- York over the O'Eeilly lines from St. Louis, Cincinnati, or from any other point at the West. It was immaterial whether they related to illness, deaths, marriages or business ; they had to be mailed to Bos- ton, and some days would often elapse before answers could be returned. Mr. Smith, in his Congressional Eeport in favor of granting $30,000 to Morse to enable him to build his line, dwelt upon the advantages the telegraph would prove to the public and to the government, and that the American people were desirous the grant should be made. He also alluded to " the grandeur" of the discovery, which, from " a feeling of religious reverence," " the human mind had hardly dared to contemplate." (See VaiVs Magnetic Telegraph Book, pp. 77, 78. We cannot conclude this chapter, without speaking in high praise of the various reporters who were employed by us, or associated with us, at different times, in various parts of the 148 HISTOKICAL SKETCH. country, and many of whom are still employed by the Asso- ciated Press of New- York. Among others, we take pleasure in naming C. C. Fulton, Esq., of Baltimore ; William Lacy, Esq., of Albany ; George W. Brown, Esq., of Buffalo, since appointed consul to Tangier; Mr.* Davidson, of the same city; George Bennett and Eichard Smith, of Cincinnati; Eugene Fuller, Esq., of New Orleans ; Edward Goff Penny, Esq., of Montreal, and Charles Lindsay, Esq., of Toronto, Canada; Joseph Palmer, Esq., and William Stimson, of Boston ; and J. B. Skinner, Esq., of Norfolk, Ya. ; besides many other excel- lent men, in other less important localities, with others em- ployed as occasional reporters for conventions, public meet- ings, &c. CHAPTER XV. FAST METHODS OF TELEGRAPH "WRITING— F AC-SIMILE TRANS- MISSIONS OF MANUSCRIPT, PRINTED COPY, AND FIGURES OF ALL KINDS— PROPOSED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC LOCKS. Further improvements in Electric Telegraphs are mnch wanted, in reference to securing greater speed in telegraph, writing, with more permanent and constant communication over the wires. The first object is of difficult accomplishment. The second is attainable by a greater outlay of capital. We have seen that it requires a slight period of time, and from one to five motions of the finger, to write a single letter ; and that the highest rate of speed, so far obtained by the pre- sent modes in use, is only about 80 to 100 letters per minute, or about 1000 words per hour. When interruptions occur, messages rapidly accumulate on the hands of the operators, frequently including long and valu- able news messages for the press. Under such circumstances, if there could be a method of writing employed, an hundred fold more rapid than the present, when the interruption ceased, or the line recommenced working, the whole could be speedily sent forward, and in time to prove valuable to the recipients, and profitable to the line. At present, in cases of this nature, the transmission of delayed messages is so slow, that, before they can be cleared off, they become useless, being superseded by the mail, or are withdrawn by their authors. Mr. Bain was the first to propose a fast method of commu- nication. He prepared endless slips of paper, about a quarter of an inch in width. These he perforated with holes and slits, 150 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF to represent the dots and lines of his alphabet. Common writ- ing paper, when dry, is found to be a very good non-conductor of electricity — hence he broke and closed the circuit of a tele- graph line, by merely causing this slip of paper to revolve be- tween the conducting points of his instruments. The electric fluid would pass through all the open spaces or holes in the slip, when drawn forward beneath the point of a conducting wire ; but the fluid would be arrested, or the current broken, by the intervening solid parts of the paper. Thus, the holes and slits would be rapidly reproduced on the chemical pa- per in his machine at the opposite end of the wire. As punching a long slip of paper with lengthy messages was a slow process, Mr. Bain invented a very ingenious punching machine, which drew forward the ribbon fillet of paper, and punched it at the same moment, by merely turning a crank with one hand, and touching a key with a finger of the other, to regulate the spacing of the punched holes, to represent the letters of the message. Mr. Bain's plan was perfectly successful so far as it went ; but it was found that, after the quick receipt in cipher of a long dispatch, it would take about as long to copy it into man- uscript, as it would to transmit it by the ordinary mode. Another desirable object to attain in telegraphing would be, to send a fac-simile copy of a man's handwriting, with his signature. At present, important and confidential business transactions are seldom confided to the telegraph, from the dif- ficulty of knowing whether a name attached to an order to sell and buy bills of exchange, to accept or pay notes, or to ad- vance money, is genuine. Mistakes in figures or modes of ex- pression are also much feared, and not without reason, as ex- perience in some cases has proven. Mr. Bain was the first to suggest a plan for making fac- simile communications. Mr. Bakewell, of England, also made a similar attempt to do the same thing, by contriving ma- chinery which resembled a modification of that used by Mr. Bain in his experiments. A notice of Mr. Bakewell's plan, with specimens of writing performed by it, was published in the London Illustrated News, in 1850. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 151 The mode of operating by each was something after this fashion. Imagine a metallic cylinder about eight or ten inches in diameter, and twenty-four inches long, arranged to revolve slowly on its axis by clock-work, and which works in the cir- cuit of the electric fluid at one end of a telegraph wire ; while with the other end of the wire a Bain's instrument is con- nected, and moved with precisely the same velocity. The smooth outer surface of the cylinder may have a message writ- ten on it, in a non-conducting fluid or material. The writing may be made to encircle the cylinder in manuscript lines, and conclude with the signature of the author. Now, when this cylinder is made to revolve with its written surface in contact with a fine conducting point, it is clear, that every time the point crosses the writing, the circuit will be broken, and while in contact with the cylinder, between the spaces of the letters, the fluid will pass, and produce continuous black marks on the revolving chemically prepared paper in the instrument at the opposite end of the wire. When finished, the whole commu- nication will appear on the chemical paper, in blank letters. The great objection to the plans of both Bain and Bake- well, arises from the extreme slowness with which the messa- ges are sent, not even equalling in speed any of the methods now in use. The subject a year or two since engaged our thoughts, and we devised a plan to accomplish the same object, in a manner which will secure extraordinary rapidity of communication ; and yet, so arranged as to produce fac-simile manuscript letters and signatures, and with figures of all kinds, beyond the pos- sibility of mistake in transmitting it. Not only so, but to send rapidly printed matter. By our method, we proposed to send from 600 to 1000 words per minute. Besides, our plan, like Bain's and Bakewell's, can be made to send small maps, plans of houses or vessels, &c, as wel] as profile likenesses of the human face, or the full length outlines of the human figure. Such a plan, once put in operation, might be found useful for municipal purposes. Thus, by having the likeness of a rogue, or a close descrip- 152 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF tion of his figure and height, a profile representation of his per- sonal appearance could be sent forward in advance of his flight, and copies of it dropped at all the telegraph way stations through the country. We entered a caveat some time ago in favor of our pro- posed improvement ; but the want of spare capital and leisure to mature it, has prevented us so far from making any attempt to bring it into public use. Electro- Magnetic Lochs. It has occurred to us that electricity might be applied to the formation of electro-magnetic locks. They could be made in a simple manner, and add greatly to the security of build- ings and vaults. We have not space to give our ideas precisely, as to the best mechanical arrangements to secure the end in view; but in a general way we may say, that the object might possibly be accomplished by some plan similar to the fol- lowing. A small battery (portable if preferred), might be used to form a strong electro-magnet. This, when placed near the end or brought in contact with a strong door- bolt, resting horizon- tally or perpendicularly, would exercise sufficient attractive force to withdraw it while the electric fluid should be passing ; and when the circuit should be broken, a spring might throw the bolt back in its first position, the door being opened in the mean time. A door might be secured with all the ordinary locks in use, and yet inside them all there might be a secret electro-magnetic bolt which no key could find, and which could only be known to and removed by those duly initiated, and having the control of the necessary portable battery and electro-magnet, and which might be removed from the build- ing previous to locking the outside doors. Not only so, but wires could, if necessary, be conducted from the lock to any other apartment in the building, or to a sleeping room ; and in case an attempt should be made to force a lock, an alarm could be communicated to the apartments by ringing a bell. In another supposable case, a merchant or banker living THE ELECTEIO TELEGKAPH. 153 up town, if disposed, could have wires conveyed from the locks on his vaults or doors in "Wall Street, to his sleeping room, which could be made to convey audible intelligence of any attempt made to force an entrance. We do not offer this idea as ever likely to be adopted in practice, but merely to show the great variety of novel purposes to which electricity may be applied. As to electro-magnetic locks, the mechanical contrivances may be diversified to a great extent, and ultimate experience will only show how the thing can best be effected. The sim- ple enunciation of such a proposed improvement or novelty, is all we have to do with the subject at present, reserving to ourselves the right hereafter, to secure our claims by a patent if we think proper. New applications of electricity must continue to occur, so long as the mind of man values the truths of science, or seeks to apply them to the progress and happiness of the race. CHAPTER XVI. USE OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH IN THE CALCULATION OP LONGITUDE— MUNICIPAL TELEGRAPHS IN CITIES AND TOWNS —APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY TO BLASTING AND SUBMA- RINE EXPLOSIONS. The first experiments made to ascertain longitude by the use of the electric telegraph, were tried in the United States. As the electric fluid passes in an instant over the longest wire that can be built, even should it " girdle the earth," it is evi- dent that it must beat the flight of time. The revolution of the earth causes fifteen degrees on its surface to pass under the sun's meridian in an hour. When it is twelve o'clock in New- York, it is only eleven A. M. at a point fifteen degrees west of it. So that if a dispatch should leave New- York at twelve o'clock, it would be received at fifteen degrees west of it, one hour before twelve o'clock. Between New- York and San Fran- cisco about fifty degrees of longitude intervene, making a difference of time equal to three hours and twenty minutes. Hence, were a message sent from New- York at twelve, and could it reach San Francisco at once, it would beat time three hours and twenty minutes, or arrive there at 8h. 40m. A. M. If a similar current could pass round the world without inter- ruption, to the point of beginning, it would of course beat time a whole day or twenty four hours ; passing 360 degrees of the earth's surface in less than one second of time. If a delicately constituted clock with a hand to denote se- conds, and its divisions in hundredths, be placed in a telegraph office before an observer in New- York, and a similar clock be placed at the other end of a telegraph line in St. Louis, with an observer there, it is only necessary to make the closing and THE ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH. 155 breaking the circuit in New- York correspond with the move- ments of the second hand of the clock in St. Louis (or a good chronometer may be used by each party), to denote the differ- ence in time between the two places in seconds, or fractional se- conds, which would indicate with great precision the exact differ- ence of longitude between the two cities. Mr. Lock, of Cincinna- ti, contrived some ingenious machinery for the purpose of mea- suring seconds of time, with its divisions, to be recorded by the electric telegraph on fillets of paper, with a view of ascertain- ing longitude. It was first tried on the telegraph line between Cincinnati and Pittsburg, and was said to work successfully. The officers of the U. S. Coast Survey next made experi- ments on long lines of telegraph wires, for the purpose of deter- mining longitude, and which proved very satisfactory. They made a report of their experiments in 1848. They state that they regard " The value of a night's work with a transit in- strument, by the printing method, as about ten times greater than by the method now in use among astronomers." " This year" (1848) " we made abundant experiments on the line from Philadelphia to Louisville, a distance in the air of 900 miles, and in a circuit of 1,800 miles. The performance of this long line was better than any of the shorter lines has hitherto been. " Not more than two or three good astronomical nights at Cincinnati were lost, by the failure of any part of the line, in the period of two months of our stay at Cincinnati. I learn from an authentic source, that the same success attends the work from Philadelphia to St. Louis — a distance of circuit one- twelfth of the earth's circumference. Great as this distance is, an attempt is to be made to exceed it as soon as circumstances permit, on the line from Halifax to New Orleans, in determi- nations of longitude." , Lieut. Charles Wilkes, of the late U. S. Exploring Expedi- tion, was the first to experiment with the electric telegraph to determine longitude, which he did in 1844, on the Morse line between Washington and Baltimore, gauging the time by chronometers. The result was, that he ascertained the Battle Monument in Baltimore to be 1' 34". 868 east of the Capitol. — 156 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF (See Capt Wilkes's Letter in Mr. Tail's Book on the Magnetic Telegraph, p. 60.) The idea of applying an electric telegraph to the determi- nation of longitude, must have been almost coincident with the thought of producing such communication at all ; yet it is grat- ifying to know that the first, most extensive and successful experiments on the subject, have been made in the United States. The subject we find has, since the experiments made by the members of the U. S. Coast Survey, attracted much atten- tion in England. In Chambers's Papers for the People, vol. ix., 1851, the author says : " This method of observing is regarded by the Astronomer Royal as of so much importance, that he proposes its use at Greenwich. * In dis- cussing this subject before the Astronomical Society, he explained that, ' In ordinary transit observations, the observer listens to the beat of a clock, while he views the heavenly bodies passing across the wires of the telescope ; and he combines the two senses of hearing and sight (usually by noticing the place of the body at each beat of the clock) in such a manner as to be enabled to compute mentally the fraction of a second when the object passes each wire, and he then writes down the time in an observing book. In these new methods (electric), he has no clock near him, or at least none to which he listens : he ob- serves with his eye the appulse of the object to the wire, and at that instant he touches an index or key with his finger ; and this touch makes, by means of a galvanic current, an impression upon some re- cording apparatus (perhaps at a great distance), by which the fact and the time of the observation are registered.' " The experience hitherto obtained of the new method, shows that, in what are termed ' irregularities' in observation, the amount ' is only about one fourth' of that which occurs with the old method ; whether because the sympathy between the eye and the finger is more lively than between the eye and the ear, remains to be determined. The Astro- nomer Royal proposes to use the * centrifugal or conical pendulum clock,' as an instrument superior in every way to those used in America ; and ' considering,' as he states, ' the problem of smooth and accurate motion as being now much nearer to its solution than it had formerly been, it might be a question whether, supposing a sidereal clock made THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 157 on these principles to be mounted at the Royal Observatory, it should be used in communicating motion to a solar clock. It might by some persons be thought advantageous, even now, that the drop of the signal ball (at one hour Greenwich mean solar time) should be effected by clock machinery ; and it is quite within possibility that a time signal may be sent from the Royal Observatory to different parts of the king- dom, at certain mean solar hours, every day by the galvanic current, regulated by clock machinery.' " We formerly suggested in the Journal of Commerce (1848), that balls might be made to drop, or cannon fired in all the principal ports of the United States, by means of the electric current, the moment the sun attained meridian at the National Observatory at Washington, by which chronometers could be regulated at various places, at the same time daily. At Boston the true time is said to be received every day from the Cambridge Observatory, four miles distant, for the service of the shipping in the harbor. It has been proposed in England, to apply the telegraph to measure the fluctuations in the barometer and thermometer, by sending up a balloon prepared with instruments, in connection with a galvanic wire, the ground end of which is connected with a recording instrument. It is said an interesting experi- ment was made in reference to this subject by Mr. Smee, chemist to the Bank of England. The mysterious influence of the aurora borealis on tele- graph lines has been noticed in this country, and also by ob- servers in Europe ; among whom was M. Matteucci, who no- ticed its effects on the apparatus of the electric telegraph line between Eavenna and Pisa, in November, 1850. The follow- ing extract from the Philadelphia Ledger refers to the effects of an aurora, observed in September, 1851. These facts prove the truth of Dr. Franklin's original theory, that the aurora bo- realis is identical with the nature of electricity, or is, in reali- ty, simply an electrical manifestation : " The aurora borealis, visible on Wednesday and Thursday nights last, was the most brilliant and remarkable exhibition of the kind noticed here for years, and was attended with some very singular phenomena. On 158 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF Wednesday morning an unusual appearance of atmospheric electricity was manifest on all the telegraph lines radiating from Philadelphia, east, west, and south, which continued more or less till Thursday eve- ning. At times there was a powerful current upon the wires, sustained for minutes, then it would diminish to nothing, and the current from the batteries cease to have any effect on the magnet. It came not in flits and flashes, as is the case during thunder storms, but would emit a steady spark for seconds, and even minutes. During this time the weather was cold and remarkably clear. The same effect was noticed in other cities. In Boston, it is said, there was sufficient electricity to supply the telegraph wires without employing the batteries." Municipal Telegraphs. ♦Among other important applications of the electric tele- graph, is its employment for municipal purposes. It can be used in cities as police station signals, and for giving fire alarms, by ringing bells. The subject has attracted much attention in Boston. Dr. W. E. Channing of that city called public atten- tion to it in the columns of the Daily Advertiser in 1845. The subject excited no great attention until March, 1851, when Dr. Channing submitted plans and estimates for erecting municipal telegraphs to the Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., mayor of Boston, who recommended their adoption by the city authorities. In June following, the corporation appropriated $10,000 to carry the object into effect. * In 1851 the city of New- York connected its eight bell towers with each, other, and with the central tower or belfry over the City Hall, by a telegraph, wire. This, however, was simply used to signalize an alarm of fire, having no interme- diate connections, and had no power to ring fire-bells from the central station. It is said, that fire alarm telegraphs have recently been erected in Berlin by Mr. Simons, lieutenant of engineers, but whether similar to the simple plan adopted in New- York, is unknown. The system for a municipal telegraph, proposed by Dr. Channing, is much more comprehensive and complete than any other ever brought to the notice of the public— (See his ac- THE ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH. 159 count of it in vol. xiii., no. 37, p. 58, of Sillimarfs Journal of Science and Arts, Second Series.) It is evident that, if various towns, widely scattered over a state or continent, can be brought into speedy communication by the agency of the electric telegraph, that all the central stations of city wards and fire-bells of a large city can be brought into instantaneous connection. With properly con- trived instruments, the twenty police stations of the twenty wards and eight bell towers of New- York, can be put into speedy and reliable communication at any moment. Municipal and fire alarm bell electric telegraphs could be, if necessary, extended so as to embrace Brooklyn, Wil- liamsburg, Ward's Island and Harlem, and, if required, be made to include hospital and coroners' calls. They could also be made to embrace all the important points in cities as large as Paris or London. Wherever employed, they will impart great additional power to police forces, as the whole could at any moment be brought to act in concert. During disturbances in a city like Paris, they would no doubt be found very important aids in the hands of the police, in controlling and suppressing popular outbreaks. The plan of the Boston Municipal Telegraph described by Dr. Channing is quite elaborate, and is illustrated by a number of woodcuts. We have not space to go into details regarding his system, which may for each city be greatly varied. It is sufficient to say, in general terms, that for the contrivance of many of the instruments he employed, he was indebted to Moses G. Farmer, Esq., Electric Telegraph Engineer of that city, and under whose supervision the system was carried into effect. A central office or station is fixed upon, at which the main battery, with other instruments, is placed. From this two circuit wires proceed, like those of the common telegraph wires, fastened to house-tops on ingeniously insulated supports. One of the wires communicates from the main fire-bell tower to all the others, and connects each with machinery, which puts in motion the largest sized hammer, and causes it to strike a large fire-bell the desired number of blows. The other wire proceeds on a still more circuitous route, and from one local 160 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF street or ward signal station to another. Each station is pro- vided with a strong box, and hinged door and lock. Inside of this box, there is a connecting electro-magnet and connecting lever, an axle, with a number of pins in it, to correspond with the number of the station. The axle is turned by a short crank, and in its revolutions the pins break and close the cir- cuit, by moving the end of the lever as often as there are pins or cogs, the result of which is communicated to the central station. If the alarm indicates a fire in the local district No. 3, the alarm can be instantly rung on all the bells in the city. If it is a subject requiring the speedy and efficient attention of the police, information by alarms can be given at each police station, or the dispatches can be recorded by instruments at each place. The local street alarm boxes are to be placed in charge of a person, whose duty it will be to give the alarm from the local to the central station when called upon, or cir- cumstances require him to do so. The instruments contrived by Mr. Farmer for local alarm stations, for isolating wires on house-tops, and for ringing large fire-bells by the action of electro-magnetism, in combination with strong clock-work and weights, are very ingenious, and some of which he has patented. Any number of alarm-stations can be arranged by attach- ing a corresponding number of pins or cogs, to the axle, in each box, moved by a crank, to break and close the circuit. The time will likely soon arrive when no city will be without its fire-alarm and municipal telegraphs. Fire-alarm Whistle. We have for some time suggested that a fire-alarm, similar to a railroad whistle, would be better adapted for city use than bells. Instead of steam, they would be worked by the force of condensed air, like DaboWs fog-alarm. Whistles of this description can at all times be heard at a much greater distance than bells, and cost a great deal less. To render them more effi- cient, and to give them such a sound or tone as to distinguish them from ordinary locomotive whistles — which are now heard in the suburbs of nearly all cities — we propose to change the form of the bell-cap. That is, not only to give THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 161 them greater diameter, but to increase their length, so as to augment the sound. Instead of metal, the bell-cap might be formed of glass, which possesses a high degree of sonorous- ness. These whistles could be worked by hand, or by the elec- tric telegraph. We find whistles have also been alluded to and recom- mended, by Dr. Channing, as fire-alarms ; but no allusion is made as to the possibility of improving or increasing their sound by partially changing their structure, or by the adop- tion of more sonorous materials. Whistles can be sounded as readily by the electric tele- graph, as ordinary fire-bells ; and a plan for thus working them has been proposed by Mr. Farmer — a diagram of which has been given by Dr. Channing, in his paper referred to. The letting on or shutting off the air, however, from the whis- tle, by the mechanical action of electro-magnetism, can be effected by a variety of methods. A marine whistle, moored over a rock, or shoal at sea, or in a harbor, can also be worked at will from shore (after having the air-receiver previously charged — say in daylight, or calm weather), by connecting it with the land by a sub- marine telegraph wire of any required length. Instead of having a man on shore to give the alarms, they could be pro- duced by a train of clock-work on land, to close and break the circuit, and thus keep the whistle sounding. The number of sounds would indicate precisely the character of the spot thus guarded. Yessels crossing the Banks of Newfoundland in dense fogs, in order to prevent collisions, ought also to carry air-whistles to be worked by hand. Dr. Channing estimated the municipal wires of Boston at forty-nine miles in length, and the cost of them already put up at $68.72 per mile ; and one single set of machines, in- cluding one striking apparatus, at $268. To erect a substantial municipal telegraph for New- York, to embrace police-stations and fire-alarms, would probably cost from $25,000 to $30,000. If whistles should be used instead of bells, for fire-alarms, the expense would be less. The management of the whole, when in operation, would not cost 11 162 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF any more, if as much, than the present defective system. Ex- perience has shown that wires, carried over the tops of houses, are less liable to interruption than when carried through cities on poles. Blasting and Submarine Explosions, by Electricity. Though not immediately connected with telegraphs, yet the important application of electricity to the explosion of powder, deserves a passing notice. We believe that it was Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia, who first proposed to apply gal- vanic electricity to the blasting of rock — which was some twenty-five or thhi;y years since ; and he indicated the proper kind of instruments to be used for the purpose. When the safety and convenience of blasting by electricity is considered, it is strange that its employment has not be- come more universal. It is more certain than the common fuse ; and the operator can, in firing his charge, choose any distance he pleases, by merely adding to the length of the wire. Another more important application of the electric current, in producing explosions, may be noticed. Almost coeval with the discovery of the fact that powder could be exploded on land by electricity, it has been known that it also could be made to explode it under water. And it was not long before experiments were tried, both in England and this country. Old vessels were moored off shore, and blown up by kegs of powder fastened to their bottoms. A more useful application of submarine explosion has been made to the removal of rocks from harbors and the chan- nels of rivers, which obstruct navigation. In those cases where a proper depth of water is found resting above the rock, a large canister of powder, with electrical wires at- tached to it, is sunk by weights until it rest on the surface of the rock. The superincumbent weight of the water acts as a powerful lever on the force of the powder, so that, when it is exploded by the electric spark, its greatest force is exerted downwards on the face of the rock, cracking, or rending, or tearing it into fragments. By repeating the explosions, the THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 163 largest and most dangerous rocks that may have been the terror of sailors, and defied the power of man for centuries, are completely removed ! The recent successful demolition of Pot-Eock, at Hurlgate, by Professor Maillefort, is still fresh in the public mind. In the course of his operations, he met with a solitary accident, which, however, was of an unfortu- nate and fatal character ; two of his men having lost their lives. The occurrence, however, was not the fault of the elec- trical fluid. The Professor, with one or two assistants, were indebted to a Francis' metallic life-boat — in which they hap- j)ened to be seated at the time of the explosion — for the safety of their lives. In producing ignition by the galvanic current, it is neces- sary, as in the ordinary telegraph line, to use a receiving mag- net, which shall complete the circuit of a local battery, near the spot where the rock is to be blasted. This is represented in the following cut : Fig. 7. An operator is seen at a distance with the wires extending to a receiving magnet, A A, which is constructed on the axial 164 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF principle, and serves to complete the circuit for the single cup at B, which is to ignite the charge in the neighboring rocks. Electricity in Warfare. In future wars between civilized nations, which we trust are very remote, electricity, like steam, must play an impor- tant part. By its agency, not only can intelligence be made to fly from camp to camp, and from army to army, but mines can be sprung — works blown up — heavy ordnance fired — rock- ets and shells discharged, and submarine powder batteries ex- ploded against hostile fleets. All this it can be made to do, with terrible efficiency and effect. To blow up vessels in deep water, however, it will require that the charges of powder, unless in immense quantities, should be immersed but a short depth below the surface of the water. A moderate charge exploded on the bottom of a harbor or river, would produce very little, if any, effect on the surface. This we ascertained by experiments made with sub- marine shells, some years ago, which were exploded by the action of the water, of itself, on coming in contact with it, and without the agency of electricity. We have also thought it possible that, by a portable small compact electro-galvanic apparatus, combined in some way with the breech or stock of a gun, so as the lock, in cocking and firing, should break and close the circuit, whereby the electric spark given off would discharge the gun, and thus the expense, as well as the inconvenience, of handling the present percussion caps would be got rid of altogether. No doubt exists that any number of cannon can be instan- taneously fired by the electric current. Such an arrangement would enable a 74 gun ship, if desired, to pour her whole broadside, at the same instant of time, into an enemy's ship of war ! and, moreover, the whole of them could be set off by the finger of a single man, depressing a key to start the electric flash! We might be expected, when alluding to new applications of electricity and electro-magnetism, to refer to the present THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 165 state, progress and prospects of electro-magnetic mechanical power, and especially to the experiments of Professor Page. The design of our work has been to treat of electricity, chiefly in its relations in some way to electric telegraphs. Where we have digressed, it has been to speak of applications reduced to practice, or to make new suggestions for its employ- ment for other and novel purposes. Dr. Page has been liberally patronized by the United States' government, Congress having made liberal appropria- tions to enable him to bring his Axial Electro-Telegraph En- gine into use. Although he has succeeded in producing striking and wonderful results, yet it would seem that his machinery is not sufficiently matured to warrant its employment as a reliable and economical power. Some difficulties probably yet stand in the way of success, which future discoveries and experience may overcome. Those who wish to learn more regarding Dr. Page's labors will find them described in various scientific pub- lications of the day. Were we to indulge in digressions, we might name a vast number of other cases in which electricity is usefully employed, not the least of which is that of the Electrotype, or Electro- Metallurgy ; but such digression would be out of place in a work of this description. We here give a second engraving of House's Printing Telegraph, which exhibits some parts of its ingenious mechan- ism, not visible in the first. n CHAPTER XVII. FOREIGN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS— THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS IN EUROPE— EXTENT OF LINES, AND PLANS OF CONSTRUC- TION, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THEM. We have found some difficulty in procuring foreign publica- tions which treated fully of the history of Electric 'Telegraphs, and especially in reference to their present extent and condi- tion in Europe. The fullest account we have been able to ob- tain, is contained in Chambers's Papers for the People, vol. ix., published in the autumn of 1851. As far as our researches have gone regarding European accounts of the present extent and condition of Electric Tele- graphs, they appear very deficient in respect to their know- ledge of their rise and progress in the United States. We were surprised on reading the article referred to, in Chambers's Papers for the People, and which purports to be a kind of regular history of the Electric Telegraph, to find the author had omitted all notice of Professor Joseph Henry's valuable discoveries in Electro-Magnetism ; and that no men- tion is made even of his name. Moreover, the valuable and exceedingly ingenious Printing Telegraph of R. E. House is nowhere referred to. It was not to be expected, perhaps, that a foreign author should be well acquainted with the extent, cost and manage- ment of our lines ; but, as House had taken out patents in Europe, and had had his machine in practical operation in the United States from two to three years before the publication of the paper referred to, it is strange his invention was not al- luded to. Professor Henry's valuable experiments in Electro- Magnetism were published in Silliman's Journal as early as THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 167 1831, and had been before the scientific world for about twen- ty years ; yet no allusion is made to him or his discoveries, in Chambers's " Electric Communications" or History of Electric Telegraphs. We take the following extracts relating to Electric Tele- graphs in Europe from Chambers's work previously referred to. He commences his account of the first Electric Tele- graph in England, on the Blackwall Eailway, which we saw in operation while on a visit to London in 1840. And in the same year we saw another line, which was built by Wheat- stone and Cook, extending along the Great Western Eailway, from London to Slough, near Windsor, about twenty-one miles in length. The first line erected in this country, as we have seen, was in 1844. The first application of the electric telegraph was made on the Black- wall Railway, from the station in the Minories to Brunswick Pier. On this line the trains start every quarter of an hour, and the stopping places are so numerous, that it is not easy to conceive how the service could have been performed without such aid as the new mode of telegraphing was calculated to afford. The announcements of departures, of stoppages, of the number of carriages attached to the wire rope, accidents, or other causes of delay, were regularly transmitted, and the business thereby maintained in full vigor and discipline. After this, other railway com- panies availed themselves of the same indispensable agency, and tele- graphs were gradually stretched along the London and North- Western, South- Western, South-Eastern, and Eastern Counties lines. On the Great Western the wires at first were placed inside a continuous tube, fixed a few inches above the ground at one side of the way, but were afterwards strained on posts, as on other railways — an arrangement with slight exceptions, now prevalent throughout Britain. This line had not long been complete when a striking instance occurred of the ser- vice which the telegraph might render to society. A man of respecta- ble exterior took his seat in a first class carriage at the Slough station, eighteen miles from London : he was a murderer hurrying away from the yet warm body of his victim ; the panting engine nears its destina- tion ; the eager criminal believes his escape certain ; but the alarm has been given at the fatal spot, and quick as lightning the telegraph trans- mits it to Paddington, with a description of the suspected individual. 168 HISTOKICAL SKETCH OF In three minutes an answer announces the arrival of the train, the iden- tification of the fugitive, and the certainty of his capture. There are few persons who will not remember the impression made on the public mind by this victory of science and justice over crime. Again; a communication transmitted from Paddington immediately that the year 1845 commenced, was received at Slough in 1844, the clock at that place not having struck midnight. Though so short a distance, the dif- ference of longitude was sufficient to mark the inconceivable velocity of the electro-magnetic current. Swift-footed Time was henceforward to be beaten in the race. The wire commonly used for telegraphs is about one-sixth of an inch diameter, covered with a thin coating of zinc, or, as it is called, ' galvanised,' to prevent oxidation. Besides this, it is found that the de- posit from damp and dust and other causes affords a very efficient pro- tection. Four miles of such wire weigh a ton. The posts to which it is attached are fixed at from fifty to sixty yards apart — thirty or thirty- two to the mile. To insure perfect insulation the wires are not permit- ted to touch the posts, otherwise the current would be diverted down- wards through the wood, particularly in wet weather. Insulators of va- rious forms, ' rings, collars, and double cones,' are made of brown stone- ware, which of all substances yet tried throws off the wet most readily. A stone-pitcher, after being plunged into water, is seen to retain scarcely a trace of the immersion beyond a few drops on the surface. Even with this material it is sometimes difficult, during dense fogs or heavy rains, to preserve the integrity of the current. Besides the supporting-posts, there are others called ' winding-posts,' four to the mile, to which the wires are connected in alternate half-mile lengths, and stretched by means of a screwing apparatus. It is on these posts that the stone collars are used ; a sufficient number being attached to each side, the wire is passed through the eye and drawn tight, while to maintain the communication uninterrupted, a loop of wire is affixed to the main lengths at a short distance on either side of the post, round the front of which it passes in a slight curve. To pro- tect the insulators as much as possible from wet, they are sheltered by a sloping wooden roof. The pointed wires seen rising a few inches above the tops of the posts on some lines is a lightning-conductor with its lower extremity buried in the earth. A precaution not unnecessary, as thunder-storms produce singular effects on the lines of telegraph. One wire only will suffice for the transmission of correspondence be- tween any two places ; the making use of a greater number, six, eight, THE ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH. 169 or ten, as may be seen on some railways, is merely for the sake of econ- omy or convenience. It is found better in practice to keep one or two wires distinct for the main termini or points of correspondence — say from London to Derby — than to make them serve at the same time all the intermediate stations. It is an arrangement which helps to simplify the working duties of the office, and to facilitate them also, for with but one or two wires there would be constantly-recurring delays and confu- sion, since while any two places were intercommunicating all the others would have to wait. One of the wires is sometimes employed exclu- sively for the alarums — that is, to ring the bell at any station with which it may be desired to ' speak.' Wherever connection is made with an in- termediate office, the main wire is cut, and a shackle inserted, and from either side of this a short wire is stretched to the instrument ; thus af- fording means for the passage of a current up or down the line. The same contrivance would be adopted were there but one wire to connect the two extremes of the line ; and it is within the bounds of possibility that some invention or adaptation will show that all the required ser- vices may be performed by a single conductor. The wires, when in their place, are connected with the batteries and telegraphic instruments at the respective stations ; and here it be- comes necessary to consider the construction and mode of action of a battery. The latter may be familiarly described as a wooden trough, from two to three feet long and about six inches wide, divided crosswise into twenty-four compartments or cells — more or fewer according to circum- stances — by partitions of slate. Two plates of metal, copper and zinc, alternately, are placed in each cell, in such an order that all the plates of one kind face towards one end of the trough, and all of the other kind to the other end. A small strip or ribbon of copper unites each pair at the centre of their upper edges, forming, as it were, so many curved handles, by which they can be lifted in and out. As soon, then, as the remaining vacant space in each cell is filled with an acidulated fluid the action commences ; the acid begins to act on the zinc by dis- solving it, the water contained in the solution is decomposed, and hy- drogen thrown off from the surface of the copper plates ; while by a combination of oxygen, oxide of zinc is formed, and this, dissolving in the acid — which is commonly sulphuric — sulphate of zinc is produced. These effects are the consequence of the general law established in relation to voltaic electricity, ' that by the simple contact of dissimilar me- tallic bodies, a partial transfer of the electric fluid from one to the other invariably takes place.' A positive current is generated at the zinc, and 170 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF passes to the copper through the intervening fluid in all the series of cells ; and continues to flow as long as contact is maintained between the wires which depart from either end, whatever be their length. There are various contrivances for increasing and rendering continuous the power of batteries, and for checking deterioration in the metal or acid, which we need not stay to consider, as they do not affect the main question. The cells of telegraph batteries, instead of a fluid, are filled with pure sand — a material chemically inert, moistened by pouring in the dilute sulphuric acid — an arrangement which admits of the apparatus being removed from place to place without risk of spilling the contents, while it diminishes waste of the plates without diminishing their power. The zinc is most liable to dissolution, and would be rapidly exhausted were it not for the protective influence discovered by Mr. Sturgeon. Having washed the plates clean, he dipped them into mercury, and the thin adherent coat of the rarer metal is found to prevent effervescence of the surface. Those which are known as amalgamated plates conse- quently last longer than others left in their native state ; and after a turn of service they may be again washed and redipped. A well-pre- pared battery, with occasional renewals of the acid, will maintain an effective working condition during twelve or fifteen months. According to Mr. C. V. Walker, to whose work we are indebted for the substance of some of our details, ' The telegraphs on the South- Eastern Railway, of 180 miles and forty-seven stations, are worked with 2,200 pairs of such plates : and the whole telegraph system in the United Kingdom, employs about 20,000 pairs. 1 In preparing the batteries, it is possible to determine mathemati- cally beforehand the amount of resistance, and the force necessary to overcome it ; and thus to proportion the number of plates to the dis- tance to which the wires extend. Large wires are better conductors than small ones. Iron is a better conductor than copper, and copper than silver. The several conditions may be calculated from the formu- lae laid down by Ohm. The wires of the battery meet those of the telegraph in what is called the electro-magnetic machine, which externally resembles a cabi- net clock, having a square dial-plate inscribed with the letters of the alphabet, and certain arbitrary characters, and two hands placed side by side near its centre. These hands are the needles which are the tongues of the apparatus; in their vibrations to the right and left, their starts and pauses, the whole correspondence is conveyed. For THE ELECTKIC TELEGKAPH. 171 each needle visible on the face of the instrument there is a correspond- ing one inside, the two being so placed that the north pole of the one and the south pole of the other are in the same position, so as to neu- tralize their magnetism, or rather the action of the magnetism upon them. They are thus kept in a perpendicular position, and obedient to the slightest impulse from the battery. The inner needle is suspended within a coil or multiplier, which intensifies the current at this partic- ular spot, and is deflected to either side at pleasure by movement of the levers or handles which close or open the electro-magnetic circuit. The telegraph wires finish in two terminals, which form part of the mechanism, and are in connection with the magnet and the multiplier. The battery wires are brought to two other terminals, connected also with the same apparatus ; so that in order to reach the telegraph wires, the current must first excite the magnet and the needles. This action takes place only when work is to be done ; at other times the circuit is left open. Instantaneously, however, on making contact, the signals exhibited at one end of the line are reproduced at the other ; such is the astonishing power of the magnet when rendered active. Messages of business or friendship, congratulation or anxiety, may be sent from one end of the kingdom to the other with the velocity of lightning ; on which Arago observes, ' the most extended and brilliant flashes of the first and second order, those even which appear to develope their fires over the whole scope of the visible horizon, are not equal in dura- tion to the thousandth part of a second.' When a message is to be sent, the clerk whose duty it is to work the instrument, places the written document before him ; and after strik- ing the ' ringing key,' to call the attention of his correspondent, takes one of the levers which project from the base of the machine in each hand, and moving them from side to side produces corresponding and simultaneous movements of the needles on his own and the distant dial-plate, and the words are spelt oft* with great facility. Such is the quickness of apprehension acquired by practice, that the clerks can write the message as fast as the needles deliver it ; and it is said that some of the more expert would be able to read it without error from a blank dial. To expedite transmission, the communications are made as brief as possible, by the elision of letters, and syllables, and sometimes of half a word ; besides which, many conventional signs are made use of. ' We have,' says Mr. Walker, ' a signal for the period or full stop and for paragrajjhs ; and we have one for underlining words. And we have 172 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF many very valuable special signals. There is also a signal among the clerks for laughing, and one for the whistle of astonishment.' Where secrecy is desired, any two parties have only to agree to employ nume- rals as letters, or to reverse or transpose the alphabet at pleasure, in or- der to form a code of signals which none but themselves shall be able to interpret. The messages transmitted on the Admiralty service are based on a private system, of which the chiefs alone understand the import. With respect to communications of greater length, the writer just quoted observes : ' The rates at which newspaper dispatches are trans- mitted from Dover to London, is a good illustration of the perfect state to which the needle-telegraph has attained, and of the apt manipula- tion of the officers in charge. The mail, which leaves Paris about mid- day, conveys to England dispatches containing the latest news, which are intended to appear in the whole impression of the morning paper. To this end it is necessary that a copy be delivered to the editor in Lon- don about three o'clock in the morning. The dispatches are given in charge to us at Dover soon after the arrival of the boat, which of course depends on the wind and the weather. The officer on duty at Dover, having first hastily glanced through the manuscript, to see that all is clear to him and legible, calls ' London ' and commences the transmis- sion. The nature of these dispatches may be daily seen by reference to the ' Times.' The miscellaneous character of the intelligence therein contained, and the continual fresh names of persons and places, make them a fair sample for illustrating the capabilities of the electric tele- graph as it now is. The clerk, who is all alone, placing the paper be- fore him in a good light, and seated at the instrument, delivers the dis- patch, letter by letter, and word by word, to his correspondent in Lon- don ; and although the eye is transferred rapidly from the manuscript copy to the telegraph instrument, and both hands are occupied at the latter, he very rarely has cause to pause in his progress, and as rarely also does he commit an error. And, on account of the extremely lim- ited time in which the whole operation must be compressed, he is not able, like the printer, to correct his copy. ' At London there are two clerks on duty — one to read the signals as they come, and the other to write. They have previously arranged their books and papers : and as soon as the signal for preparation is given, the writer sits before his manifold book, and the reader gives him distinctly word for word as it arrives ; meanwhile a messenger has been dispatched for a cab, which now waits in readiness. When the THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 173 dispatch is completed, the clerk who has received it reads through the manuscript of the other, in order to see that he has not misunder- stood him in any word. The hours and minutes of commencing and end- ing are noted ; and the copy being signed, is sent under official seal to its destination, the manifold fac-simile being retained as our office copy, to authenticate verbatim what we have delivered.' 'On 11th of December 1849, to the great astonishment of the merchants and bankers of Paris, three gentlemen appeared on ' Change ' in that city, at half-past one p. m., having with them 150 copies of the i Times,' printed and published in London on the morning of the self- same day ; and not only did the ' Times ' contain the Paris news up to noon of the previous day, but actually the closing prices of the Paris Bourse of the previous evening. 1 The electric telegraph contributed in no small degree towards the accomplishment of this feat. At eight minutes past one a. m., the dis- patch of 321 words, and the Bourse prices, equal to 55 words, were de- livered into our charge at Dover, having been conveyed thither from Calais in the ordinary mail-boat. In exactly thirty-two minutes — namely, at forty minutes past one — a correct copy of both these docu- ments was handed in to us by the Times Office in London. This dis- patch occupied us eighteen minutes, being at the rate of l^f- words per minute ; the Bourse prices, two minutes. In respect to the latter, the rate is high, because the larger portion is anticipated, the mere fluctu- ations being all that is new. There was nothing extraordinary to us in this, quickly as it was accomplished ; indeed, on the following morning the writer in London was fairly beaten by the telegraph — the words were read off faster than he could make a clean copy of them.' An idea of the amount of telegraphic correspondence on a railway may be formed from the fact, that on the South-Eastern line, ' during the three months ending October 17, 1850, 4831 service messages were entered in the Tunbridge books, and 5235 in those at Ashford.' And in six months of the same year the profits arising from the telegraph were X776, being at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, and an increase of 1^ per cent, over the corresponding six months of 1849. The proprietors of telegraphs inform us that the communications in- trusted to them for delivery comprise the whole catalogue of human wants and wishes, business and pleasure, joy and sorrow, friendship and law. On some occasions they have been asked to send a sum of mo- ney, or a small parcel along the wire, by individuals, too, whose surprise showed the sincerity of their belief that the instrument could perforin 174 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF what was desired. Games of chess have been played between parties in distant towns — Southampton and London — the moves being flashed from place to place alternately, as fast as they were made. Then the security which the telegraph lends to railway travelling is not the least of its merits : accident and obstruction can at once be made known, and the remedy provided. ' On New- Year's Day 1850, a catastrophe, which it is fearful to contemplate, was averted by the aid of the tele- graph. A collision had occurred to an empty train at Gravesend ; and the driver having leaped from his engine, the latter started alone at full speed to London. Notice was immediately given by telegraph to London and other stations ; and while the line was kept clear, an engine and other arrangements was prepared as a buttress to receive the runaway. The superintendent of the railway also started down the line on an engine ; and on passing the runaway he reversed his engine, and had it trans- ferred at the next crossing to the up-line, so as to be in the rear of the fugitive. He then started in chase, and on overtaking the other he ran into it at speed, and the driver of his engine took possession of the fugi- tive, and all danger was at an end. Twelve stations were passed in safety ; it went by Woolwich at fifteen miles an hour, and was within a couple of miles of London before it was arrested. Had its approach been unknown, the mere money-value of the damage it would have caused might have equalled the cost of the whole line of telegraph.' The promptitude with which detection has followed fraud by the agency of the telegraph is sometimes rather amusing. Mr. Smee re- lates an instance : ' One Friday night, at ten o'clock, the chief cashier of the bank received a notice from Liverpool, by electric telegraph, to stop certain notes. The next morning the descriptions were placed upon a card and given to the proper officer, to watch that no person exchang- ed them for gold. Within ten minutes they were presented at the counter by an apparent foreigner, who pretended not to speak a word of English. A clerk in the office who spoke German interrogated him, when he declared that he had received them on the Exchange at Ant- werp six weeks before. Upon reference to the books, however, it ap- peared that the notes had only been issued from the bank about four- teen days, and therefore he was at once detected as the utterer of a falsehood. The terrible Forrester was sent for, who forthwith locked him up, and the notes were detained. A letter was at once written to Liverpool, and the real owner of the notes came up to town on Monday morning. He stated that he was about to sail for America, and that whilst at an hotel he had exhibited the notes. The person in custody THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 175 advised him to stow the valuables in his portmanteau, as Liverpool was a very dangerous place for a man to walk about with so much money in his pocket. The owner of the property had no sooner left the house than his adviser broke open the portmanteau and stole the property. The thief was taken to the Mansion-House, and could not make any defence. The Sessions were then at the Old Bailey. Though no one who attends that court can doubt that impartial justice and leniency are administered to the prisoners, yet there is no one who does not mar- vel at the truly railway-speed with which the trials are conducted. By a little after ten the next morning — such was the speed — not only was a true bill found, but the trial by petty-jury was concluded, and the thief sentenced to expiate his offence by ten years' exile from his native country.' The Electric Telegraph Company, incorporated in 1846, whose cen- tral establishment is in Lothbury, behind the Bank of England, hold a patent right for a term, in part expired, of fourteen years ; their charge for the use of it is £20 per mile. The building is amply furnished with all the requisites for telegraph service : and by means of wires laid in tubes under the surface of the streets, is connected with all but one or two of the metropolitan railway stations, the post-office, the head po- lice station in Scotland Yard, the Admiralty, the new Houses of Parlia- ment, Buckingham Palace, and the latter, by a further extension, are now placed in communication with the Great Exhibition Building in Hyde Park. Besides these, communications are complete with eighty different places in the provinces, including the chief towns and outports. Electric telegraphs, according to the parliamentary enactment, ' shall be open for the sending and receiving of messages by all persons alike, without favor or preference, subject to a prior right thereof for the ser- vice of Her Majesty, and for the purposes of the company.' A proviso is also made in favor of the secretary of state, who may, on extraordi- nary occasions, take possession of all the telegraph stations, and hold them for a week, with power to continue the occupation should the common weal require it. ' There have now,' so runs the company's of- ficial circular, ' been established in Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Hull, and Newcastle, Subscription News Rooms, for the ac- commodation of the mercantile and professional interests, to which is transmitted by electric telegraph the latest intelligence, including — do- mestic and foreign news ; shipping news ; the stock, share, corn, and other markets; parliamentary intelligence; London Gazette; state of the wind and weather from above forty places in England ; and the earliest 176 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF possible notices of all important occurrences.' The ' rate of charges for twenty words is — Id. per mile for the first 50 miles ; ^d. for the second 50 ; and ^d. for any distance beyond 100 miles.' The lowest charge made is half-a-crown. From London to York for twenty words, the cost would be 9s.; to Edinburgh 13s.; to Glasgow 14s. ; and to other places in proportion. The number of miles of telegraph in Great Bri- tain at the present time is about 3,000, which leaves about 4,000 miles of railway unprovided for. During the last session of parliament a second association was incor- porated, to be known as the British Electric Telegraph Company, ' for the purpose of telegraphic communication upon a more economical scale throughout the country, and for the purchase and use of patents.' The company's central office is at the Royal Exchange ; they propose to conform to the American tariff of charges for the delivery of messa- ges ; to sell licenses ; and establish lines to all the chief towns in the kingdom. One of their projects is to connect Dublin with Belfast, and to cross the Channel from the latter town to Scotland : when complet- ed, the capitals of the three kingdoms will be able to intercommunicate at any moment. And the reduction of charge which may be antici- pated from the competition will, it is to be presumed, bring the tele- graph more than at present within the means of the general public. The spread of electric telegraphs in France has been extremely slow : for a long time the government refused to abandon their well-developed system of aerial telegraphs; and when with much reluctance they were induced to avail themselves of the infinitely superior agency of electro-magnetism, they stipulated that the signals should still be pro- duced by small instruments, counterparts on a diminutive scale of the apparatus contrived by Chappe. There were, however, too many prac- tical difficulties in the way, and ultimately the absurd condition was withdrawn in favor of machinery similar to that used in this country, the government reserving to itself the exclusive use and control of the lines. In 1845 and two following years, the telegraphs extending from Paris to Orleans, to Rouen, to Lille, and Calais, and the Belgian frontier, and to Versailles, were commenced, and brought into operation. The results were such, that in January 1850 a commission was appointed to inquire further into the subject. They drew up a favorable report, recommending the formation of additional lines, and the plan of stretching the wires on posts in prefe- rence to placing them in tubes underground, and that the telegraphs should be open to the use of the public. Among other economical ad- THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 177 vantages to result from the further extension, was the saving of loco- motive power on railways ; for, in accordance with the practice on the French lines, whenever a train was twenty minutes late an assistant- engine was dispatched to its relief from one station to another all along the route — an arrangement which not only involved considerable ex- pense, but liability to accident also. The construction of seven tele- graphic lines was recommended ; five of the number have been officially authorized — from Paris to Tonnerre, Eouen to Havre, Paris to Angers, Orleans to Chateauroux, and from the same city to Nevers ; and by a vote of the Assembly, 717,095 francs are set apart to defray the expen- ses of the necessary works. To afford the fullest facilities to the govern- ment, wires are led from the respective stations in Paris to the hotel of the Minister of the Interior, where the office is now open to the public from 8 a. m. to 9 p. m. every day without exception. Three hundred and one dispatches were transmitted in March, the first month of open- ing. According to the scale of charges — to send a message of twenty words 62£ miles will cost 3s. 3£d., and 12s. for 620 miles. Two hun- dred words for the same distances respectively will be 16s. 5d. and 58s. 9d. At this rate to send a message of 300 words from Paris to Calais (195 miles) would cost more than 35s. The commission state, that from seventy-five to eighty letters may be transmitted per minute. In the course of their report they suggest, that as the line from the capital to Dunkerque is on the meridian of Paris, and one of the points of the points of the great survey for the measurement of an arc of the meri- dian some fifty years ago, the establishment of an electric telegraph will afford an excellent opportunity for testing the former by remeasurement. The telegraphs complete and in progress in France are about 1,500 miles in length. In Belgium, a commission was also appointed at the close of 1849 to consider the same subject ; the individuals named — one of them be- ing M. Quetelet — were eminently qualified for their duties. After a careful examination of the systems of electro-telegraphic communication employed in other countries — the burying of the wires under ground, as in Prussia, and the stretching of them on posts, as in England and the United States — the liability to accident from premeditated mischief, atmospheric or other causes — they have decided in favor of wires above rather than below the earth. They show that the disturbances to which the apparatus is liable from electricity of the air is nowhere so effectual- ly guarded against as in England, where conductors are attached to the posts and to the machinery in the offices, and recommend the adoption 12 178 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF of similar means of protection on the Belgian lines, which they propose to establish from Brussels to Quievrain — and to the Prussian frontier ; from Malines to Ostend by way of Ghent — and to Antwerp — the sev- eral distances amounting to about 300 miles. They estimate the an- nual receipts and savings from these various sources at 86,000 francs ; and acting on their report, the government has granted a credit of 250, 000 francs for carrying the project into execution. The central situation of Belgium with regard to other countries renders the formation of these lines of essential importance in continental communications. Already the ramifications of electro-telegraphs extend from one end of Europe to the other ; the lines to connect Petersburg with Moscow, and with the Russian ports on the Black Sea and the Baltic, are in progress ; other wires stretch from the capital of the czar to Vienna and Berlin, taking Cracow, Warsaw, and Posen on the way. Two lines, by different routes — Olmutz and Brunn — unite Vienna with Prague, from whence an offset leads to Dresden ; a third enables the Austrian government to send messages to Trieste — their outport on the Adriatic — 325 miles distant; a fourth communicates with the metropolis of Ba- varia; and 'since the 10th January (1850), the " Gazette d' Augsburg" has published the course of exchange in Munich twenty minutes after in has been declared in Vienna.' Calais may send news to the city of the Magyar on the Danube , and ere long intelligence will be flashed without interruption from St. Petersburg to the Pyrenees. Tuscany has 100 miles of telegraph under the direction of Signor Matteucci ; and a single wire, traversing the level surface of the Netherlands, unites Rotterdam with Amsterdam. Communities are learning that the elec- tric telegraph is an essential of good government ; that police without it is inefficient ; that by it the interests of humanity are promoted. There is talk also of introducing the thought-flasher into that land of wonders — Egypt ; to stretch a wire from Cairo to Suez for the service of the overland mail. Who shall say that before the present generation passes away, Downing Street may not be placed in telegraphic rapport with Calcutta? In Austria there are about 3,000 miles of telegraph, one-fourth being gutta-percha-coated wire laid underground. Germany has 3,500 miles complete, and 1,200 more in process of construction. The Aus- trian government steamboats are fitted with an electric telegraph for communications from the captain on deck to the engine-room. In a time when mechanical science scarcely admits the signification of ' impossible,' the insular position of England would not long shut THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 179 her out from a union with those continental ramifications which we have noticed. The possibility of establishing the connection was satisfactorily- proved in August 1850, when a telegraph-wire was sunk across the Chan- nel from Dover to Cape Grisnez on the French coast. On the 28th of that month, after certain preliminary experiments had been tried, the Goliah steamer started with a huge reel containing 25 miles of wire, coated with gutta percha, on her deck, which was slowly unwound and submerged as she left the land. A horse-box was set up on the beach, to serve as a temporary office for the instruments and operators ; from which the wire was led through a lead pipe to some distance beyond low- water mark, as a measure of protection in a part the most exposed. A line of buoys marked the track of the steamer ; she travelled about four miles an hour, and the wire was gradually sunk at the same rate by means of heavy weights attached at regular intervals. A powerful set of batteries had been provided, as one of the objects was, if possible, to work Brett's printing telegraph ; and when the steamer had made good a portion of her voyage, the communication was established, and words were printed at the instrument on board the vessel — imperfectly, it is true ; but the fact once verified, the perfecting becomes matter of detail. The needle instrument played freely, and in the evening its sig- nals showed that the voyage had terminated successfully. A message flashed from under the sea by the opposite party pronounced, ' We are all safe at Cape Grisnez,' with the inquiry added, ' How are you ? ' Thus the international communication was complete ; but soon after interrupted by the breaking of the wire, which was too weak to with- stand the action of the water and friction on a rocky bottom. As before observed, the possibility having been proved, the Subma- rine Telegraph Company, whose patent embraces England, France, and Belgium, set about preparations to re-establish the connection on a scale calculated to obviate the risk of accident. The wires, four or five in number, are to be inclosed in cables several inches in thickness, and from twenty to twenty-five miles in length, each weighing 490 tons. It is proposed to have three or four such cables, to be anchored to the bottom two or more miles apart, so that if one should fail, communica- tion may still be maintained by the others. Expectations are held out that the line may again be brought into working order during the pre- sent year (1851.)" Since then, by an improved telegraph wire or jointed iron cable stretched across on the bottom of the Channel, commu- 180 HISTOEICAL SKETCH. nication has been regularly and permanently established, by which means London and Paris are in daily, and almost instant commnnication. The aggregate length of telegraph wires now in operation in America and Europe, exceeds the circumference of the earth's surface ; and in a few years will probably more than double this distance. CHAPTEK XVIII. LATEST ACCOUNTS OF THE PROGRESS AND OPERATIONS OF FOREIGN TELEGRAPHS. Since the publication of the article on Telegraphs in Cham- bers's Papers for the People, the past year (1851), we have gleaned some additional information from late English papers. The particulars of these addenda, though brief and meagre, nevertheless plainly indicate the rapid spread of Electric Tele- graphs over the civilized world. Financial Returns of English Telegraph Lines. " The half yearly meeting of the proprietors was held on Saturday, the 29th Nov., 1851, at the central station in Lothbury, the Chairman, Mr. J. L. Ricardo, M. P., presiding. " The accounts show an available balance of £14,701 12s. 3d. Cf this sum the directors recommend the division of £9,369 9s., which will produce a dividend at the rate of six per cent, per annum upon both classes of shares, leaving a balance of £5,332 3s. 3d. to the credit of the next half year. The capital account, to the end of December last, showed a receipt upon the shares of £330,000 ; sundry liabilities, as per ledger, £34,981 19s. 9