The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-12 00:00:00

CITY POLICE TEL; SIR

It will probably be in the recollection of many
that, about two months ago, the Court of Common
Council agreed to a vote of a sum not exceeding
£6OO for the purpose of erecting a telegraphic com-
munication between the police-stations of the
City of London, and we are very glad to be
able to report that the work is rapidly progress-
ing, and it is confidently expected to be com-
pleted by the end of this year. This very desirable
object has required continued perseverance on the
part of its promoter, and the method of erection
must be regarded as a novelty in telegraphic corn-
, munication.

It is now more than three years since the propo-
sition for telegraphic communication between City
police-stations was submitted to the Police Commit-
tee by Mr. S. H. Waterlow, to whom the public
are indebted for the first practical illustration of a
cheap, simple, and efficient overhouse telegraph in
England. At that time, although the passage of the
wires over the housetops was not unfrequent both
on the continent and in America, it was an entire
novelty in this country, and the police authorities,
doubting its practicability, decided against the pro-
position. Nothing daunted, however, by this failure
and confident of the practicability and economy of
his scheme, Mr. Waterlow determined to construct
an overhouse telegraph between the City and the
West-end, for the purpose of connecting the busi-
ness premises of his firm in London wall and Par-
liament-street. The accomplishment of this tele-
graphic line in July, 1858, failed, however, to alter
the decision of the police authorities, and the
matter stood over until the spring of this year.
During this interval the perfect success of this
private line, and the sight of its wires crossing the
river and several of the main thoroughfares, had
gradually wrought a change in the public mind.
The London District Telegraph started into exist-
ence, and commenced at once to carry the electric
wire over the housetops throughout the metropolis
and its suburbs.

A precedent (that support without which public
bodies can rarely be moved) having been fairly
established, the Police Committee were both will-
ing and anxious to reconsider the proposition and
bring the matter before the Court of Common Coun-
cil, who, finding the amount required so small,
readily agreed to it, and referred the matter back
for execution. Notwithstanding the holidays
had commenced, the committee, feeling now the
great importance of the matter, held a special sit-
ting, at which it was agreed that the erection
of the wires should be entrusted to Messrs. Reid
Brothers, telegraph engineers, of University.
street and Gresham-house, but not deciding the
kind of instruments to be fixed at the several sta-
tions. The committee, feeling, perhaps, some diffi-
culty in determining this point, arranged with
Captain Hodgson, the police superintendent (who
has taken up the subject very warmly, and la-
boured at it most diligently), that before purchasing
the instruments the inspectors who are to work the
line should practise on three different instruments
selected for approval—viz., the single or double
needle instrument, Morse's recording instrument,
and Professor Wheatstone's alphabetical dial. Each
of these instruments has its peculiar advantages.
The first is the cheapest, and has been used for
many years at almost all railway stations, and by
the telegraph companies ; the second is used almost
universally throughout the Continent, and has the
great advantage of recording every message that is
transmitted, but both these can only be worked
with accuracy by practised manipulators ; the third
and the most expensive (being a recent patent of
Professor Wheatstone's) is so simple in its con-
struction that a message may be sent or received
by any person who can spell and read distinctly
the letters of the alphabet, and it is not intended
to go to the expense of retaining either boys or
women to work the instruments at the police sta-
tions, but to rely upon the chief officers in charge
of the several stations communicating correctly with
each other, it is probable that Wheatstone's instru-
ment will be the one selected.
In order to keep the wires as far ont of sight.
arid as free from injury as possible, it was suggested
that they should be attache _I to the steeples of the
churches.
The consent of the churchwardens having been
obtained, the following was determined on as the
route for the wires :
From Chief-office to Fleet-street-station, via St. Olave,
Old Jewry, St. Vedast, Foster-lane, Christchurch, St. Mar-
tin, Ludgate, St. Bride, Fleet-street, and thence to station.
From Chief-office to Smithfield station, via St. Olave, Old.
Jewry, St. Lawrence Jewry, St. Vedast, Foster-lane,
Christchurch, St. Sepulchre, and thence to station.
From Chief-office to Moor-;ane station, via St. Olare,
Old Jewry, St. Lawrence Jewry, St. Michael, Bassishaw,
St. Bartholomew, Moor-lane, and theme to station.
From Chief-office to Bow-lane station. vsa St. Olave, Old
Jewry, St. Mary Aldermary, and thence to station.
From Chief-office to Bishopsgate station, via St. Olave,
Old Jewry, St. Margaret's, Lothbury, Dutch Church,
Austinfriars, Allhallows, London-wall, St. Botolph, Bishops-
gate, and thence to station.
From Chief-office to Seething-lane station, via St. Olave,
Old Jewry, St. Mildred s, Poultry, St. Mary Woolnoth,
Lombard-street, Allhallows, Lombard-street, St. Margaret
Pattens, Allhallows, Seething-lane, and thence to station,
uniting thus the City benefices in a manner little contem-
plated by act of Parliament.
No one probably feels much doubt that many great
advantages will result from the police telegraph;
but the one which most readily occur;; to us is the
desirability of rapid communieatibn in case of fire,
the immense destruction of tnoperty, and the me-
lancholy sacrifice of huir_an-
life by this dreadful
scourge, the povert:-
yhich deserve our mos t and distress consequent
thereon are subi'..cts w
ous considers!:
ion. The existence of such a ready
and inst
ti113`...:3 of danger as the electric telegraph affords,
P..ntaneous means of procuring assistance in
will, we trust, impart a new feeling of security to
the inhabitants of our large and densely populated
city.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

NORWICH—Nov. 10.

To-day there was a fair trade in wheat for all dry quali-
ties, at former rates, but inferior sorts rather lower. The
same may be said of barley.
White wheat Gis to 68s I Red wheat 54s to 655
Malting barley....4os to 43s I Chevalier barley 335 to 355
Distilling do.. ....25s to 27s I Oats.. 305 to 325
Flour, 46s to 4Gs 6d per sack from the miller.

STAMFORD—Noy. 10.
A very good supply of wheat at market yesterday, for
which the farmers asked lower prices. The demand was
good for barley, and last week's prices were supported.
Wheat 50s to 62s I Oats.. 26s to 34s
White do .. 66s to 72s I Beans sos to 56s
Barley 36s to 46s I Ditto, old ...,,....50s to—,

YORK— Nov. 10.
The supply of wheat was good to-day, with a fair attend-
ance of factors and farmers. The trade was firm, and the
currencies were at fully previous rates for old wheat. Oats
as before. A middling demand for beans, and without any
material alteration in price.
Wheat, red .50. to 60e 1 oats.. • . ........ 245 to 285
White do .60s to 65s i Beans ........... 32s to —s
Barley .35s to 4.bs f Peas ......... .. to --e
Malt, 705 to 72s 'per qr. ; rye, 42s per qr.; flour, 48s to
52s per sack.

LEICESTER—Nov. 10.
The supply of wheat was pretty fair to-day, in tolerable
condition, and prices as before. White wheat, 65s to 68s
—red, 52s to 61s per 36 stone; a healthy sale for fine
barley, grinding, 36s to 38s ; malting, 40s to 44s per qr. ;
oats, 25s to 36s per 24 stone. Beans—old, 52s to 54s
new 50s to 52s per 38 stone.
Fine flour, 48s I Seconds, 44s I Thirds, ---s per 20 stone.

CAMBRIDGE—Nov. 10.
There was a moderate supply of wheat, both old and new,
and, with a fair trade, white moved off at 56s to 60s;
red, 48s to 565 per 36 stone. There was a good supply
of barley ; malting, 34s to 46s ; grinding, 30s to 33s
per 30 stone. Oats at 22e to 28s for new ; old oats, 21s to
28s. Beans in scarce supply, and the turn lower—new, 32s
to 36s ; old, 54s to 56s per 38 stone ; peas, 48s to 50s per
36 stone. White cloverseed, 86s to 89s ; red, 46s to 50s per
qr. ; tares, 14s to 1.5 s per bushel.