Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-11-18
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION by LIGHTNING.


The following schemes is published i'll the Brit
ish journal, by which communications, mote per-
feet than by Telegraph, may DO made betwccn
distant places, say between London ard Edia-
burgh, distance of 400 miles, i'll an instant, by
means of successive electric sparks, from separate
wires, attached each letter OF the alphabet. The
cost of the apparatus is estimated at Is to f100-
900, or about $1,000 mile. BY this estimate,
which appears to be high one for the apparatus
proposed, the cost of the system Of communicates,
from Boston to New York, would be about S2OO,-
I000.-[ Boston Daily Adv
From the Scotsman.
lTELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN EDIN-
BURGH AND LONDON
thns been found by experiments made with a
view asccrtaining the velocity of electricity, that
il is transmitted nstantaneousy, by means Of q
common iron wire, distance Of eight miles; and
electricians of the first emhence have declared
their opinion, that judging from all scientific ex-
perience, the electric or gavanic influence would
to the other of metallic conductor, such ordi-
nary copper wire of moderate thickness, of some
hundred miles in length.
Ii this scientific theory is correct, il follows that
wire, secured by coating ofnon-conductors, and
protected from external influence or injury, and laid
under the turnpike road between Edinburgh and
London, could be tho means of distinctly indica-
| ting to person stationed in London, that such
wire had been electrified or galvanized in Edin-
burgh-the transmission of the clectsic gnlvanic
influence being clearly discernible by various well
known means.
| How, then, is this scientific fact 70 be applied
to the purposes Of practical and general utility?
Simply by laying as many wires separated from
each other will correspond to the letters Of the
alphabet, and pre-concerting between the persons
stationed at two exremities of the line Of commu-
nication, that each individual wire TO represent
particular letter; BECAUSE the person stationed
in Edinburgh can, by applying the electric infiu-
cnce to any one wire, insantaneously apprise ano-
Their person stationed in London that particular
letter of the alphabet is thereby indicated, words
and sentences ad infnitum, may be commuhcai-
ted, and the idea Of perfect telegraph would DO
realized.
Without experience it is impossible to say with
what rapidly this eectro-ma gnctc telegraph could
be worked, but, in all probability, intelligence
could be conveyed by 1uch medium as quickly As
10 possible to wre at least to print; an appa-
ratus could be constructed somewhat resembling the
keys of an organ, by which the letters of telegraph
could DO touched with the most perfect case and re-
gularity.
Il ha. heea mentioned that the Transmission Of
the electricity or galvanisn could be discernbe BY
various means well known. II any indication,
however slight, Is made, that is enoUgh-all that
ID wanted being that il should be perceivable by the
person placed 70 watch the telegraph.
1t has been assumed, that tho electric current il
capable of transmission by means Of single i'm
pulse from Edinbugh TO London. But il 10 not Ia"
dispsnsabs that 20 great . distance should be &C
complained at once. intermediates stations for sup
plying telsgraphs, with new gaIvanic influence
could bs rssorted to, and it, perfect efficiency still
DO preserved.
The best mode Of troughing or protecting the
metallic conductors, and separating them both from
each other, and from the surrounding subssancesby
which the elsctric Of galvanic influence might b
diverted, would, Of course, require considerable
scientific and mechanical skill, but the object APP
pears perfectly atiainable Insulating OF non-con-
Quoting substances, as gumlac, sulphur, resin, ba-
ked wood, &c., arc cheap; and The insulation might
be accomplished in many ways. For example, BY