Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-16
From the Journal Of the Franklin Institute.
ELECTROMAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.


From the Journal Of the FranklinInslitute
ELECTROMAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. r.
Report on Prof Morse's Electro- Magnet
&c Telegraph.
The Committee on Science and Arts,
constituted by the Franklin Institute of the
State of Pennsylvania forthe promotion of
the Mechanic Arts, to whom was referred
for examination an Electro Magnetic Tel
egraph, invented by Prof s. F. B. Morse,
of the City of New Y ork, report
That this instrument was exhibited 10
them in the hall of the Institute, and eve
ry opportunity given by MIR. Morse and
his associate. Mr.. Alfred Vail, to examine
it carefully, and to Judge of its operation
and they now present the following as the
result Of their observations:
LHere follows description Of tie appa-
ratus, which we do not think ii necessary
to copy, having published description of
our own, some time ago, in this paper
Editors of the Commerc. AdUertis]
The operation of the Telegraph, as ex.
hibited 10 US, was very satisfactory. The
power given 10 the ma net at the register,
through length of wire of ten miles, was
abundantIy sufficient for the movements
required 10 mark the signals. The COM
munication of the power was lnstantane-
Gus. The time required to make the sig
nails was as short, at least, as that necessa-
ry to the ordinary telegraphs. happears
to the committee, therefore, that the posi-
bility of using telegraphs upon this plan,
in actual practice, is not to be doubted !;
though difficulties may be anticipated
which could not be tested by the trials
made with the model
One of these relates to the insulation
and protection of the wires, which are TO
pass over many miles Of distance, to form
the circuits between the stations. Mr.
Morse has proposed several plans: the
last being to cover the wires with cotton
thread-tnen varnish them thickly with
gum elastic, and enclose the whole in lead
en- tubes. More practical and economical
means will probably be devised; but the
fact is not to be concealed, that any effect
ual plan must be expensive.
Doubts have been raised as to the dis
lance to which the electricity of an ordi-
nary battery can be made efficient; but
your committee think that no serious diff.
Guilty is 10 be anticipated as to this point.
The experiment with the wire wound In a
coil may not, indeed, be conclusive; but
one of the members of the committee as
sisted in an experiment in which mag
net was very sensIbIy affected by a battery
ola single pair through an insulated wire
of 4 miles in length, of which the folds
were four inches apart; and when bat
terry of ten pairs was used, water was free
ly decomposed. An experiment is said to
have been made with success, on the Blr-
mingham and Manchester railroad, thro'
a circuit of 80 miles in length.
. 1t may be proper to state, that the idea
Of using electric agne,ism for telegraph
? ic purposes has presented itself to severa
individuals, and that Il may be difficult tc
, settle among them the question of origin.
atty.
The celebrated Gauss has a telegraph
, Of this kind in actual operation, for com,
municating signals between the Uni 'ersi-
, ty at Gottingen and his magnetic observa-
tory in its vicinity. Mr.. Wheatstone, OIL
} London, has been for some time also en-.
gagged in experiments on an electro-mag'
netic telegraph. But the plan of Porfes,
sor Morse is, so far as the committee are
informed. entirely different from any OF
those devised by other individuals, all oil
which act by giving different directions to
a magnetic needle, and would, therefore
require several circuits of wires between
all the stations.
In conclusion, the committee beg leave
to state their high qualification with the
exhibition of Professor Morse's telegraph,
and their hope that means may BE- given
10 him to subject it to the test of an actual
experiment made between stations at con-
siderable distance from each other. The
advantages which this telegraph would
present, If successful, over every kind
heretofore used, make it WORTHY Of the
patronage Of the government. These are,
that the stations may be at distance asun-
der far exceeding that to which all other
telegraphs are limited; and that the sig
nails may be given at night and in rains.
SHOWS, and togs, when other telegraphs
fail.
BY order Of the committee.
WIN. Hamilton, Aetuzry.
Philadelphia, Feb. 8, 1888.
1t has occurred to as, fromthe first, that
the great objection to all gaIvanic, or cleo
tro-magnetc teIegraphs, is the risk Of IN
jury to the wire, from accident and wiE'ul
mischief The frequent destruction OF
mile-stones, &c, proves tina! there are in
d:viduaIs enough who would think it cap
itaI fun to dig up the wires, and thus de-
stroy the line of communication without
alIuding to the very great p obability Of a