Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-06-06
Magnetic Tflegraphs- Seientific
Description,

Description.
The rapdity Of communication is tru-
~ astonishing: it is instantaneous The
rate at which the electro magnetic fluid
passes, according to Mr.. Wheatstone, is
So9 thousand miles equal to III times
round the gIobe) in nne second. We
see the streak of lightning in the Hea-
vens, but II leaves no trace;the stream of
electricity has passed in less than the
twlnkling Of an eye, and is gone far be-
You'd our sight. In the same manner.
with equal swiftness, the electso-mag-
netic fluid unerringly conveys the intel
iigence intrustvd to its operation,
Anew field is thus laid open FOR the
researches of science, and new discoves
ries may yet be expected. Experiments
have already been made in the country
with wires of l6O miles in length, insua
ted in coils, with perfect success. A
small battery of 100 plates was Sufficient
for the operation Of the whole distance.
In efecting the Transmission of intelIi-
gence by the Telegraph, the artificial mag
net, created BY electricity, sets In mo-
zion an apparatus, which gives on paper
certain characters, representing certain
letters of the alphabet. Communica-
tons are thus recorded, either by day
or by night, on revolving cylender,
without even superlntendance. and may
be transcribed at leisure. The medium
employed is simply a copper wire insu-
lated and extended on posts, at an ex
pense not exceeding $3.50 per mile
1t is confidently believed that proprietors
will thus connect their dwellings with
the places of their mechanical operations
How easily, for instance, could Boston
and Lowell be thus connected. The
same posts, too. would answer for ma
ny lines of communication. Each wire,
however must be insulated, and strange
as it NAV seem, if two wires are placed
horizontally at some distance apart, and
one is charged similar effect will be
produced on the other.
Among the curious effects attending
this discovery is the transmission of in
teiisence through a single wire, at the
same time, from opposite points. Thus
on a wire reaching from Washington to
Baltimore, messenger, by electricity,
will pass another traversing in contra
ny direction, (turning out as it were
without any detention. Like the rays
of light, electricity, too, is extremely
subtle. Nor is the fact less astonish-
ing that the ground itself is good
conductor, and supplies the place of an
other wire which is lie cessary in Ordina-
~ cases before any effect is produced.
The advantages of this mode Of com
munication must be obvious, both in war
and peace. The east and the west, the
north and the south, can enjoy the ear
Hest intelligence of the markets land thus
be prepared against speculation. Grim.
inals will be directed from the commits
sion Of crimes, under the hope Of esca-
ping upon the iron horse;' for the man.
date Of justice outrunnins their flight,
will greet their arrival at the first stop
ping place.
Intimately connected with this branch
of science, employed in effecting the re-
suits obtained by the telegraph, are the
medical applications by the magnetic bat
terry. The same wonderful agent-the
electro magnetic fiuId-which also gids
the metals, and separates the beautiful
ores, dissolve the calculus (stone in the
bladder without pain; rescuing thus ma
ny victims, otherwise doomed to lin
gering death, or the sad alternative of
more excruciating operation. The ia.
cility with which medicines are infused
into the system, by the aid Of the bate
ry, leads US to hail the approach of
quicker alienation of human woes, and
the future success Of experiments, fraught
with the brightest anticipations. - Satur-
day Courier.