Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-06-27

watch ;--and so long as the writing is
gong on, this de,ent is kept back, and
when the writing is done, the detent fall.
ing into its place, stops the clock work,
and the paper ceases to move. The first
stroke of the lever also rings little bell,
which calls the attention OF the attendant
to the machine. The whole machinery
does not occupy space Of more than one
foot by two.
In the foregoing our purpose has been
TO make such an explanation as will graf
ify the curiosity of unscientific readers,
and, pretending to no accurate phllosoph-
zeal knowledge, we may doubtless have
exposed ourselves to criticism of those
who possess it.
We have described the mode of work
ing the machinery, 50 TO speak, now used,
Du, we understood that there are others
which would enable those W no want the
experience of Professor MORSE, and his
polite assistant, Mr.. VAIL, who is at the
Baltimore end, to write, by striking keys
arranged like those OF piano and mark.
ed with the letters of the common al.
phabet-the effect being produced by the
passage Of arms over projections on a CYL
inder, after the manner OF hand organ
or musical box.
The only remaining matter to be MOTTO
ed is the mode in which It is proposed to
make the Magnetic Telegraph generally
useful for business purposes. Let us sup
pose, Tor instance, that if is extended fom
New York to New Orleans. John Smith,
in New York, wants TO buy from James
Brown in New Orleans 500 bales of cot.
ton at 8 cents per Id. He writes accord
lngly the following:-"Iames brown--buy
500 bales cotton at 8 Cts, John Smith"
He folds it. directs it, and sends it to the
Post Office marke "Magnslic Telegraph"
Here it is at once sent to the room Of
the clerk Of the Telegraph, who opens i,
and writes the contents to New Orleans,
where clerk in attendance at tho Post
Office at that end of the wires, puts the
letter into common writing, seals and d.
reefs 1t to John Smith, and sends if off in
stantly by a messenger in waiting. But
cotton is ten cents per ID. and SO James
Brown writes back-"John Smith, cot
ton 10 cts; James Brown" To which
Smith answers--"James Brown, buy at
10 cts., John Smith" And all this is done
between New Orleans and New York in
the space of hall an hour, allowing time for
the passage Of the letters from the offices
TO the counting houses of Smith ard
Brown. Or, if it is desired that the cor.
respondence should not be known, Smith
and Brown may agree upon comblna.
ton of dots and lines differing from the
combination of Professor MORSE, and then
upon sending the letter in some such
shape as ihis-"John Smi,h.--I..
:. l-.-I.-.l- -. -
.-- James
Brown" to the office, the cipher would
be copied and sent to New Orleans, when
the clerk wculd send the slip o f paper I'm.
wound from the machine to the counting
house OF Smith-and so the letter would
give information to no one but the per.
son for whom It was intended. For each
letter Of the alphabet employed Govern.
ment would receive, say one cert, so that
the first Of the above letters would cost
10 CCltoJ ttO uLoWCi W ~ oo CCbtc,
the reply % cents.
We cannot close this notice without ex-
pressing our conviction that among the
most important discoveries and inventions
of the present day is the Electro Magnetic
Telegraph, and that among the most dis
tinguished public benelactors, Professor
MORSE, inventor oil it, will be ranked here.
after.
STATE ELECTIoNs.--The following list
shows the time for holding elections for
State officers for the year 1874, in the
several States:
Louisiana, July North Carolina, Au.
gust l Alabama, August l; Kentucky,
August l. Indiana, August 1; Illinois,
August l; Missouri, August l; Vermont,
Sapt 2. Maine Sent q. MARYLAND Oct