The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-12
THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.

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wesre indebted for the following very Interest,"
ing developments the author Of the letter, who 50
thoroughly eomprehends tho subject and takes a
deep interest in its success:
Nav YoRx, Nov. 8, 1886.
To the Editor Of the Union! q .-.r.. n nHut
IL may be interesting to you and your readers to
be informed what progress has been made in ex-
tending, and preparing 10 extend, Morses Electro
Magnetic Telegraph over this great country,
You are aware that lines in operation
from this point 10 Washington, Buffalo, and Bos-
TOM making an aggregate, as the wires run, Of
about 1880 miles The result of the late election in
Buffalo was known here before il was ascerained
from single ward IN this city, and was published
the next morning in Boston and Philadelphia, and
at Washington that evening. What an instra-
ment this Will be TO prevent betting, when by
| lts general extension, the result Of an cleo
ton can be aseertained 10 few hours
| from the most distant State in the UDon2 In 1852
II not In 1915, the result Of presidential election
will be known throughout the confederacy the day
| after IL is held
The conviction is now general, that the telegraph
must have stronger conductors than copper wires;
and the Washington and Boston companies are pre-
pairing TO cover their lines with iron. An iron cord
has been up during the from Philadelphia to
Baltimore, and with far superior strength is found
IN every other respect to answer the purpose as well
| as copper.
Lines have been built from Boston to Lowell; from
Troy to Saratogs; from Syracuse to oswego; from
Auburn TO ithica, which Is progressing TO Elmlra;
from Buffalo to Loekport, which ia to be extended
| to Lewiston, to he connected across the Niagara,
with line TO Toronto; from Philadelphia to HAIR
risburg, to be extended to the west This is
ed with beautiful iron cord The length of the
lines now constructed, is about 800 miles.
A line is in progress from Boston to Portland.
Preliminary steps have been taken for the eonsuc-
ton Of line from Buffalo to Detroit and thence
through Chicago to Milwaukee, a distance Of about
800 miles, TO be finished in fifteen months. The
New York and Washington company, having OBJ
taned the right Of way along the railroads through
New jersey, are rebuilding their line on the direct
route, and expect in two months to have up two
good iron wires from New York to Baltimore
A line will be ir.media,ely put up from Wash
Ington 10 Petersburg, Va, II there be no difficulty
about the right Of way; and none is apprehended
An effort will be made Immediately to raise the
eessary funds to carry the southern line through to
New Orleans next season.
To US who know the capabilities OF this invention,
u Is strange that the government has not seized hold
of It as a most powerful auxiliary in the with
Mexico. do not hesitate to say that, by line
to New Orleans, not costing more than two hun
dred thousand dollars, more than million Of dol
lars could have been saved since this broke out
and greater ACTIVITY given many Of its operations
The armistiee Of Monterey could have been shor-
tened two weeks or morej and within that time, IN
all probability, Salullo captured, and progress made
towards peace. And when peace comes, how ma
ny lives may be saved by gaining a week IN commu-
ncating the intelligence TO the army and navy!
All that has been accomplished in extending the
telegraph within the last two years, has been done
by private enterprise under many disconragements;
and having now virtually overcome every impede
ment, It's proprietors totally Indifferent on their
own account, whether the government aids in Its
construction or not. But it is great undertaking
TO run line Of posts and wire from Washington
to New Orleans; and although private capital can
and ptH do II, If necessary II cannot do II so soon
as the interests Of the country require. Without
involving the question of permanent ownership, the
government may undoubtedly construct il, or aie
IN It's construction, as means Of communicating with
its fleets and armies engaged in actual war and they
may, IL they choose have an ample guarantee that
every dollar advanced shall be refunded within
sonable time after the war is over. In the opinion
Of many dlsneres,ed men, the first act of Con.
gress, after assembling, ought to be the passage Of
an act appropnatlng the necessary funds TO secure
TO government the Of the telegraph from WASH
ngton to New Orleans during the war. BY vigo-
rous effort, it may be in operation over the whole
or most Of the route in four months.
| have departed from the object of my letter,
which not TO advise the government but to
give information. | shall make apology for my
gratuitous suggestions, feeling that they such as
| should have right to make, and it might have
been my duty to make, viewing the matter as do,
had no connexion with the telegraph. When did
a wise government in a state of war omit to secure
the means of increasing its power and economizing
It's expenditures, which this cheap instrument at
fordsi Neper.
Without the aid OF government, the lightning mes
senger shall ke heard in Washington doung down
his message as he passes, before the end of l64S
with it, you may hear him before the 4th of July,
lS47.
The neople IF the west are becominp JEALOUS in