Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-07-28
THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.

this place, and thus communication by lightning
be formed between Southport and the Atlantic Dor
der and intermediate localities, the subject of this
article, being brought it were, to our own doors
becomes invested with more than ordinary interest
few thoughts, therefore in reference to what may
result from this most extraordinary in the list Of
modern inventions, may not be unacceptable OF I'M
interesting to our readers
Three grand inventions have marked three most
important eras in the progress of the human mind
namely .4LphaJefic flirting the .4t of Printing,
and the Magnetic Telegraph The first had the eff
feet TO give txedness and perpetuty TO the achieve
ments of the human intellect. The second to diff
fuse universally and to cheaper many hundred fold
the recorded knowledge of the human race And
the last is destined to give lightning rapidty to
the communication OF intelligence and interchange
of thought. With the exception Of these most in
yentions have had reerence to operating upon mat
ter, while these chiefly act upon mind. We are not
of the number of those who think, or are in very
likely way to think. that the most important bear
ings of the Magnetic Telegraph, or its chief utility
will be found in its influence upon pecunary and
business transactions. We readily admit however,
the full value and Importance of the invention in
this department And the greatest among its IA
vorabe influences here is the tendency 1t will have
10 equallze and give stability 10 the operations of
trade, by the communication. at nearly the same
moment of time of intelligence connected with the
condition OF business abroad and at home to every
L.,
srect to obtaining, from time to time, a knowledge
OF the condition of European markets. the people
of the most remote localities from the Atlantic Dor
der will have equal advantages very nearly
with the inhabitants Of the city of New York. OF
how much importance this may be to the people OF
this region, the price of Whoac staple coumoditc,
is greatly dependent upon the condition of affairs
abroad, in occurring them from the shaving opera
tons Of eastern spectators shall not stop to IN
quire 1t is evident that they will be enabled en-.
tnel, to avoid the disadvantages to which distance
from the great centres OF commerce has heretofore
subjected them Any important piece of intorna-
ton rclltng to commercial operations when re
cei' ed at the metropolis of trade puts business men
Immediately to shaping der plans and operations
in way to meet the emergencies OF trade thus
brought to their knowledge Business meuin Wis
cousin have occasion 10 shape then plans and buSi
ness operations according to the character Of the
information received, as much as those living upon
the scaboard; but they must wait, under existing
circumstances, for term OF several days, and
weeks in many cases before the information is OBJ
| +ltg l,Sip
opportunity which the occasion offers for cfIcctn%
highly important and advantageous business opera
! tons-and not only SO, but conducting their bust
ness very differently from what their true interests
require, and from what they would DO, were they
possessed of the desirable information The Mag
netc Telegraph in re 'ereacc to business matters
depending upon tie condition of fore On markets.
secures 10 the people o. this region advantages cqua!
to any they could possess if citizens Of sea port
towns. The remarks made above involve the idea
OF great economy of time; bHt one or two addi-
tonal remarks may give greater distncness to thi,
consideration. Without supposing any unusual oc-
cuncnccs in the world of trade it is of very grcl;
importance to be able to effect an economy of tine
On the superstition that western merchants transmit
orders to Eastern cities six times in year and as
often that receive proposals or olerures il re
gard TO the purchase OF western products the delay
occasiorcl by the transmission Of this intelligence
must amount to several weeks, and in a core7pon-
ding proportion lessen rctard the business OF the
year This delay viii cease to exist the moment
the opportunity for Te,cgraphjc communication IS
afforded The commercial portions Of the comma
nifty will regulate their affairs upon Rorm2tion
cciycl every day, ana not as heretofore and now,
upon information received at intervals of weeks or
months. The advantages of being able to do so,
are obvious, many, and important,
Another consideration Of greater interest to us,
perhaps than to most Of our readers. is that the
Magnetic Telegraph Will lessen, if not destroy,
the attracti,cness OF New York and other Atlantic
city papers, as nc,rS sheets and trans or much OF
that attract,eness to papers in all portions Of the
interior in the vicinity of Te'egraph;c stations.
Subscribers to local papers in the interior may read
the Information obtained by Telegraph, which these
papers will furnish, some five or Six days earlier
than hey would be able TO receive it by course Of
mail in Eastern publications. The desire to obtain
early intelligence, therefore, instead of inducing
them as it now does to a great extent to subscribe
for papers abroad, will lead them to subscribe more
generally COR papers published at home. In this, as
in every thing else, the anti-monopoIy and equai-
zing tendencies Of the ljgbtnng-spced Transmission
of intelligence are obvious.
Here another thought suggests itself: The pro-
pablo influence of the Magnetic Telegraph upon
the literary character of newspaper and periodical
press publications in the country. City papers
losing their character as new s-shcets Will be forced
into other channels to keep up the interest of their
publications and render them attractive TO distant
readers The higher kinds of literature, and the
arts and sciences will receive greater degree Of
attention than heretofore, aud a greater amount of
talent will necessarily be employed in the newspa
per department. Not only will this lie the case in
Atlantic cities, but throughout the country, to a
greater or less cxent--as the change in the charac
ter Of the city press will OF course not be without
its effect in elevating the character of the country
press Nor will the improvement be confined to
ore department. If LITERATURE in one department is .
advanced, it will be correspondingIy advanced in