The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-27

i...- proposals 10 newspaper proprierors tor the
satisfactory execution Of this work OF publication,
and TO give It to the lowest bidder, provided an
adequate guaranty is given OF the ability OF the
contractor TO exc cute the work IN proper man.
ner This plan strikes me as eminently judcious.
Ia this way the great objects OF promptitude. ac-
eurscy, fidelity, and general publicity, o, the Goa
rIsssiopal debates would be obtained.
Aprtpos Of reportlng-l had the pleasure, the
other day, OF a long interview with Mr.. Alexan-
der Balm, the great telegraph inventor. Mr..
Balm 10 a native Of the North Of Scotland, and was
born about twelve miles from that famous SPOT
which is known as John O'Groat's House. He is a
well formed, ''stalworth chiel y with noble head,
a fine, dark, intellectual eve, and is about eight
and thirty years of age. He apprentIced 10
the ock-mak ing busine Sc, but at early age
discovered Iemai kable inventive faculties, and,
hike many Of his countymen, found his way TO
London, where, after some years OF patient perse-
yernnce he at last attained the first rank amongst
the philosophers and inventors OF the age One OF
Mr. Bans first inventions was that OF the "elec-
tric clock" by which the vibrations OF a pc ndu-
hm were made 10 let on currents OF electricity Ia
any number OF other clocks, at any distance, and
Of many places as might be required, so that by
this arrangement, a single clock, situated at the
observatory or Smithsonian institution here, would
cause every clock in the ,connexisn TO beat
clock i,self This invention was patent
ed, in lS4l, in Great Britain, having been
FIRST devised ard put into operation between the
wears 1887 and 1910. The value of this invention,
vious BY a more recent discovery, Mr.. BAN
causes the sun itself to set these electric clocks to
time. But il was 10 Mr. BAN wonderful
telegraphc instruments that ! wished to direct
your attention at this time. He has realized the
idea thrown out by you long slnce-the practical
bility OF reporting by the telegraph Stenographic
characters can be transmitted directly through Mr..
Bans telegraphlc lines, so that while Mr..
Webster or Mr.. Calhoun Is speaking here IN the
Senate Chamber, his tpsisstnd rerba may be flying
the wires TO the compOsItors OF the Herald
Office that before the speaker closes, the greater
portion OF his spec may De 10 type In the city OF
New York! This no idle dream. The rapidlty
OF transit by this instrument Is almost miraculous.
Twelve hundred letters have been communicated
by il in minute The whole New Testament,
from the first chapter of Matthew to the last
solemn words of the Book of the Apocalypse, may
be transmitted by this instrument, along the wires
from Halifax TO New York, IN ten hours! The
vast stimulus which this whole business of tele-
graphing Is yet to give 10 human genius, industry,
and ACTIVITY, can hardly be imagined Do we give
this subject anything like the attention which it
deserves
1t is quite certain that as yet, the magnetic tele-
graph IL but IN It's infancy. The line from Wash
ineton New York, for instance, Is susceptible Of
vast improvement. In general, the reporters en-
ployed 10 transmit intelligence are incompetent -
The rates must be reduced. Greater faciliues
must be afforded 10 the press and the public
Hence, we gladly 81 the healthiul spirit Of compe.
tition introduced. Thousands and thousands of
miles are now In process OF construction under
O'Reily, the great telegraph king" ON which
Bans instruments are TO be employed.
This subject might profitably occupy many CO.
lumns. But must pause. Some other time may
again advert TO the inventions OF this calm, tact
turn, reflective Alexander Balm, whose youthful
genius was nurtured amid the stern grandeurs of
that iron. bound Scottish coast, the Orkneys and
the Shetland Isles, where, of DID, the sea * lngs of
the frozen North maintained their empire, and
some of whose blood, for augnt know, may flow
In all sobnety the veins of our great inventor
So mr. schemes ,,1o
the busy plans and projects of party politicians,
who have their wires, too, TO manage, JOY ously
exclalm-
Tomorrow, to fresh fields and pastures green.r