The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-09


o'clock, and finished st is minutes past o'clock
The Magnetic Telegraph--The Rival Claim
interchangeable News.
The great telegraphic dispute which broke out
about year ago, wakes warmer and warmer
every day, and according TO all appearances, all
adjustment is as far off as ever. This dispute
originated in the West, but II has been changed
70 the East, and in full blast IN the city OF
New York; as will be seen by several communlca-
tons on the subject, from both sides, published IN
this days Herald. II has become more spirited
zoo than was, for the friends of the beligerents
write with more animation, and go more deeply
INTO the subject, than they have previously done
The reason for changing the theatre of contro-
versy, from the West and Southwest, to the East,
can, we apprehend, be found in the visit of Mr..
O'Reilly 10 this city, with the OF construct
ing line OF telegraph between here and Bos-
ton, In opposition to the present line, which, from
various causes, has become unpopular with the
community. That gentleman has extended his
wires over the whole West and Southwest, dis
lance of nearly, If not quite. four thousand mlias
An those directions, and thus brought the remotest
points OF the country within speaking distance OF
each other Having accompli shed this, he seeks
another field for the display o. his enterprise, and
having determined that there opening
here, he has arrived for the purpose OF competing
with the old l'ne TO Boston. No sooner was his
object known, than the whole subject of telegraph
ing by electricity, the rights OF paentees, and the
various modes OF operating, are again brought
before the public, and our paper having been Sc
lected by the rival parties for the exposition of
their respective views, publish both sides of
the story, and shall leave the public TO form their
own opinions on the merits of the matter al Issue
between them.
The progress OF the magnetic telegraph IN this
country has been truly astonishing. Il only
the other day that the posts were erected between
Washington and Baltimore, and between this
city and Philadelphia, and now we receive
communications from New Orleans, by two
lines, from 81. Louis and other distant places,
and publish them daily in our Journal In
telligence of an accident, steambo n en-
ploslon, an election, or any other occurrence
of moment. in the most distant parts OF the
country, reaches US within hour after it takes
place. and is known in New York as soon and
sometimes sooner than il is 10 the people in Its
Immediate locality. We have no doubt that, be-
fore long, all the principal ewspapers the large
cities throughout the country, will be entirely
made up OF intelligence received over the tele-
graph wires, with the exception of edi toral
remarks city news, and advertisements. In
deed. we have even received advertisements
by telegraph. Correspondents Will send their
communications by electricity instead OF by
mail and merchants, and the public gene
rally. will do the same. The effect of all
this competition in the establishment of rival
lines, between different points, will be to reduce
III. oh louy IN ms k, an object IN do
So When that time shall have come, Mr. Cave
Johnson's occupation will be gone, TO a very great
extent and the Post Office department will dwin-
die down to a mere agency for conveying news
papers TO subscribers.
There are some curious facts connected with
this subject, which will interest our readers. The
difference in time, between this city and New
Orleans, il about an hour and half. As agoneral
rr,e the hour for closing the business OF the day
ten o'clock, p NJ I; but, while it Is ten o'clock in
one place, will be either later earlier than in
other, according to distance and position. The
other day, gentleman in this city beng
desirous of sending a message to Boston, and
knowing that the Offices closed al ten, thought
he would have abundance OF time II he handed il
to the operators al quarter before that hour.
He was told that he was Just IN tne the office
IN Boston closes in one minute. He looked at
hls watch, pointed to the hour, and asked the
operator what he meant by saying the office in
Boston would close in minute, when the hour
fixed was ten. The difference OF time between
the two points was explained to hun, and, of
course, the mystery was solved
The magnetic telegraph is silently, but surely,
creating revolution that viii exercise an impor-
tant influence on mankind, in every part OF the
world. In the various controversies between
rival inventors or propretors, in this country, we
know nothing OF the merits but the more compe-
tiuon there lie, the better 1t will be for the COM
munity and the country But to Morse belongs
The high credit OF bringing electricity into prsct-
cal use Whatever be the result OF the patent
suits, no one can rob HIM Of that
m d.. ~ a..A