The New York herald., 1851-11-22

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Present state and Progr ess OF Telsxraphs
In the United states and Canada.
TIE length of telegraph lines built and in opera
sion in the United States and Canada is estimated
ut from II 600 TO 1900 miles. The most distant
points in communication are Halifax, N. s, and
u uebee with New Orleans, near 5000 miles inter
vening between them, following the circuitous
routes of the wires. The towns and villages which
are accommodated with telegraph stations amount
to between 45O and 500. AS there are two or three
Hnes, under different companies, between New York
and other priscipa cities, many of the to wns have
two or three separate telegraph offices.
The first line erected was in lS+i'45, bet ween
Washington and Baltimore. The mex. was from
New York to Philadelphis, which was opened early
in les6. This line was soon after extended from
Philadelphia TO Washington. The next lines of
Importance constructed we're those made by Henry
O'Relly, connecting Philadelphia with Pitts
burg and Cincinnati, and another connecting
New York with Boston, and another connect
ing New York with Buffalo New Orleans is
connected with New York by two lines. The
first passing South by the way Of Washington,
Richmond, Charleston, Savanna All, Augusta, Macon
and Columbus, Ga and Montgomery and Mobile,
10 New Orleans. The other passes via Pittsburg,
Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, and thence
through Mississippi, TO New Orleans. Each of
these routes intersect with other lines and give off
lateral branches to many places not on the main
routes. The distance traversed by either line from
New York TO New Orleans does not vary mu ,h from
Sbeut 2o00 miles. Messages passing from one o
these cities to the other have usually to be writ
Zen four or I've times at inter mediate stations;
tho ugh, by Al improved method Of magnetic con-
Dectiors, The sea board line has, in good weather
transmitted communications direct between New
York and Mobile, without intermediate re writing
distance Of near ,S00miles. By the Western or
Cincinnati route to New Orleans, steamers new:
handed in at A. NJ has reached New Orleans,
snd the effects produced on the market at that
point returned to New York by IL O'Clock A. NJ
Short messages forwarded from New FORK have
frequeatly beaten time in reaching St. Louis AMI
New Orleans
Cne important function Of the telegraph is no:
probably understood by many readers. The cur
rent Of electricity is made not only to carry mes
rage from one distant point to another, but, like
tRilful letter carrier, ii can be made simultaneous
ly to drop copies of the same at the intermediate
stations through which il passes. This is done by
putting the instruments at each station in the gene
raj circuit. To illustrate our meanng:-The Con-
gressioKal reports put in the Office at Washington
are usually received simultaneously in Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York; and all tia. is necss-
ssry, at the Intermediate stations is for an opera
sor or clerk to be present and receive the message
Es it IS developed on paper by the instruments.
Thus, also, the usual practice ia supplying the
press in Buffalo, about Eve hundred miles from
New York, and ct intermediate places, such as Al
eary, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Sc is to put
the Ike in continuous connection with the inter-
renirg instruments, forming parts Of the grand
circuit; hence, the same commercial and general
sews is read of simultaneously At every Office on
tie entire route. The news for the pre- in tha.
sreeticn is usually sent, within certain hours,
twice day, and charged for at so much per week
sor each paper on the line receiving it. The
messages taking precedence Of all others are
police and government. dispatches, messages an
Bouncing deaths, and important messages for the
sewspapers. With some Of the lines, messages or
dering for the press frsnked, and also bre
messages between the agents Of papers concerning
tie telegraph business of the press.
TIE usua! hours Of business extend from and
A. NJ. to 9 and 10 +. NJ, on week days ON sun
days, nost Of the lines open short time in the fore
noon, and gain in the afternoon and evening. on
CT two Of the lines in the habit Of closing altoge
ther On sundays, except during times of expected
important news, when they open, and keep open al
day, on Sunday, if necessary, to accommodate the
press. Although the nominal hour in the evening
for closing, with most Of them, is from to 10 Il.
NJ. yet it slnosi nightly happens, and especially
dsrirg the sitting Of Congress, that the operators
are kept on duty to much later hour, and, oeea-
sionslly, they are employed nearly all night. The
rule with the Washington and seaboard New OR.
leans line is to keep the Offices open at night until
all the messages in the Offices that day have been
transmitted. Hence, it occasionally happens that
VIXEN interruption has occurred, and messages have
accumulated, that the operators and clerks en-
ployed al night in bringing up The usual
plan in keeping accounts Of messages trans mitted
il by daily posting by telegraph between each Of
the offces. Thsis usually done the last thing a,
night before closing the frs; thing the follow
ing msrring. Each Office forms a check upon the
ether the ofiee receiving charges the forwarding
cfce with the number Of words transmitted The
great defect in the working Of the various lines
arises to great extent, from the fimsy and imper
feet manner in which the earlier lines we're con-
structed. The parties embsrking in their cons,ruc
ton were the middling smaller class Of capital
lists, Who were com PEELED TO build their lines cheap
so TO obtain the greatest length Of wires at the
least expense Hence the posts TO support the wires
through the couEtry were not much better than
bean poles, and the plan Of insulation fragile and
imperfect They soon found II necessary to rebuild
many Of their lines, and to adopt better plans Of
IrEsaton. In crossing streams, gutta percha being
discovered 10 be a non. conductor, wires ~ereeoa;ed
with 1t and submerged. By this means commun
eaton is regularly Kept up. Beneath the waters Of
tie Hudson river wires are aid on is bottom, a.
places at depth Of forty aity feet, which. m
less disturbed by the anchors Of vessels are foand
succeshui In preserving comm maacauon The Bain
ard House lines cross a. the Highlands By erect
ing mssis on either side. and ching steel wire
across the river sta sufficient height to let vessels