The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-29
fHE TELEGRAPH In THE UNfED STATES.
The Magnetic or MOrse's, ElstlfO-Chsmieal or
Bans, and Printing or Houses Lines.


Sc, DC, Sc.
n. 6e.,snt telegraph lines in the United States
Nv beep constructed and worked under three diff
S,srt nsteutss first, Morse's; "a, Houses; and,
a. Rains We believe that Professor Morse, by
pssDg of interests in his patent to other parties,
hAs retained only about onefourth Of it in his own
Yighs, the other three fourhs being represented by
three other parties, some Of whom probably have
psld part interests to others
The plan under which nearly all the Morse lines
have been constructed, have been to have half Of
the capital stock required to build line assigned
20 the owners Of the patent for the privilege of
usipQ Morse in,trume nts thus; il line cost two
Hundred dollars per mile to build 1t, 1t is estim ated
ut four hundred dollars, and stock for two hundred
dollars per mile is issued to the patentees, and divi
bends assessed on the whole amount, of which the
patensees receive half, and of this half MIR. Morse
receives oasosrth an eighth Of the net receipts.
The principal parties In Morses patent are:.Dr
Gale, Examiner in the Patent Office; Mr.. Vail, OF
New Jersey Amos Kendall, who is acting agent
and attorney for Morse and F. o. j. Smith, of
Nsins--the latter Of whom constructed and now
swns the principal stock in the Morse line ex-
tending from New York to Boston; and, we believe,
also the Morse line thence to Portland, Maine,
exclusively. The management Of these two lines,
by Mr. Smith, was such as to give great dissatls
faction to the press and to The public, and also TO the
ether Joint proprietors Of the Morse patent, In
Guiding Professor Morse himself
Second-A line was erected from New York to
Philadelphia; another from New York to Boston !;
and q third from New York to Bufalo-te be work
ed by Houses printing telegraph. Recently, MIR.
House disposed of his whole patent to company,
nader whose grant two, not all the lines named
Third-The lines built un Ter Bain's patent, be-
tween the principal cities, added one third to the
capital stock which was conveyed to him for the
use of his patent that is, if line cost two hundred
dollars per mile, one hundred dollars was issued to
Ia MT for stock Other linAs bAfWaen nacas
Of less importance, were farmed out at reduced
rates. In some cases, We understand-short lines,
between man paces-the use of the patent was
granted for as small a sum as ten dollars per mile.
The Balm lines extend, on the east, from New
York to Portland, west to Buffalo, and south to
Washington, under the management Of three Sc
pArate companies. Besides these three patents, we
have heard of other projected improvements, which,
however, have not, so far, appeared IN regular
working form.
+. o. J. Smith and others sued the proprietors
Of the House line, extending from New York to
Bostsn, for an Infringement of Morses patent.
The case was, in the spring Of 1880 argued before
Judge Woodbury., Of the United States District
Court, who decided that it vas no Infringement Of
nOrse's patent; Judge Kane's recent singular
decision in Philadelphia has, in several important
points, been contrary to that Of Judge Woodbury..
We have previously stated that the aggregate
length of telegraphs in the United States and
Canada was about l20CO to lo,OOO miles 10
arrive at an approximation Of the amount invested
IN them, let us assume the lower estimate. Ex-
elusive Of stock issued to patentees, the average
cost of all the lines including instruments may be
eet down at about sl75 to 5000 per mile. Twelve
thousand miles, at $500 per mile, makes an aggre-
gate Of az 400, eco. If We add one-third more for
the use Of patents, We shall have representative
capital of 200 900 for the entire cost of the pre-
sent telegraph lines on this continent.
The amount of dividends de,ared by the different
lines has varied very much. On some they have
been very large while others, where repairs have
been heavy, they have been small. The heaviest
have been made on the Morse New York and
Buffalo, and on the O'Reilly line from Philadel
yhia to Pittsburg and Cincinnati. The heaviest
have reached frem Ii to % per cent per annum,
while some have been as low US per cent per
annum.
The Washington lines have done we'll, aud the
earnings of the Morse line, from New York 10
Washington, have been large; but much of its earn
irgs the past year was spent IN rebuilding TIE line
and keeping up communication across the Hudson
river The Washington and New Orleans Morse
lire has always done a good business when ct work;
but il has been very liable to interruption from the
falling of in the Southern pine forest through
which it passes, ard from the frequency Of thunder
storms.
70 is believed that interruption from thunder
storms can be prevented by extending wire on top
Of the poles the whole length Of the line, with
ground connections, at suitable intervals, which
would convey the atmospheric electricity TO the
earth, ard leave the other wires beneath II free
from interruption. All the companies between the
principal places have two wires on the same poles,
Each company employs men, at suitable distances,
20 lock after the condition Of the wires. In
the thiekly populated country Of the north, these
guardsmen are placed at long intervals; 1t may be
Of forty, fifty, one hundred miles apart. On lines
PASSING through the dense southern forest, it has
been found necessary to employ them at intervals OF
about every twenty miles, and to make II their duty
10 traverse and examine the lines frequently, and
especially during or after storms. The expense OF
guarding and repairing lines varies materially &C
cording 10 circumstances and differs with each line
The local expenses at the stations, or onces,
also vary.
A large expense arises from the use Of acids, and
the decomposition Of metallic zinc, in the batteries.
From SEINE data gathered from inquiries made IN
the proper quarter, il lie estimated that the zinc
cups employed in the batteries average about TWEEN
fy.fve 70 thirty for every one hundred miles OF
telegraph wires throughout the United States. On
routes where there are two or three separate tee-
graph lines, under different patents the number Of
zinc cups required viii be double and treble the
quantity named; but on some single routes, with
gmall stations, the quantity is, OF course, much
less. But, for the sake OF calculation, We will as
sumo that the average Is thirty TO the hundred
miles. Nov, assuming the entire length OF lines 70
be II eco miles to work them will require $50 900
zinc cups, which weigh two pounds each, making
n total Of 720OO0 pounds or $50 tons Of metallic
zinc. These zinc cups undergo total decomposi-
ton, ard have TO be entirely replaced with new
cups every six months; hence FOR the year. the
consumption Of metallic zinc will be 40 tons,
which, at eight cents per pound, or eighty dollars
Per ton will cost $50 go.
The next heaviest expense connected with the
working Of the batteries arises from the consump-
tion Of nitric acid This is poured into porcelain
cups, In which IL placed slips Of patina fol- and the
whole placed in Einc cups open a. bottsm and on one
side The zirc, With It's enclosure, is set in Lass
cups about the sire Of large tu nbers. Altogether,
they form the regular cups OF battery; the platina
foil at end Of range Of them forming the posi-
tive, and the zinc AZ the other the negative pole
The nitric acid is poured into the interior porcelain
cup and sulphuric acid, in the proportion Of part
of acid 10 II or 10 pounds Of water is poured into
the glass cup, and made to surround the zinc shell
or cup Thus prepared, it forms the constant bat
terry Of Mr. Groves, Of London, and without which
The nitric acid Of best quality, costs about III centE
per ID. II takes about ID. 10 every eight porce.
lain cups, or about l2i pounds TO every 100 cups
Now, as we have shown that IL Is estimated thai
600 zinc cups are required, hence to work them
they require an equal number Of porcelain cups
Tins " gil thar, for onaratfon. will require