The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-29

morning, StnouSn tne wires were interrupted for u
short time in the night, near Pttsburg. in conse-
quence Of the limb Of . tree having fallen across
them An enterprising operator in the Pittsburg
ofhce, finding communication suspended, procured
horse, and rode along the line amidst the dark
ness and rain found the place and the cause OF me
break, which he repaired; then returned to the
office, and flashed sending the speech.
The Philadelphia Moth 1nnican and New
York 3fibw~e were beat, and failed to ges their
report, and the latter purchased copy nom the
The expenfe, in securing the speech by express
and telegraph, amounted to about 5000.
The telsgrsphs have derived very large !, share
of their revenue from the press. The whole ex-
pense for telegraph reports Of all kinds, have some
yeMs cost the New York Associated Press (six in
number) probably about 5000 each, or q total OF
$50, 900 per annum. The aggregate for the past
i've years probably has not averaged less than from
about 100000 to $4,000. During long sessions of
Congress it exceeded this amount.
In may be remarked in conclusion, that the New
YORK HERALD has paid oa more money for telegraph
nstrs than ANY OTHER PAPER IN THE WORLD.
In the first place it has, from time TO time ordered
long and expensive reports of meetings, speeches,
conventions, &c, in which its associates have only
partially participated or have, by declining to do
thrown the whole expense on the HERALD. Besides,
the HERALD is the only one of its associates which
publishes Sunday paper-hence it takes all the
telegraph news which is received on Saturday after.
noon and night, and pays the whole expense of the
tolls, which is often quite heavy.
TELEGRAPH MATTERS.
l. What is the greatest distance fr0la which cleo
trio messages are actually transmitted!
2. What are the tariffs Of transmission
g. What classes of dispatches are entitled to pre-
cedencel
dents apart) which are transmitted along q single
wire per nnutel If the different telegraphs differ
in their rate of transmission state it
8. AT what rate can dispatches which arrive in
telegraph CIPHER, such as Morses or Bains, be re.
duced TO ordinary writing
6. What quantity Of telsgraphic matter forms an
!. Give examples Of days on which you receive
extra quantities
8. To what extent do you receive Geographically
the debates of Congress
g. What convention exists between the New
York journals for telesraphic news!
10. To what extent is the telegraph used Tor COM
mercial correspondence This would be best Illus
trated by the expense incurred by two or three Of
the greatest commercial houses
IL. Is the telegraph extensively used for social
IL. State the cases in which there are competing
wires and illustrate the effects Of competition BY
examples
49, Are interruptions frequent arising from atmos-
pheric electricity
a. Or from other and what causes9
10. How many breaks are there in the communi-
cations between the most distant stations, etc.
10. Is it practicable for correspondents to keep
the subject of their dispatches concealed from the
or ever practically attained!
ANSWERS TO THE FOREGOING QUESTIONS, MADE BY
MR.. o'REILLY, TELEGRAPH LINZ OFFICE, $50
BROADWAY.
l. The actual distance from which messages have
been and now transmitted, on this line, is 100
miles, from New York to Louisville To do this,
it is found necessary to place two batteries in the
circuit, at distances OF four hundred miles apart,
for the purpose of renewing the electric current,
part of which escapes from defective insulation and
atmospheric cause. There is no doubt but that, in
q more advanced stage of telegraphing-which ma
be but short time hence-that New Orleans and
New York will be placed in instantaneous ,ommu-
nication with each other. To enable this to take
place. requires, in the first place. line substantially
built, and thoroughly insulated. IL may be re-
marked, that ii is but two years since, when to
telegraph three hundred miles, on single or un-
broken circuit was considered feat now, from i'm
provements made since then in telegraph, one
Thousand one hundred-easier than three hundred
at that time. In eur Cincinnati office, two years
ago, and up till very lately, they used separate
battery fer each line. From series Of experiments
made, one single battery, Of no greater strength
than those formerly used, now works eight distinct
and separate lines, with apparent diminution OF
strength, and at a great saving OF expense to the
Office
2. The tariffs depend, in great me ASSURE, on the
competition which the lines have to meet. From
New York TO Pittsburg the rate is sixty cents, for
ten words, distance four hundred miles; ten words
to Cir cipDati, distance seven hundred and eighty
tion existir among four Eve lines that connect
Cincinnati with New York, by adding the rates and
distances three four Of the lines il would give,
as an aversge:-That ten words Of message, (the
address and signature Of sender and recipient are
not counted photographic messages trans mitted,
in long distances Of over four hundred miles, at he
rate OF ten miles single cent? three hundred miles,
about six miles a single cent; two hundred miles,
about four miles single cent; and lesser distances
in proportion.
8. Glasses Of messages eatitled to precedence,
are government messages, and messages for the
fsrtherance Of justice, in detection Of criminals,
Sc; then death messages, which includes cases Of
sickness, when the presence OF party . requested
by the sick and dying. Important press news come
next If not Of extraordinary interest, IL takes its
turn with the mercantile messages.
4. Average number Of words may be stated o,
twenty to twenty thr co per minute-a higher rate
could be obtained-but as nearly all operators copJ
from their instrument, and reduce messages from
ordinary writing, the above 10 considered rapic
enough, as expert operator can indent his Morse
Characters on his register faster than most men car
write with pen or pencil. The Morse instrument
IL the fastest; Bains, little behind it; and House:
instrument not so fast as either.
D. The messages, as quick as they are written by
an operator at the extremity, are copied a. the
other extremity by the receiving operator on a
printed slip Of paper, prepared for that purpose
then passed from the operating to the receiving
room, enveloped and sent out for delivery. SO thai
delay need take place If each attends to theb
duty.
s.. That is a question that cannot well be an
yvered here as regards this line, as We are at th'
extreme point, and We are but Of the feeders Il
the line. New YORK, Philadelphia, and Baltimor,
messages for the West and South, all pass through
the Pittsburg Office. From the last report Of th'
line from Louisville to Pttsburg presented to share
holders by the superintendent, the following Stats
tics are stated;-lt may be mentioned that thi
teetion Is 40 miles long, distinc, property, bu
under ore management.
srAus1ics or TIH YEaR ls59--PIrrsBvEs ASp CiScIy
N.ri TEiEGsAFH Lf-E.
Number Of words transmitted. ............ 500 20
Number Of desratehes recorded ............ 364 IS
There are exclusive Of tree matter necessarily large
all times
Average hours Of labor, fourteen hours per day.
The record of Dispatches tor lsbO the paper Of tn
resstsiipg instrument covers length q l724h nile
CssH REcSiFrs, at rHE DrrrPENr Orrtcrs TsE Prr-
HURo, CIscrSNsri aSp LorsvtLr rEtrGsaPH CoMPas,
DUnfve ITAH 1880
L. uisvile ..... 81 eco Cs Columbus 50 1913
Msd,on ........ 2ls5 - GAINESVILLE. ! 62s Q
Lawrence burg.. 2p2 20 N Warrington. ~ 3
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