Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-08-25
WEDNESDAY,. AUGUST Is, 1853.
From the washington upiou.l

The SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH PkOPHEClES.
We answer the New York Herald that the At
lantic telegraph" is undoubtedly "a fulflment of
prophecy" not Of what ~as seen dimy eighteen
hundred years ago on the island Of Patmos, but by
what was clearly fifteen years ago through the
lights Of SCIENCE recorded at that time by Profes.
sor Morse. Yes it is very clear that Professor
Morse prophet; and it is something that he is
living to realize the correctness of his differences
from this law" which are now completely fulfilled
amidst the reoicings Of the American people. Sure
ly Mr. Morse is prophet.
We publish the following letter written by Pro.
fessor Morse. just fifteen years ago yesterday, to
Hon. John G. Spencer then Secretary of the Treas
ury, the subject Of electro magnetic experiments
between this city and Baltimore and expressly pre-
dieting the laying of the submarine cable:
New YORK, August 10th 1s43.
SIR: take this opportunity of communicating to
the honorable Secretary of the result of the expert
ments made the 9Th inst, with the prepared wire
in One continuous line of 160 miles. Professors
Renwick Draper, Ellet, and Schaeffer, with my
sisants Professors Fisher and Gale esent by
invitation Professors Silliman, Henry Torrey, and
Dr. Chiffon were also invited, but prevented by
official duties from attending.
In the letter to the honorable Secretary dated
March 10th, lS43, in which | propose my general
plan, have this remark, speaking Of the wire after
its insulating preparation should be completed: !:
"Many interesting experiments bearing upon the
general result then be tried before the wire is
enclosed.
The experiments alluded to were tried on Tues
day, and with perfect success. I had prepared q
gavanic battery of 800 pairs in order to have ample
power at command, but, to my great qualification,
found that 100 pairs were sufficient to produce all
the effects desired through the whole distance of
160 miles.
1t may be wei! to observe that the l6o miles of
wire to be divided into four lengths of 40 miles
each, forming fourfold. cord from Washington to
Baltimore Two wires form circuit; the electrici-
y therefore, in producing its effects at Washington
from Baltimore, passes from Baltimore to Washing
ton and back again to Baltimore, of course travel
ing 80 miles to produce its result One hundred
and sixty miles, therefore, gives me an actual dis
tance of 80 miles, double the distance from Wash
ngton to Baltimore. The result, then, of my expe-
riments on Tuesday is that battery Of only 100
pairs at Washington will operate q telegraph my
plan 80 miles distant with certainty, and without
requiring any intermediate station!
Some careful experiments on the decomposng
power at the various distances were made from
which the law of propulsion has been deduced veri-
flying the results of Ohm and those which l made
in the summer of 1912. and alluded to in my letter
to The Hon. Q. G. Ferris and published in the House
report No. II Of the last Congress.
The practical inference from this Ldw tele
graphic communication on the electro magnetic plea
may oith certainty be established across the Allan
tic ocean! Starting this may SEEM I an
confident the time @iu come when this project wil
be realized.
The wire is now in its last process of preparation
for enclosing in the lead tube which will be com
meneed on Tuesday, the 10Th inst.
have the honor to be, sir, with sincere respect
your most ob't. scrv't,
SAMUEL F. B. MORSE.
Superintendent of Electro Magnetic Telegraphc
To the Hon. JOHN G. SPENCER,
Secretary of the. Treasury of the U. States