Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-02

which has presented itself to telegraph
ers has resulted from ice and sleet, the
accumulations OF each often becoming
so great as to break down the wires. In
placing the wire beneath the streams
the difficulty has resulted from the i'm
possibility of obtaining a perfect insula'
ton. To find a substitute which would
remedy these defects or remove these
difficulties was a study for years with
telegIaphers, and the discovery and APP
plication of a protective covering for
submerged Geographic cables has en-
riched thousands, almost everybody
who ever engaged in its manufacture
save and except the discoverer or inven
tor, DIR. J. j. Craven. AT this time OF
great submerged cables brief account
of the firrt attempt to lay gutta percha
covered telegraph wire will be found OF
interest.
A COATING OF LEAD, GLASS AND AS
PHALTUBf.
Among the first coverings ever used
was one made of glass beads strung on
a copper wire and then enclosed in a
leaden pipe. The glass, being non-con-
Quoting, prevented metallic connec-
ton between the conductor and the
tubing. The pipe was then cooled IN
warm bath, the ends elevated and the
entire coil filed with hot asphaltum.
1t was expected that this would fill all
the interstices and prevent, not only
the metallic connection between the
conductor and the tubing, but the con-
tact of the wire with the water. An
other method of preparing submarine
wire was by coating of asphaltum and
hemp. These, however, failed.
FIRST USE OF GUTTA PERCHA.
Late in 1917, gutta percha was intro
duced into this country, and j. j. Cra-
ven, who was then engaged in the SUI
perintendence of telegraphs throughout
the country, obtained n sample of the
. first invoice sent to America. Among
its properties he imagined, and subse-
ouently satisfied himself, was that of
non-conducticity Of electricity. lie
found by experiment that it was in ev-
cry way we'll adapted TO the covering OF
the telegraph wires. At that period he
made the following experiment:
He covered rudely piece of wire oil
about fifty feet in length, which he car
ried to Bonds creek, a small stream be-
tween Newark, \. j., and Eliza
beth, n. J., and there, cutting one OF
the two wir s which connected Wash
ington, ID. O., with New York, placed
his hastily prepared cable in the circuit
and plunged it into the waters of the
creek. BY the aid of a relay magnet,
he was enabled TO see that the commu
nication between the two cities was nm
interrupted. after leaving II down fol
two hours, and testing the perfection OF
the insulation to his satisfaction, he re
ported Immediately to the President Of
the telegraph company, that he wa:
prepared to cover a wire that would
work uninterruptedly across the Hudson
river.
At that time the wires at the crossing
of the Passaic river We're connected q.
the draw by thumb screws, and during
the passage of vessels the business o
the line was interrupted. Communica
ton had been held previously 10y On'
of the before mentioned methOds-tha
of the covering OF asphaltum and leaC
pipe. Craven obtained the consent o
the company to place beneath the draw
q piece of wire that he had covered a
an experiment. This was done, and thu
line worked successfully for some time
This was the first cable put in practica
use.
CRAyEN's FIRST CABLE ACROSS THE HUD
son RIVER.
A gentleman named Reynolds, of thu
firm of Reynolds 4 Co., of Duane St., IL
this city, had put mp an expensive ma
chine for the purpose Of covering wire
with India rubber, and protecting then
FROM the weather and the effects of at
mospheric electricity, which, in the ear
" history of telegraphing, was a sub
ject of great annoyance. IL was founC
that this machinery was elegantly adap
ted for covering wires with the newl,
discovered material, and the New Yorl
and Washington Telegraph Co. directed
Reynolds TO prepare them, under tn
supervision of Craven, a cable of suffi
cient length to cross the Hudson
river. The cable was prepared witt
two distinct coatings of gutta percha
and Craven, with his huge coil place,
upon the deck of the little steamer Clip
sy, landing his shore end at the Cunar'
dock, Jersey City, distributed bis wiz
to the bottom of the Hudson, LANDING
the other end at Albany dock, foot o
OOIbldlUI lHc II
the Office at Hanover street watche,
anxiously when the connection shoul'
be made, and soon had the satisfaction
of testing Craven's cable and findin
Washington and New York go. K. "
This cable, however, was used but
few DAYS. A Bremen bark dropped he
anchor near the cable. and getting un
der way, produced that terrible solu
ton of continuity" AS soon as Cravel
found that his experiments at the cree
were successful, he prepared shor
piece of substantial cable, and, togethe
with specification and application TO
patent, forwarded TO the Commission
er of Patents at Washington, ID. O.
representing in his application that tn
insulation was complete and perfect
claiming himself the discOverer of tn
application of gutta percha as an insu
lation for submarine Geographic pur
poses, and declaring that he was thel
working successfully piece of SINH
larly prepared wire, beneath the bed o
a schooner. He furthermore declared
it to be his opinion that bays, seas anC
oceans would yet be crossed by the tel
eeraph, and that the continents woulC
be joined. His application for a pat
emit was refused, on the ground that j
had been stated in one of the English
journals, In giving description of Thu
new found material, that it was non