Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-12-24

The importance Of the telegraph In
connection with railways was recognized
many years ago; but the first practicaIap.
plication Of telegraph signals in moving
trains was made on ihe Erie-line in 4s5,. =
Previous to that time, locomotive engi.
neers and conductors were dlstr1stfil, and
there are several instances on record of
their positive refusal to obey teiegraphic
orders, especially when their trains were
directed to proceed beyond stations TO
meet and pass trains going in opposite di-
rections, except in cases where such orders
were plainly expressed in printed orders
upon their regular timetables. In 1850,
however, when the Erie road had but a
single track between Piermont and Elmira,
II was plainly demonstrated TO the super
intendent (the late Charles Minot) that
the telegraph would be.a great assistance
to the road, and 1t became-plairly evident
that the telegraphic service must eventu-
allv be adopted upon all main trunk lines
When the first telegraphic message was
sent over the Erie wires train filled with
western bound passengers was lying at
Turner's Station, awaiting the arrival of
an eastern-bound traiS, which, by the
timetable, should meet and pass at that
point; but owing to an accident two hun
dred miles west, II could not possibly ar
| rive until five or six hours later. Mr.
| MinOt was u passenger upon the train
| lying at Turner's. He Immediately de-
cided to test the accuracy of the telegraph,
and make beginning of the plan of or
| dering trains to proceed to points
further in advance ard not further
delay the stationary train when the track
was known TO be clear as far as Port
Jervis, distace of one hundred and fifty
miles further west. Orders were accord
ingly sent over the wire TO the station
| agent at Port Jervis to hold all easterly-
bound trains until the arrival of the west
ern train. This order was given in order
to make all safe, and prevent q collision in
case the former should arrive at Port Jer-
Wis before the latter An answer was i'm
mediately given by the station agent, an
nouncing that he fully understood the or
der and would do as directed. All ap-
peared safe, and the engineer was ordered
to start west; but, to the astonishment of
Mr.. Minot he positively refused to move
the train from turner's upon any such ar.
rangcment. Mr.. Minot Immediately
mounted the locomotive, pulled out the
throttle valve and ran the train himself
assisted by the fireman, and reached Port
Jervis according to programme.
The ice was broken, and since that time
the telegraph has been acknowledged as a
positive necessity on all long railroad lines
in this country. The form of giving the
necessary directions, however, has been
somewhat changed and now the conduct
ors and engineers of each train who re-
ceived telegraphic directions are tele-
, graphed the name of the particular point
mt which they are to meet, and answers
are required from them to ascertain
whether they understand orders before
any movement is made.
The following is the form Of message re-
quired to be sent and received:
BY telegraph from - station 10 con-
ductor and engineer You will run to
--- station regardless of train number
-. 81.
The numeral abbreviation means " How
do you understands"
: The answer to this dispatch must read
: as follows:
, 30. Il understand l am toy run tC
4 - station regardless of train mum