The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-01
TWO HOURS WITH THE FRENCH CABLE.
The American Association for the Advance
uent Of Science Visit Duxbury.
From the Boston Advertiser, August 3I.l

3l.1
A small party OF scientific gentlemen, members OF
the American Association for the Advancement OF
Science, which closed Its sessions at salem last
week. received aud accepted an invitation on Thurs
day, 26th instant to visit the cable Office in Dux-
bury. From Boston to Kingston station by rail
brought the party 10 the landing In an old but well
preserved capbOard manson OF that quaint old
town were found the headquarters OF this new and
welcomed by the manager. Mr.. Brown, and were at
once brought into the presence OF the hitting flame.
IKE image which indicated, in symbols on gradu.
ated screen the thoughts working that instant on
the other side OF the Atlantic. Interpreting the ntfu
tremor Of the image, or line Of light one inch in
length and one-eignth or an inch in breadth, the
youthful interpreter, who did not look the wizard
that ne was calmly read, for transcription by his
assistant message in which occurred at intervals
the words New Orleans,n "Citizens." &C., &C.
while inspecting the apparatus the members OF the
party received the following message fresh from
France, sent expressly to them
To DUxBURy, FROM BREsT-Tme, 5:20 p. MI
Paris time.
Of the great international boat that will be gratifying
both nations.
The usual rate OF transmission is about ten or
twelve words per minute. Looking for the mechan-
ism by which these wonderful results were obtained,
the inquring visitors observed their right placed
on marble pedestal, medium sized spool OF silk
covered copper WIRE said TO consist OF several thou
sand turns c0nvouti0ns in the centre OF which
spool suspended by single silk. worm FIBRE was mi
mute mirror attached to little magnet made from a
piece OF watch SPRING from lamp properly placed
mirror, and from the mirror was reflected two nun
bred times enlarged upon the graduated screen in
front OF the Interpreter the name-ke image already
mentioned In transmitting from Duxbury to Brest
the operator, with his right hand. makes use OF two
keys springs, one OF which being pressed causes
at Brest detection In similar mirror, sending the
image-nane TO the right while pressing the other
key defects the mirror at Brest in the opposite d.
rection, sending the image 70 the eft It's indica-
lions are thus interpreted-A jerk or ting once to
the right and the nonce to the left denotes Che letter
a; fitting once to the right and then three times
to the left denotes the letter b; and thus letter bv
letter the words are spelled.
Passing to an adjoining room the delicate Instru.
ments used for testing the electric CONJUNCTION OF
the cable are shown, among which are condensers
and batteries, rheostats and stunts, bridges
switches and plugs, and, browning ALL the wonder.
ful astatic galvanometer OF Sir William Hamilton
ohms and megohms farads and megafarads volts
and microvolts and all the Technology OF conduc-
ton resistance, eectrostatic capacity and continued
eectrlncation. IL may, however, CRAFTY them to
learn that the insulation OF the deep-sea cable be-
tween Brest and St. Pierre has more than doubled in
efficacy daring the short month which has elapsed
since this cable was rst committed to the embraces
OF old Ocean, as is evinced py the fact that soon
alter 1t was laid the insulation resistanceJ rose TO
creasng, until It is 5000 megohms per nautical
mile. This Improvement In the Insulation OF the
deep-sea cable Is believed to be mainly due to the
coldness or diminished temperature to which IL Ia
subjected at great depths. The insulation re-
sstance OF the portion OF the cable connecting Dux-
bury and 81. Pierre is much less-namey l500
megohms per nautical mile.
II one would inquire OF q cable electrician what
v megohm he might with property he told that