The New York herald., 1869-03-05
The UNITED STATES COAST SURVEY.
Natural Science Obedient to Human WILL
Clock Ticks Passing Over 5000 Miles Of
L Telerrnnhic Wire.


Clock Ticks Passing Over 5000 Miles Of
Telesraphic Wire.
from the Buffalo Courier, March IL
As previously announced BY us, the United States
time past IN making astronomical observations by
the aid OF the teie9raph between the cities OF the
far West and Cambridge University. for the pur-
tween San Francisco and Boston the wires OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company have nightly been
OF the continent 10 the other, and the ticking
OF q chronometer in Cambridge University has
been observed and recorded In san Francisco with
o most remarkable degree OF accuracy. This is done
by connecting the pendulum OF tue chronometer at
Cambridge with the wire, In such manner that the
main circuit is broken and instantly closed again at
every beat or tick OF the timepece, andthe result Is
that each second OF time, as marked by the chro-
sy on the Atlantic coast and, with almost the speed
Of light ITSELF hurries the magic wire, pass
ing through intermediate cities, towns ana villages,
across rivers, over mountains and along the open
country until 1t finally reaches the recording insru-
nent on the Pacific coast, In all OF Its original iui
ness OF pulsat0n. Think or IL once ] The ticks OF
clock In Boston are heard and recorded In San Fran
cisco almost In the same instant that they reached
the ear Of the observer In the nrst named place !.
At any time during an evening OF the past month
visitor the operating rooms OF the Western Union
q ss s beating the s tune $
OF the sixtieth part OF minute, with the monotony
and regularity or chronometer ITSELF Tickl TicxI
T1cki One, two, three four, five minutes elapse
and then the little monitor ceases. Back comes the
answer from San Francisco TO Boston:-"All rIght
sored or vs 90 ahead ave-
morer' Again, tckl tcki tlck Tor i've minutes,
and then san Francisco says agaln:--"Au right;
rSm XSa sS u aSsaa Ans ncs is cn asEsE ,cs
says san Francisco for the allotted Ave minutes, and
Boston says, In his turn:-"All rightln
But Notwithstanding the speed with which these
pnlsatons or clock ny from one side OF our contt-
very slight loss, Of time In the transmission. How
to arrive at this loss and measure 1t Is the next
question. Nothing easier; second wire ID switched
INTO place, q repeater added ut Boston, and
prest0l tits Done. Now the ciock-tcks made at san
Francisco rush the wings OF light over the three
thousand miles OF wire to Boston, and back again 10
san Francisco over the second wire, and record
themselves ct the point OF starting. In something
less than sixty seconds OF time, having, In the IN
terval, trnversed SIX thousand miles Last night
witnessed the successful completion OF this last ex
pertinent, and the fight OF electricity was actually
measured, 70 to speak, as easily as one measures
yard Of muslin.
Never before in the worlds history has such \
wonderful feat been attempted and that this hes
been bronrht TO A successful conclusion Is due en-
trey 10 the beautiful working Of the Western Union
Company,s wires together with the asgiduous atten
ton and superior ability OF its employees Trace sne
routs IN the map and mark the immense distances
40 lightly rlded over by the subtle mud. The rCue
Il from BOSTON through Albany, BllGuio Detroit
Chioa0o omaha Cheyenne, SAT- Lake CStb and ~.
0infa Cifv TO San Francisco, and this route il o.
course doubled, forming for all practical purposes
hut single circuit The places In italics above in1l.
cate where repeategs are used to form tho douolc
ClIcuiW .sIt 49,