The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-01-07
COLUMBIA, S. c..
Thursi lay Morning. January 7. 1889


EARLY Struggles OF the Electric Telegraph.
The dinner to Professor Morse, in New
York, on the 30th ut., brought before the
public, in review, the story of the invention
and perfection of the electric telegraph,
with which we are familiar in its leading
incidents. The manner of the invention,
the Introductory matters, the struggles Of
the inventor, his slow progress in convinc-
ing the world of the merit of the plan, and
his final success, nave been make known
heretofore in various ways. Professor
Morse in his speech, referred to them, but
nothing suggested by him was as curious as
the statement Of the manner in which his
proposition to Congress for aid to establish
the electric telegraph was received by the
learned statesmen there assembled. Cave
Johnson, of Kentucky, afterwards Post
master-General distinguished himself by
efforts, in 1S43. to turn the matter into
ridicule. He moved that one-half of the
money Appropriated for Morse's experiment
should be given to a travelling lecturer upon
mesmcrisn, who happened to be in Wash
ington at that time. Another honorable
gentlemen, equally as funny, proposed that
''Millerism" should be favored with Il por-
ton OF the money. Cave johnson even
went so far in the intensity of his sarcasm
that ne reduced his amendment to writing.
that one-hnlf of the appropriation should
be expended for mesmerc experiments.
under the direction of the Secretary of the
Treasury. The Speaker of the House was
compelled to make decision whether such
amendment was in order. Notwithstand-
ing these attempts to kill the measure by
ridicule, the bill was eventually passed by n
vote OF 50 yeas to SO nays, showing how
strong was lncredulity among IL very large
proportion of the members. The telegraph
set mp under This appropriation between
Washington and Batimare soon showed the
great value of the invention. But even
then, although messages were received and
sent, and communication was instantaneous
the wise men of Washington fuiled to per
celve the real value of that means of com
munlcntion. Morse offered to sell ont the
invention to the Government for 500. 600
nut there was no eaSerness to accept On
tue contrary, III lS45, the matter was re.
ierred to TIC Postmaster. General who Mt
that time happened to be Cave Johnson.
''le mover OF the mesmeric amendment two
years before He had not yet been con.
Vinced, although the telegraph erected by
me congressional appropriation had been
r'"oe" "nutI his Oulclal control. MIR.
Johnson c"nld not forgive the telegraph for
proving that it was superior to his ridicule.
and possessed merit He, therefore. failed
~ make any report upon the subject.
Morse and his associates became tired of
waiting, and after due time took measures
TO establish the first electro magnetic com
pany for a line between Baltimore Phila.
delphia and New York, from which small
beginning the immense telegraphic interest
If the present day had its origin. Even
then tue Government was offered an ex
tended opportunity to obtain the control of
;he invention, bat Cave johnson, Postmas.
!er-Genernl was against it. He threw dis
credit upon it, and under that stimulus the
Government allowed the time to go by with
out avaiiing itself of the opportunity.
since thnt period the Government, whicl,
might have possessed this great advantage
for comparatively small sum, has spent
many hundred thousands Of dollars for tolls
alone. The story of Professor Morse is
one OF those interesting episodes in real
lie, which are more interesting than the
incst sllillful fiction
Inc NewbeIry Heraldannounces the death
OF Maj Henry Summer, one of Newborly's re-