New-York tribune., 1870-01-01
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE TELEGRAPH |


ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE TELEGRAPH
SYSTEM.
The following brief statement concerning the Com
mencement of Telegraph IntercommuncatiOn be-
tween the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi Valley,
was read by Judge DAILY to the Society over which
he presides
Hon. CHARLES p. DAILY. President Of he American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society," Ae1 York.
DEAR SIR; Connected with the Origin OF Electric In
tercourse Extended Lines and as this is the Ami
versary OF the Commencement OF Telegraphic Corre-
spondence between the Cities on the Atlantic Coast aud
those the Mississippi River readily comply with the
request Of your Society," by deposng in your valuable
Collection the Map OF the United States which used
when arranging early Telegraph Routes-showng the
extent OF our organized State and Territorial Govern
ments when was completed the First Telegraph Range
that connected the Atlantic Cities with the "Father Of
Waters-the earliest Public Improvement that united
the Mississippi River with the SeabOard.
The Pioneer Lightning Line between st. Louis and the
Atlantic Coast Gncludng the intermediate cities OF Har
rsburg, Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Columbus, Dayton Gin
cinnati Madison Louisville Yncennes &c was the first
division OF the range 5000 miles Of Telegraph which
projected constructed and organized for connecting the
different sections of the United States Hey then
,sdwhich was the earliest great range OF telegraph III
This Pioneer line was the first long telegraph used by
scientific men for geographical and astronomical pur-
poses-Prof Mitchell Of Cincinnati thus lnstantaneously
Communicating with the scientists on the seab0ard. Ana
over this line was transmitted the first Presdetal Mes
sage fPolks long Of ls47 which was published stimuli
taneousy the people OF the Atlantic Coast ana OF
the Mississippi Valley. ,,,
Lwll further comply with the request by furnishing
your library with copies OF some of the documents and
correspondence concerning the origin and progress TOR
"the Geography and Statistics OF early teegraphlng IN
Misunderstanding nQurers for particulars 10 the col
lection OF 100 volumes OF teegaphic documents anu cor
respondence presented to the NewIork Historical So
cety In connection with the telegraph lines organized
and with telegraphng generally. ~, ,
The progress OF finteTcommunlcaon among clFllzeu
neon and nations well IN the United STATES can
NOT be more yydly realized than by considering the
development OF railways and telegraphs during the
short period since kilograms first flashed between ST.
Louis and the Atlantic citesthe longest electric line
then In existence At that time December, le) there
were no locomotives west OF Chambersburg ln Penn
sylyania-not q rail the great route between
the Aleganies and the Pacific Ocean. Between
the then railroad terminus and the Mississippi tne COM
mon roads In Winter and Spring were mostly IN such
wreched condition that the malls, then always irregular
were frequently Il IS days in transmsslOna state OF
things which rendered teegraphie intercourse valuable
an extent that cannot be realized IN these days Wheh
steam and lightning wonderfully dinused thst our
newspapers supply intelligence only few hours Old from
nearly all parts OF the civilized world
Now. mark the contrast ~ -, -
When the first kilograms we're exchanged between tpe
sslssppl and the Atlantic the newspapers OF the Aah-
nc cities often less than II or 10 days Od DeIOfe
reaching the now great city OF the Mississippi valley
having required Onehalf more time for thelr Journey
than was even then required for steam voyages 10 '
rome and double the required now for transmitting
railroad mails across the contnen-Detween the Ata
tic and Pacific Oceansfacts that may not Do deemed
nnterestng as illustrations OF the revolution effected
by locomotive and lightning In tho intereOmmuhlca0h
among mankind OF all civilized nations, as well as III the
Tinted states OF America. Respectfully yours,
k6tr. York, Dec. ., 1862 HENRY OhlELLt'