The New York herald., 1870-08-31
SPEED In TELEGRAPHING.
Old and New systems-M6orse vs..
xittle-orton VS.. Craig.
mR. 0RTOx,s PR0NUXCIAMENT0.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

WESTERN UNION TsLEGRAPH COMPANY
lAo bhoADwAY, NEW YORK, August ~, 1870. }
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
More than year ago the air in telegraphlc circles
suddenly became tremulous with whispered rumors
OF "a great discovery" the results Of which were
destined to starte the world by an advance, at'a
single leap as far beyond the achievements OF Morse
as were the latter over the postboy and stage
coach. AS the subject OF these threatening hints
ana omnous insinuatic Ms Degan to emerge from the
realms OF the illimtable and to assume the falnest
outline OF prospective tangibty, 1t was discovered
that this latest addition to the family OF the wonder
ful was an ancient member rejuvenated-well
known twenty years ago-as 'The Automatic Tee-
graph" Only this and nothing g-more.
1t is now considerably mere than half year since
Mr.. d. II. Craig commenced the publication Of that
apparently infinite series OF sOnOrous prophecies
concerning the capacity OF this venerable novelty.
the latest chapter Of which appears In the HERALD
OF August 20. 1t Is not my purpose even TO attempt
to catalogue the marvels which ne has recorded as
achieved. The object Of this letter win be accom-
plished by referring briefly to very few OF them.
telegraph line with one wire has been constructed
between New York and Washington for the express
purpose OF demonstrating the voracious capacity
OF the long ago exploded idea. or this line Mr..
Craig says that 1t Is m0re than 200 per cent supe-
ri0r to any one OF the lines Of the western Union
Company" also, that ne 'can transmit over single
wire, from Washington to New York, twenty-iour
thousand words per hour, which is equal to the
rage working OF more tnan thirty wires by the
Morse system Of telegraphy." But as ir these mira
cles were not enough to 0verwhelm with shame and
modification the 'slow coaches" OF the Western
Union, who are compelled to employ the most skill
1u operators and the best Geographic talent IN the
country. and in fact, In the world he merciessly
adds:-"But the most important feature OF our new
system OF teIegraphy IL its extreme simplicity and
unerrng accuracy. boy or girl Of fifteen years OF
age can master the machinery and the whole system
Now, Mr.. Editor, the public are deeply interested
IN knowing whether these declarations are plain
truths or whether they are merely the gorgeous BIOS
somings OF q new speculation, whose golden fruit
only TO be plucked by It's promoters" while the
fortunate stockholders sOlace themselves with the
renection that they are not the nrst who have gone
wOolng and come back shOrn.n Existing tele-
know whether to go on putting up additional wires,
In view OF the danger that they may all be sur
passed by this teiegraphc Paganni which Is 10 ac-
compilsh ali the possibilities Of the electrical gamut
On one string. t
The truth can be ascertained positively in a very
simple MANNER and submit whether the newspa-
per department Of the demonstration has not been
carried lar enough, and whether II Is not time to
stop balooning and come down to business.
The junction OF the telegraph, as understand It,
Is to convey message from the sender the party
addressed In the shortest possible time. Ii cannot
concern the HERALD TO know that the electrical slg-
mails representing special OF $4,000 words, which
ATS washington correspondent wishes to forward at
midnight could be transmitted to New York In an
hour, aftcr N boy or girl Of fifteen years OF age'
had spent 1orty-eight hours IN punching transia-
tion INTO the Morse characters through strip OF
paper 1000 feet long, and which would take iOrty-
eight "cnildren OF larger growth" another hour In
unravelling and and copying from laDyriuth OF
paper OF eIual length at this end. What you re-
qure Is the delivery Of the special at your ONCE
before the HERALD goes 70 press, and claim that
tins can be done more certainly and at less expense
by the Morse system Or by the Phelps printing tele
graph, than by any other.
To demonstrate my confidence az to the correct
ness OF this opinion and also TO give Mr. Craig an
opportunity to prove my ignorance anu his superior
knowledge oner the following
CHALLENGE.
The HERALD, World and tribune shall be- or shall
appoint, committee OF three, to arrange super
intend trial between the one.wire line and .ast,
Union Company from Washington to New York,
each party to deposit with the committee 600 70
cause tO be delivered despatch in duplicate TO Mr.
Crafg's line and the Western Union at Washington
simultaneously. neither OF the lines to have
the despatch, which may be IN writing or printed.
and must contain not less than 600 nor more than
wire and employ but two Operators-one at eacn
end, who shall not be changed or relieved during
the trial. Mr. Craig shall be allowed six operators
three ut Washington to prepare and transmit, ana
three at New York to receive, translate and COPY the
despatch; and whichever party transmits, makes
Onices OF the HERALD, World and Tribune respec.
lively shall receive the $4,000. II awarded to the
Western Union line, one-haf will be contributed 70
the fund for the Morse Statue In Central PARK and
the other half to the Telegraphers Life Insurance
Fund.
As further guaranty OF good faith on both sides
each party shall be permitted to have representa-
tive In both the New York and washington Ofrces
0I the other party during the transmission and re-
ception Of the despatch. Mr. Craigs line having but
one wre In the event OF break he would be unable
to complete the test. To meet such contingency
the Western Union Will place at his DISPOSAL two
extra wires 80 arranged that one of them may be
substituted for his own IN few seconds.
This proposition, Mr.. Editor, places one Western
Union wire aud two operators against Mr.. Cralg's
200 per cent SUPERIOR wire and operators for
test which must, assume, occupy at least an hour
Until he accepts or Declines II Is idle waste words
IN discussion And II he declines, as fear he WILL
the public Will not be likely TO err In judgment CON
cerning the merits OF an alleged Invention whose
Oniy achievement thus far CONSISTS In having Ou,-
trumpeted all competitors.
This Orier will remain open for acceptance ten
days. the trial TO be made within thirty days there
after. WILLIAM MORTON
MI. CRAiG'S PRONUNCIAMEN