Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-04


fore the close of the year part of the appar-
atns was constructed, but it was not until
1880 that he was able to make his tele-
graph actually operate thrcagh half mile
OF wire in his room.
But the invention of his machine was
not all that Morse had to do. Like other
great inventors he found the public slow
TO believe in what he had done. 1t requir-
ed other powers than those that had been
called into action to give practical effect
to the work already accomplished. In
This he displayed qualities that entitle him
to great credit, the stuff which conquers
success, without which his invention
would have been useless. In 1887 he at
tempted to obtain an appropriation from
Congress for the construction of a tele-
graph line from Washington to Baltimore.
The Hon. +. o. j. Smith of Maine, who
was then at the head of the House Com
mittee on Commerce, gave him partial
hearing and favorable report, but nothing
was done for him by the House. Then he
went to England and France and sought
assistance without avail After four years
more spent in effort he went to Washing
ton again, in 1S43, where on the last night
of the session of Congress, bill was
passed appropriating $4,000 to make his
experiment How his scheme was looked
Nv 81 nd
opposition it encountered from them may
be seen by the following narrative which
may be found in the abridged debates by
Senator Benton:
On motion of Mr.. Kennedy of Maryland,
the Committee took up the bill to authorize
series of experiments to be made in order to
test the merits of Morse's Electromagnetic
Telegraph. The bill appropriates $4,000 to
| be expended under the direction Of the Post
masterGeneral.
| Mr.. Cave johnson wished to have word
to say upon this bill. AS the present Con-
gress had done much to encourage science,
he did not wish to see the science of Mesme-
rism neglected and overlooked. He there
fore proposed that one-half the appropriation
be given to Mr.. Fisk "a gentleman at that
time lecturing in Washington on Mesmerism)
to enable him to carry on experiments as well
as Prof. Morse.
Mr.. Houston thought that Millerism should
also be included in the benefits of the appro-
lpriation.
Mr.. Stanley said he should have no objec-
ton to the appropriation for mesmeric expert
4 ments, provided the gentleman from Ten
nessee (Mr. Johnson) was the subject. "a
laugh.)
| y,l., -: l.
objections, provided the gentleman from Ten
nessee Mr.. Johnson) was the operator.
/ (Great laughter.
Several gentlemen called for the reading OF
the amendment, and it was read by the Clerk
as follows:
Crowded, That one-half of the said sur
shall be appropriated for trying mesmeric ex
periments. under the direction of the Secre
tary of the Treasury"
Mr.. Mason (OhiO) rose to question OF
: order. He maintained that the amendment
was not bona fide, and that such amendments
) were calculated to injure the character of the
House. He appealed to the Chair to rule tn,
amendment out Of order.
The Chairman said it was not for him t,
y judge of the motives of members in offering
amendments, and he could not, therefore
undertake to pronounce the amendment not
bona-fide. Objections might be raised to j
[ on the ground that it was not sufficiently an
alagOus to the bill under consideration; Blu
in the opinion of the Chair, it would require
, a scientific analysis to determine how far the
[ magnetism of mesmerism was analogous tC
that to be employed in the telegraphs Caugh-
ter) he therefore ruled the amendment in
order. On taking the vote the amendment
was rejected. Yeas %; Nays not counted.
The bill was then laid aside to be reported.
This debate was February 2lst, 1913 in
March following the appropriation was
voted. The first attempt at stretching the
wire was to enclose it in the ground in
lead pipes, but this proved impracticable
and was abandoned. Then the plan of
elevating it upon poles was tli6H nth
what grand result We all know. Fhe hrst
message was sent May eth, 1874.
Morse's trials were not yet all over, but he
triumphed at last, rising, superior to. all
obstacles, adding to his display iof genius
an example of heroic endcavaT N1}rtthK of
fame.
The foregoing article shows that the
proceedings of Congress in relation to the
telegraph and Morse were similar to the
reception Stephenson and his great pro-
iects received in Parliament Even Lord
Derby threw himself. with ridicule aud in
vective against the uncttered Newcastle
collier. But these men had faith in them
selves and their projects which no oppo-
sition could shake, and so they stood and
struggled until victory came. To them
must we accord a foremost place among
those who have added to the power and
advantage of the human family, by dis
covery or invention. The invention of
printing is, without doubt, the most i'm
portant Of all inventions. Still the tele-
graph is so linked with the mysteries of
the unseen powers that move the universe,
as it springs from continent to continent,
through the air above or upon the oceans
bed, that it seems under supernatural con-
troll and its invention the work of deity.
rather than of man.