New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-23
AUTOMATIC TEL tRAPHY.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE sYsrEM-PROsPECT OF A
SUBSTANTIAL LOWERING OF TELEGRAPH TOLLS.
70 the EdttOr Of me Tribune.
SIR: One of your reporters gave a long and
IN tue man. very correct description OF the automatic
systcm of O. e-raphy IN THE TRIBUNE OF Tuesday but
IN some particulars he gave currency 20 msaprehen-
sious which wish correct aud 20 add a few addi-
tioua facts which are necessary tu understanding
OF the question under consideration
TIE American system OF automatic tcleCraphy was
brought the notice Of the puoc II 1869 20 by myself
and the practical success OF the system fully de-
non.trated by me over line specially constructed forthe
purpose between N-w-York aud W.,h.ngton-the same
as now used by t.e Automatic CJmpa8y-And opened IL
August. 1870
From August 1870 TN the close Of the year, the
automatic system worked al pleasure from 500 to
over 900 words per minute, with uuerrng accuracy
During the whole Fail OF 1870, Mr.. Thomas A. Edison
and ar. George Harrington daily visitors at my
Office aud witnessed rapid ald perfect telegrapAlng-
more rapid and perfect than has been done over
the automatic during the past three years-and al
that time. QS70 neither Sir. Harrington nor Mr. Eison
had ever before conceived of automatic fast
teecriphy In 1871 the automatic system, fully developed
IN all los essential parts, passed under the coaro Of
Harrington President OF the Automatic Company.
pledge Of his ability 70 raise al needul capital
o. build competing lines throughout the country.
rSr craig here makes number OF charges against Mr.
Harrington, the former Assistant = rotary Of the
Treasury aud against the present management OF the
Automatic Telegraph Company, in support of which he
adduces The charges are not essential 10 the
statement Of the case
Tac relay Magnet" which your reporter was made
a. believe the GROWING invention OF Mr. Edison,
latter l25 consecutive nights o. experiments in 1879
was ID from the FIRST moment the line was opened
In August 1870 and the relay magnets were continued
on the line from that TIL il passed over 20 Mr.
Harrington's Automatic Company IN 1871. aud Mr..
Mr. Etrr
after they had seen 10 ia daly ana successful u.s. Tor
several months 10y other persons. The circuit waS
worked three years ago before Edison had ANYTHING TO
do With tie automatic sys.cul, al a very lI-A Fate
OF speed, ana eau and VII he again when
the management passes into other hands Ine0e
u passing through the patent Oh,ls OF tAl-
and al European cOnuiue, an entirely ne" system oi
fast teegraphv, whcn Bas been sui ienur tested IN
my presence. authorze me 10 say tuat IL "l wo.A
aud record 10 circuits OF more tAan 300 lules a. F"lS
and surely the system now IN use by the Adto-
matte Company viii work IN csrcut Of 5OJ mics ~
St. adaptabillty the working OF long cable lines
which Is owners are prepared 70 suArantee at Aish
hundred o. i've hundred Uris Per minute
plainly recorded IN circuits OF $50 miles.
observe tnat your reporter quotes Ar. %eoige %,
Prescott ne electrician OF the western mon Telegraph
Company 70 utility and value OF fast eesraphy
That gentleman and lis chief, Mr. OrtOn. published Ia
slble for ue 70 telegraph over ahOut sixty words per
minute, circuits OF 80 miles, while found 10 am
culty whatever IL teicEIapAlIs yer Que uousau sOl,
minute IN much longer. circuits ana az tue present
time, with improved machinery, can telegraph even
three thousand words per minute With perfect ease
Teegraphiug could be done far better and az full ntt
cent possibly Ot dOhc uS any VI
the present apparatus for working the Morse system.
Mr. PfescOts statement t1at unslled operators car
MOI work Tie perforatlHg machines used by the HIT
people Is quite true; pat there arg Oiher
perOTators INFINITELY superior 70 those used IN the
Automatic Conpauys ofhees-perfOratOrs which can be
correctly worked at Aht by any OF ten years
axe. In due time the public Will have the benefit of
their
hazard the prediction that with these simple Ger
tau, ana inexpensive, but rapid perfOraOrs aud
greatly improved system of recording N lines aud
pages, tue pubic Will within Eve Years perora.e and
Translate their OWu and thus be aDe 10 com
III nv wire hats
paris " the country tor Is cents less d. Ii. CRAIG
Aeio York, july 10, 1874.