The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-13
.New Te.egrapnie I[a,,Iv,en.ippsI

rorR MESSAGES SENT SIMULTANEOUSLY oVsR
ONE wrRE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS = = MUSIC
pY TELEGRAPH. ~
Wednesday afternoon last, at the Bread.
way office Of the Western Union Telegraph
Comnany. test was made Of an invention
which promises to BE, Of almost more im-
por,ance to the present age than were Morse's
first achievements to the people OF ms oWn
time. The test resulted successfully. ana IL
proved that four messages can be simuHane'
ouSly sent on single wire in Opposite "
rections. and with no more liability to ms
take than as if an equal number OF wires
were used. To make the matter clear IL WIZ
be necessary to look little backward.
Morse took the first step in telegraphy-
and the first is always the greatest-.py
the invention of system 10y which mes
ssces could be sent between any two ter
minal points and dropped at any Way-sta-
ton on the circuit. The objection 10 TINS
system was that the transmission OF single
message occupied wire entirely. Anu
though electricians were convinced tiat
different result could be attained, no one
showed how it could be done until so re-
comfy rs three years ago, when Mr.. j. Is.
Stearns invented the duplex apparatus. That
was the second great step, and it instantly
doubled the capacity Of every wire which
ever had been erected. by the Stearns pro-
cess two messages can be sent simultaneous
" on a single wire in opposite directions be-
tween any two terminal points. But TINS
system. like the Morse, had its objections
the message could not be dropped at any
wav-station except by the use of repeater:
Nevertheless, the invention was recognized
rs of immense practical importance through
on, the world. Two days ago was taken
third great step, and one not inferior 10
either of the others. 1t needs only TO be
said of it, to recommend it to the least SCI
entilic, lha. in one instant it Will
quadruple the usefulness Of the 49,
600 miles Of wire owned by the
Western Union Telegraph Company. 1t Is
a new process Of multiple transmission by
which two messages can be sent SImuita-
neous!y in the same direction over the same
wire and either message can be dropped at
any way.Slation on the circuit Nor Is TINS
all The old duplex system can be applied 10
the new Invention, and by the combination
four messages can be sent simultaneously
over the same wire in opposite directions be-
tween any two terminal points. And not
The least recommendation of the discovery is
that il calls for no changes the old Morse
kew is used, without the need Of any new
class Of operators Gas in the automatic tele-
graph. and with no duplication except as to
parts of machinery. The invention is the
result of the joint labors of MessrS. George
b. Prescott and Thomas \. Edison; and
if not scientifically, at least practically,
a great deal OF credit is also que
20 the enterprising policy of Mr.. William
Orion, the president Of the company. VI
course, it is needless to add that the new
system will be speedily put into practice by
the Western Union Company, By whom the
patent is controlled. 1t will make itself felt
in more ways than one. For instance, the
Western Union Telegraph Company have
been forced to erect 10000 miles Of wire du-
| ring the last three years, and, Of course, at
an immense expense. An indefinite future
like that could not be very satisfactory to
stockholders. But this year scarcely 1000
miles need be erected, and every wire is
practically four But without further en-
largement, and almost in the words Of Mr..
Orion. the discovery may be called the solu-
ton of all difficulties in the future Of tele-
graphic science. York Times.