The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-07-30
Wonders Of the Telegraph.

Wednesday afternoon last, at the Broadway
office of the Western Union Telegraph Compa-
ny, a test was made of an invention which
promises to be of almost more importance to
the present age than were Morse's first achiev-
ments to the people of his own time. The test
resulted successfully, and it proved that four
messages can be simultaneously sent on q sim
gle wire in opposite directions, and with no
more liability to mistake than as if an equal
number of wires were used. To make the mat
ter clear it will be necessary to look a little
backward. Morse took the first step in tele-
graphy-and the first s always the greatest
by the invention of system which messages
could be sent between any two terminal points,
and dropped at any way station on the circuit.
The objection to this system was tnat the trans
mission of single message occupied wire
entirely. And though electritions were con-
yinced that different result could De attained,
no one showed how it could be done until so
recently as three years ago, when Mr.. j. B.
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 process two
messages can be sent simultaneously on single
wire in opposite directions between any two
terminal points. But this system, like the
Morse, had its objections-the message could
not be dropped at any way station except by
the use of repeater. Nevertheless, the inven-
ton was recognized as of immense practical
Importance throughout the world. Two days
ago was taken third great step, and one not
inferior to either of the others. 1t needs only
to be said of it, to recommend it to the least
scientific, that in one instant it will quadruple
the usefulness of the 175,O00 miles of wire
owned by the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany. It is new process of multiple trans
mission by which two messages can be sent
simultaneously in the same direction over the
same wire, and either message can be dropped
at any way station on the circuit. Nor is this
ALL The old duplex system can be applied to
the new invention, and by the combination four
messages can be sent simultaneously over the
same wire in opposite directions between any
two terminal points And not the least recon-
mendation of the discovery is, that it calls for
no changes; the old Morse key is used, without
the need of any new class of operators. las IN
the automatic telegraph,) and with no duplica-
tion except as to parts OF machinery. The IN,
vention is the result Of the joint labors OF
Messrs. Geo. B. Prescott aud Thomas A. Edison.
Aud if not scientifically, at least practically,
ing policy of Mr.. William Orton, the president
of the company. Of 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 Com.
pany, have been forced to erect $4,000 miles of
wire during the last three years, and, of course,
at al immense expense An indefinite future
like that could not be very satisfactory to stock
holders. But this year scarcely 1000 miles
need be erected, and every wire is practically
four. But without further enlargement, and
almost in the words of Mr.. Orton, the discovery
may be called the solution of all difficulties in
the future of telegraphic science.-Neu York
Times.