Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-10-20
ABOUT TELEGRAPHING.

Eusployes and their Waass-The Baticrie'
Gable McssRxcs-A CMrieus Feature o
Ocean Tclsxraphy.
The New York correspondent OF the
Troy 73mes writes: Ono Of the most
interesting places in this city is the tel
egraph building, corner Of Broadway
aud Dey street. Formerly this spot was
occupied by the Franklin House, very
popular inn. From Franklin's connec,
ton with electricity, it seems proper that
the telegraph bnilding should be its sue
cessor. As a specimen of grand COM
mercial architecture, this structure has
no superior, and the fact that it's cost
was 81, 900, 900 shows how much can be
laid out on space not exceeding 80 by
100 feet. The telegraphic operations
carried on in this establishment are Of
an extent that would perplex m ordinary
observer. 1t may, however, be suggest
ed by the fact that the services OF 325
capable employees are required beside
operators. The room occupied by the
latter is of vast size, and is on the sixth
floor. Here 265 skillful persons watch
the clicking of the machines, A large
portion of this force is composed of
young women. The best operators re-
ceive $115 per month, and work entirely
by ear. There is q great surplus of
talent in this establishment, and many
Intellectual applications for employment
are made daily.
The contrast between the cheap ma
terials and the immense results in tele-
graphy is very striking. The power is
obtained simply from sulphate Of cop
per (blue vitrioD, water and zinc. In the
battery room there are $4,000 cups in
use, each containing the necessary ele-
ments. The heaviest battery contains
$50 cups (or cells), and is used solely for
Chicago dispatches. They consume 20
barrels of blue vitriol every month, and
5000 pounds Of zinc. On one of the
upper floors restaurant is in operation,
where the employees have a first'class
dinnerat reasonable price. They pur.
chase tickets in advance, and these tick
cts are currency for dishes, which are
supplied on the European plan. This
system is becoming very general in all
large establishments. During the hot
weather ton of ice is consumed in this
establishment daily, nearly fifty water
coolers being in use.
The cable battery contains dozen
cells. I need hardly say that the method
used in cable practice differs from Or
dinary telegraphy. The term applied to
this method is Induction. have not
space for its explanation, but one of its
features is the reflection of the needle.
The cheapest message on the cable is
seventy five cents, and is limited to one
word. Some of our readers may think
that one word can be of little use, but if
properly handled it may convey as much
information as an ordinary sentence.
This can be done by the method called
packing" Let us suppose that New
York banking house arranges with its
London correspondent vocabulary of
words, each Of which has specific mean
ing. The London house may telegraph.
for instance, the word thunder" and
the New Workers, by reference to their
book, will find the meaning of "thun-
der " to be I" the Bank of England has
advanced it's rate of interest to three per
cent" All this, which at long rate
would cost 1915, is obtained for mere
trife, and the system certainly shows
great ingenuity. The cable cyphers, as
these are called, are numerous and are
in charge of very expert operator. The
difference in time between New York
and London is q curious feature in ocean
telegraphy.. The London banker is in
the full swell Of traffic when the New
York agent is first thinking of "getting
up" At noon the London markets are
cabled to this city, where they arrive
at seven o'clock in the morning OF the
same day. The London agent of the
New York press telegraphs the most i'm
portant news issued in the London
Times at six o'clock in the morning. 1t
reaches here at one O'Clock the same
just in time to be inserted in
the New York journals, whose readers
have the same matter that the Londoner
digests with his breakfast. This is do
ing little better than even "taking time
by the forelock." 1t is getting ahead
of him in prodigious manner.