New-York tribune., 1879-03-28
THE NEW TELEGRAPH COMPANY.

| WHAT Or. NORVIN GREEN THINKS OF 1T.
THE PROPOSED SYSTEM SUBSTANTIALLY TIE OLD
| AUTOMATIC sYsTEM-THE OFFER TO THE WEST
FRN UNION COMPANY
DR.. Norvin Green, president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company in referring to the proposed
American Rapid Telegraph Company, said yesterday to
a TRIBUNE reporter: &" In the first place, Mr.. Craig
machine is OF that class Of instruments that the tele
graphic world OF to-day calls automatic. the automatic
system is in reality one Of the Oldest systems OF
telegraphy known. It's fundamental principle is the
same as that used by Balm carly as
1913. It is n system OF mechanical transmits
sion. and is undoubtedly much more rapid than any
other mode Of transmission over wires long II
works | think Mr.. Craig gives in his pamphlet some
abstracts OF testimony IN respect to bis former system
which was very much the same thing. ani aware that
when I say 10 is very much the same thing. Mr.. Craig
will say. as he said, that l don't know anything
about It. His assertion that never saw this thing
work. and that the officers of this company, though
passing the doors where the test made every day
for months without stepping In to sec 1t work. is simply
untrue. We did see it several occasions, and sufi
cently long to pass Judgment on it, in connection with
very elaborate tests and experiments made by our
practical men for a long time and fully reported.
1T is well known TO every who talked with the
late President OrOn that he had no faith whatever in
automatic instruments in Mr. Crais's modification
OF them, in any mechanical telegraphy. He
asented to the expenditure necessary to test the Craig
Footc and Randall instrument with option to pur-
caase only because OF the directors thought IL
wise So probably might be found Of value to
the Western Union Company. The option TO purchase
by this company was for $25 900 in cash and certain
royalties for the OF the instrument There was an
obligation that we not less than 100 nstru
ments the first year. not than 500 the second year.
and further in the number OF instruments for
each year during the first five 1t snot true that the
had a DrOtfactou K
animation and experimental trial in the Western Union
binding for a period OF many months and while II is
rapid transmissions were made the
instrument not found to have any material adyan
lage other automatic Instruments wncn Dls COM
pany has the right TO use.
The only instrument OF the kind that ever has been
used recently Is that OF the Sir Cnares WheastOne,
which in use the British Post Olco lines, and for
the exclusive OF which in this country the Atlantic
of 900 year. under contract running 10 the end OF
the patent IN isS4. The Western Union Company
Company, the right to the WheastOne automatic.
The Craig, Foote and Randall instrument, like the
advantages by our company for heavy press service
when the ovrrtaIed. but either is totally
Judgment can never be made a success except for a
very large service between fixed points. 1t was not
worth purchasing at any such valuation as had been
fixed upon IT, fOr the that IL no better than
the Instruments had right TO use, and Afforded us
systems were free to anybody to use, and
because the fundamental principles OF the me-
chanical system were free to everybody, being the
invention OF Balm. whose patents long ago expired
While declining TO accept the option, we ala say
it really worth. and the only effort Mr. Twombly
made was 10 try TO disabuse Mr.. Crags mind OF the
enormous and nnjustla6le value ne liked upon IT, ANA
to satisfy him that, while 1t might be worth something
te this company, 1t Of value TO any other COM
pany in tins country and to @o%bv RS%Ge mm nevsp TO
the the price it was offered to us in the contract,
nor have We any reason to change our posiuon III
respect to declining that option"