The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-11-20
Prof. Morse and the Telegraph.

the late Judge William w. Boardman,
of New Haven, then a member of Con-
gress, and warm friend and support
er of the invention. They are as fol-
lows:
NEW YORK, March I, 1885,
My DEAR SIR:-I intended long since
| TO have written you and thanked you
| for your kind attention in relation to
my telegraph and for your resolution
of inquiry. Please now accept my
thanks. | have been constantly occu-
pied this winter in simplifying some
parts of the mechanism, and had hoped
to have everything complete to show it
in Washington this session. [ still may
be able, but dare make no promise,
knowing full we'll from experience the
battling and protracting nature of in
vention. Ny instrument is much more
complete than it has ever been, and if
in its ruder state it created SO much in
terest, feel confident of gTs aterw when
the perfect instrument is seen. | have
just received a letter from Professor
Henry, of Princeton, which I copy for
your perusal, and with view of having
it handed to the committee. Ineed not
say to you that Prof. Henry has higher
character as philosopher and discov-
erer in the department of electricity and
electro than any man in the
country, and there is no man of the
present age who stands higher in Eu-
rope in this particular department,
You may recollect it was Prof. Henry
who first successfully caused the mag
net to hold suspended 1000 pounds,
and invented the first magnetic engine.
With regard to the resolution of inquiry
before the Committee of Commerce.
may | ask the favor of you to have
them suspend action upon it until I can
show the telegraph in Washington, I'M
less they are disposed to report the bill
reported by the former committee? #
they are ready to do this without seeing
the operation of the instrument, very
well. [ shall then be able to show
them a more extended application to
its power the next session. But if they
are not ready and should report it in
expedient, it might iniure my opera
tons next session. The following is the
copy of Prof. Henry's letter:
PRINCETON COLLEGE, Feb. "a. 1912.
PROFESSOR MORSE: Dear Sir:-T am
pleased to learn that you have again
petltloned Congress in reference to your
telegraph, and l most sincerely hope
that you will succeed in convincing our
Representatives of the Importance of
the invention. In this, however, YOU
may perhaps find some difficulty, since,
in the minds of many, the electro-mag-
netlc telegraph is associated with the
various chimerical projects constantly
presented to the public, and particular
ly with the schemes SO popular year
or two ago for the application of cleo
trlcity as a moving power in the arts
have asserted from the first that all
attempts of this kind are premature and
made without proper knowledge of
scientific principles. The case is, how
ever, entirely different in regard to
the electromagnetic telegraph. Science
is now fully ripe for this application,
and have not the least doubt, if proper
means be afforded, of the perfect sue
cess of the invention. The idea of
transmitting intelligence to dis
lance by means of electrical action
has been suggested by various per
sons, from the time of Franklin to
the present; but until within
the last few years. orsince the principal
discoveries in electromagnetic, all
attempts to reduce it to practice were
necessarily unsuccessful. About the
same time with yourself Profess
sor Wheatstone, of London, and
DR.. Steinheil, of Munich, Germany,
proposed plans of the electro-mag-
netic telegraph, but these differ as
much from yours as the nature of the
common principle could well permit,
and unless some essential Improvements
have lately been made in these European
plans [ should prefer the one invented
by yourself. With my best wishes for
your success, remain, with much es-
teen, yours truly, JOSEPH HENRY.
Thus you will perceive that Prof.
Henry accords precisely in opinion with
che committee of the French Govern
ment which examined both Wheat
stones and Steinheil's in connection
with mine, and gave preference to the
American. can not doubt, when the
subject is fully understood, that our
Government will appreciate the i'm
portance of this invention. The mind
may speculate very freely on the reyo-
luton which the instantaneous inter-
change of thought from one part of the
country q may say of the world to
another has effected, and although to
one who is ignorant of the nature of the
invention these speeulations may seem
the vagaries of a prurient Imagination,
the reality will still outstrip his con-
ceptions. ask my Government for aid
in giving this invention to the world
and demonstrating its American origin
and perfection. viii they do itP
If thought advisable in the ex-
listing state of the finances of
the country to appropriate a
less sum than is asked by the bill
formerly reported, less sum, say
$4,000 or $4,000, would give the in
vention sufficiently extensive trial on
which to found future legislative action.
| leave the subject to the wisdom of
Congress. / have written on the sub
ject (some weeks since) to several
friends in Washington, to whom, if you
are so disposed, please show this letter
Ito Mr.. Barnard, Mr.. Winthrop, Mr..
Cushing, Mr.. Granger, and any others
: at your convenience and pleasure.
With sincere esteem, your friend and