The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-09-21
Monday. September q. 1885.

WRITING about the original Morse tel
egraphic instrument, the Washington
correspondent Of the Cleveland Leader
says: at is upon this instrument now
in the National Museum that Morse
worked at his experiments while acting
as a daguerrotyper in New York. and II
was on such an instrument that the first
message was sent across the first tele-
graph line in the world, running along
the line of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road from Washington to Baltimore.
Congress by bare majority Of eight
granted an appropriation of $4,000 to
Morse to build a line, and 1t is stated
that shortly after it was completed
Congressman came to the office here
with bundle of dirty shirts under his
arm and wanted them sent Immediately
to Baltimore to be washed and re-
turned. At this time Louis McLane.
who had been Minister to England, Sec
rotary of State, and Secretary of the
Treasury, was President of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad company.
1t was due to him largely that
the line was gotten through, and
| see that the Baltimore and Ohio
Telegraph company are now dating
their origin back to this time, and thus
claiming themselves to be the first tele-
graph company In the world. Morse
first thought OF laying the lines under
ground. but this was found impracti-
cable, and they were stretched upon
poles. 1t was completed the Nth of
May, 1891, about Al years ago, ana the
first words were sent. They were, "What
hath God wrought" They came through
all right. The Office here was then In
the Supreme court chamber, and Ben:
Perley Poore. who was present, says that
q great crowd was gathered Mt the Capt.
toll. Mrs. Molly Madison was among
them, and she was asked to send the
next message. She wrote one to the
wife OF member of Congress in Balti-
more, and 1t was sent. The telegraph
was now success, but the people did
not have much faith in 1t. Morse of
fered his whole right to 1t to the Gov
eminent for 800, 600, and was laughed ut
for his palms."
The most important feature of the po-
litlcal struggle now going on in several
States is the election Of the Legislatures
which are to choose members Of the
Senate, writes Austin, Washington
correspondent Of the Cincinnati Times
Star. The terms of rs Senators expire
IN March, 1887, and where they are from
States whose Legislatures are to be
elected biennially, their SUCCESSORS must
be chosen by the Legislatures chosen
this fall. The Democrats are confident
that with care they may secure enough
Of those to gain control Of the Senate
OF the % Senators whose terms will ex
pire on the 81 OF March, 1887, 10 are Re
publicans and . are Democrats. Tn
Republicans are: Messrs. Miller of Call
fornia, Hawley, Harrison, Hale, Dawes
Conger, Mcmillan, Van Wyok, Sewell
Miller OF New York, Sherman, Mitchell
Aldrich, Edmunds, Malone and Sawyer
The Democrats are Messrs. Gray, Jone
Of Florida, German, George, Cookrell
Fair, jackson, Maxey and Camden
According to Democratic calculation
their party may count confidently upo
electing successors to eight of the min
who 20 out on their side. They coun
Delaware. Florida, Maryland, Mlssis
sippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas an,
West Virginia as safe to elect Democra
to Senators, and admit that Of the min