The Washington times., 1901-08-11
THE BIRTH OF TELEGRAPHY
Incidents of the Sending of tie
First Message by Wire.
The People Dubious Concerning
Mcrse's Northumberland Sent
Between Washington and BaIti-
more Aroused General Interest.


The recent discovery of the fact tha
portraits of persons and scenes can b'
transmitted by the telegraph has
caused a general revival of interest il
the whole subject of telegraphy. The
adoption and perfection of code sys-
TENS reducing the labor and time con-
sumed in sending matter over the wire
the invention of automatic receivers
transmitters, etc, and the bringing OF
the art of telegraphy to a higher stage
of efficiency, recalls to old-t time Wash
ingtonians the installation of the origi-
nal telegraph line between this city and
Baltimore
1t was about IL o'clock on the morn
ing of Saturday, May %, 1874, when six
teen persons were assembled in a room
in the north wing of the Capitol to wit
ness perhaps the most momentous
scientific achievement of the past CEN
Jury. The line of the new, and there
fore untried, electric telegraph between
Baltimore and this city had been com
pleted the preceding day. Congress,
after several years delay, had made the
this test line, and public expectation
was. as may easily be imagined, very
high as to the result of the wonderful
device. The Baltimore station was the
Pratt Street depot.
1t is asserted by some authorities
that the sender of the first Geographic
message was a lady named Annie ELS
worth. to whom Prof. Morse, it is said,
was at the time ardently attached.
Miss Ellsworth was a granddaughter Of
the famous Governor Ellsworth, of
Massachusetts, and her father was then
Commissioner of Patents. The words
of the message We're: What hath God
wrought" At 1880 a. m. the question
was asked from baltimore: What is
the news in Washington" and almost
instantaneously the reply was flashed
back: Van Buren, stock is rising"
Two days later MAY 20 the working
of this marvellous instrument won uni
versal admiration from all who We're
fortunate enough to be spectators,
while the reported results. already pro-
claimed throughout the country, were
looked upon with a mixture of wonder
and incredulity.
Messages passed between Baltimore
and Washington at intervals during
each nour throughout the day At 1:40
p. m. information was received in the
Capitol building of the nomination of
James Carroll for Governor of Mary
land. A few moments later came the
news of the nomination by reclamation
by the Tyler Convention of John Tyler !
for President of the United States. and |
also of a speech of more than two hours |
in length by Benjamin F. Butler, in |
favor of the majority rule in the cen |
vention. On Wednesday, the 18th, the |
telegrarhic news from Baltimore |
caused great excitement in this city. in |
that it announced on that day the NOM
ination Of James X Polk, "a subal-
tern" for the Presidency by TIE Demo-
cratic Convention. This announcement
was Of so surprising nature, and the
telegraph was of so recent introduction,
that neither the announcement nor the
telegraph was believed; and in order to
ascertain the truth, two special mes
we're despatched by railroad to
Baltimore, but. of course, the result of
their mission was only to confirm the
announcement.
Among the many reasons given for
the continuance Of the seat of govern
ment in this city was that of the inven-
ton of The Morse telegraph. In the 10
cation of the seat Of government, one
Of the most prominent requisites was
centrality, and Mr.. Madison remarked
that IF there could be any means of in
promulgating the laws
the country the centre
would be of less consequence. This
means was supplied by the electric tel
was. in n way. instrumental in conduc-
ng TO the permanency of Washington
IS the Capital Of the nation.
On Monday. April 5, 1s47. connection
was made between Baltimore and Al
.xandria by means of the telegraph |
passing through this city.
In the summer of 1876, the first at
empt was made to determine longitude ,
by means Of the telegraph. \ line of ,
wire was extended from the former
General Postoftice building to the old :
|
.arried from the High School Observa-
DRY in Philadelphia to the main Balti- !
more lire. Connection was also made :
With Jersey City.
The observations at Washington ;
we're made under the direction of Sears c
:. Walker: those at Philadelphia under I
'rof. Kendall and those at jersey City
nder Prof. Loomis. Each observer had d
t his command a good clock and a
ransit instrument for regulating it
With precision. The signal used in de- 9
the difference of longitude of
hese three places was the click of J
magnet Signals were exchanged be- il
ween this city and Philadelphia, Octo- h
er 10. 1876, but none were obtained for
ersey City. On August 3, 1Si7, the ex-
we're resumed upon the fol- II
owing plan: Commencing at Jersey d
ity at 10 p. m, the operator struck a W
ey, and simultaneously a click is Il
card at each of the three places. The
oserver at each place recorded the h
me of the click each by his own n
ock. Ten seconds afterward, the same 81
ign is repeated, and so on for twenty W
gnals. The series Of signals was then A
speated for Washington and Philadel- :,
hia. and from the average difference ~
these sixty signals the difference of =,
me was obtained with almost perfect -
ccuracy. The difference of time thus "
1tained between Jersey City and Phil
1elphia was four minutes and thirty II
.conds re
On February 9. 1913. a paragraph in -
le London correspondence of some ca