The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15
FIRST MESSAGE BY WIRE
SOME INCIDENTS ATTENDING THE
BIRTH OF TELEGRAPHY.
The People Dubious Concerning
MOrse's InventiOn-COmpa of
Early Cost, Here and in England.
Washington Times.

Washington Times.
The recent discovery of the fact that por-
traits of persons and scenes can be trans
mitted by the telegraph has caused gen
eral revival of interest in the whole sub
ject of telegraphy. The adoption and per-
lection of code systems reducing the labor
and time consumed in sending matter over
the wire, the invention of automatic re-
ceiverS, transmitters, etc. and the bring
ing of the art of telegraphy to a higher
stage of efficiency, recalls to Old-time
Washingtonians the installation of the
original telegraph line between this city
and Baltimore.
1t was about IL o'clock on the morning
of Saturday, May 25. 1874, when sixteen
persons were assembled in a room in the
north wing of the Capitol to witness per-
haps the most mOmentOus scientific
achievement of the past century. The line
of the new, and therefore untried. electric
telegraph between Baltimore and this city
had been completed the preceding day.
Congress, after several years delay, had
made the appropriation for the con-
struction of this test line, and public ex-
pectation was, as may easily be imagined,
very high as to the result of the wonder
full device. The Baltimore station was the
Pratt-street depot.
1t is asserted by some authorities that
the sender OF the first Geographic message
was lady named Annie Ellsworth TO
whom Professor Morse, it is said was at
the time ardently attached. Miss Ellis
worth was a granddaughter of the famous
Governor Ellsworth, and her father
was then commissioner of patents.
The words of the message
What hath God wrought" At 1870 a.
m. the question asked from Balti-
more: What is the news in Washing
ton?' and almost instantaneously the re-
ply was flashed back: Van Buren, stock
| is rising"
Two days later May 27) the working Of
this marvellous instrument won universal
admiration from all who were fortunate
enough TO be spectators. while the reported
results, already proclaimed throughout the
! country, were looked upon with a mixture
of wonder and incredulity.
Messages passed between Baltimore and
| Washington at intervals during each hour
throughout the day. At 40 p. m. Informal
tion received in the Capitol building of
! the nomination of James Carroll for Gov
crnor OF Maryland. y few moments later
came the news of the nomination by accla-
| nation 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 +. Butler, in
| favor OF the majority rule in the conven-
ton. ON Wednesday, the 18th, the tele-
graphic news from Baltimore caused great
excitement in this city, in that ii an
| nounced Oh that day the nomination of
James X. Polk. "a subaltern." for the
Presidency by the Democratic convention.
! This announcement was of so surprising a
nature. and the telegraph was of so recent
| introduction, that neither the announce
ment nor the telegraph was believed: and
| in order 10 ascertain the truth. two special
messengers were dispatched by railroad to
| Baltimore. but, of course. the result OF
mission only a
| graphic announcement.
Among the many reasons given for the
| continuance OF the seat of government in
| this city was that of the invention of the
Morse telegraph. In the location of the
seat of government. one of the most prom
Madison remarked that IF there could be
| any means of instantaneOusly promulga-
| ting the laws throughout the country the
| center would be of less consequence"
| This means was supplied by the electric
| telegraph, and thus this great invention
was, in a way, instrumental in conducting
to the permanently of Washington as the
capital of the Nation.
On Monday, April, 3. 1S47, connection
was made between Baltimore and Alex
! andria by means of the telegram pessiny
through this city.
In the summer of 1886 the first attempt
was made 10 determine longitude by means
of the telegraph y line OF wire was ex-
tended from the former general postoffice
building TO the old Naval Observatory. and
another was carr led from the High School
Observatory IN Philadelphia to the main
Baltimore line: Connection was also made
with Jersey City.
The observations at Washington were
made under the direction of Sears c.
| Walker, those at Philadelphia under Prof.
Kendall, and those at Jersey City under
| Prof. Loomis. Each observer had at his
| command good clock and a transit in
strument for regulating ii with precision.
| The signal used in determining the differ
ence Of longitude of these three places was
/ the click OF magnet. Signals ex-
changed between this city and Philadel-
/ v.NaN dot nh
tanned for Jersey City On Aug. g. 1S47.
| the experiments were resumed upon the
| following plan: Commencing at Jersey
| City at 10 j. IN. the operator struck key,
1 and simultaneously a click is heard al
| each OF the three places. The observer at
! each place recorded the time of the click,
each by his own clock. Ten seconds after
ward, the same sign Is repeated, and SO
| on for twenty signals. The series OF sig
nails was then repeated for Washington
/ and PHILADELPHIA. and from the avcra ge
/ difference OF these sixty signals the differ