Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-09-10

prime Mover in the Building of the Trans-
Atlantic Cable.)
in length just as easily as over the one
wire of forty miles, then in operation.
People naturally were inclined to be-
lieve that they were lying. The pam
phlet says: 1.-The term circuit, used
frequently in this work, has refer
ence to the wire, which, commencing
at the positive pole of the battery.
goes to any distance and returns to
ne negative pole of the battery.
When its going and returning are
continuous or unbroken, the circuit
is said to be closed or complete"
There is the claim that the wire
will carry the electric circuit 'to
any distance" That might mean
around the entire earth. That was a
wonderful claim for that period. 1915
"The average inventor is a crank
who don't last long," said the phil
osopher. 'But the telegraph grew
gradually in Morse's brain for
period of Is years. With that idea
uppermost in all of his waking
thoughts during that period he must
have been unhappy indeed, for he
was obliged to keep his secrets tc
himself. If he had talked with any.
body capable of comprehending him
he would have given away his rights
If often happens that an inventor
will be able to discern almost all OF
his plan, but it rests with some one
else to discover and apply the one
little missing principle which is
necessary to success"
What was said of electricity in
that pamphlet might as well be said
to-day: 1.-THE effects produced by the
galvanic fluid upon the metallic
bodies, it's decomposing effects upon
liquids, it's effects upon the animal
system, are generally we'll known.
But of the character of the fluid it.
self, it's own essence or substance,
we know nothing" That is true to-.
day. We know nothing more than
we did then, although the fluid is
used commercially all over the
world. and for mulAfarious purposes
1t would probably puzzle Franklin
| and Morse to witness the workings
of the telephone, photograph, cleo.
trio cars and wonderful lights OF
| arcs and carbons.
After brief treatise on galvanism
the pamphlet proceeds: 1--WE will
now describe the battery used for
! telegraphic purposes; the same in
| principle, but in arrangement more
complicated. than those in common
use. Two distinct acids are en-
ployed; two metals and two vessels. "
Then follows a minute description OF
the invention, illustrated very nice
ly (for that age) with wood cuts
showing every form of appliance
used, from the ';;glass tumbler of or.
binary SIZE" to the diagram show.
ing how ''both stations could trans.
nit at the same time, with one bat.
terry for both"
In 1s45 the inventor did not imag.
inc that the human ear would be
sensitive enough to distinguish be.
tween the dots and dashes in the
telegraphic signal code, for the
pamphlet gives careful attention tc
a description of the pencils, pens
and inks used for making impress
sions upon paper, all of which meth
DDS were discard. He concludes
with praise of the last patented
point: ut produces an impression
upon the paper, not to be mistaken
1t is clean, and the points makine
the impression being OF the hardes1
steel, do not wear, and renders tb,
writing apparatus always ready TO,
use."
But very soon after that youns
men everywhere, and now-a-dav,
young ladies also, take messages .b,
sound" thereby rendering the in
vention many many times more val
liable for rapid work.
1t seems strange to look at thi
venerable pamphlet and recall tn,
fact that the success OF electri
telegraphy was ever in doubt.
SMITH .. FRI.