The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-05
HALF OF A
CENTURY
AT TIE KEY
Career Of Col. Tree. of
the Western Union.
RETIRED AFTER
ALABORIOUS LIFE
Mr.. F. E. Clary. a Western
Man, Takes His Place here.
"REMINISCENCES ARE
FULL OF INTEREST
Colonel Tree Tells of Many Changes
that Have Occurred Since He Be-
gan Life as a TeIegrapher,
AlBrief Sketch Of the
New Superintend't
Now Here.
Mr.. F. E. Clary. a Western
Man, Takes His Place Here.
"REMINISCENCES ARE
FULL OF INTEREST

The retirement of Colonel j. B. Tree as
superintendent Of the Western Union
Office this city. recalls facts about his
long and useful career that are interest
Ing TO degree and involve a history OF
telegraphy in America.
Colonel Tree is almost w.thou. doubt
the Oldest telegra pher in America, and
therefore in the world. for here this thing
OF writing at a distance by the means
OF an electrical wire began.
Ponderlng on The part teiesraphy plays
and has played In the worlds history,
one Is apt to look upon the man as asso-
clated with Professor Morse, the inventor
or the telegraph system. and who learned
at the key of the original line between
Washington and Baltimore with a feeling
akin to reverence. Many are the mes
sages which Colonel Tree has received
tor transmission from the hands of Web
ster and Clay, Calhoun and Alexander
Stevens, and other giants OF decade be-
fore the war.
Happily he has told the story himself.
Before a convention of telegraphers In
1900 he was induced to give "reminiscences.
and he did SO with great charm to tie
entertainment OF his younger colleagues.
Fortunately he preserved a copy this
2HtcECStIIS gpdpCEss dIlu ~ 10 SIsCit
Haifa Century Ago.
In the winter OF lsi7 said he'll
found myself located AS telcgraphic
pupil IN the old brick building, used by
the postoficc authorities in Washington,
y. c., as city postoftice:sa a grand marble
building now stands on the site.
The ground floor was used by the post
office people; the second story was occu-
pied by the combined Offices of the Mag
netic Telegraph Company, then In oper-
alton between Washington and New
York, and the Washington and New Or
leans Telegraph Company, then under
construction over county roads and high
ways.
Alfred Vail coadjutor OF Professor
Morse. was supervising both Offices. and
with Amos Kendall. a former Postmaster
General. occupied adjoining rooms on the
same floor with the telegraph offices. a
flight of wooden steps built on the out
side of the house connected the pavement
with the second floor. Up that long
flight OF steps the companys patrons
would daily trudge to hand their mes
sages over hinged plank across the
door, serving as a counter and as a desk
upon which their messages were written.
Webster. Clay, Calhoun. Alex. Stevens,
OF Georgia 0he latter to become Vice
President Of the Confederate States) were
frequent visitors to the office. to send
messages and paid the heavy tolls re-
quircd at that carly day for transmits
sion cheerfuly. Professor Morse was
also a frequent visitor.
We had Sound" operators in our Office
even then. but 1t was in violation OF rules
TO receive message by that method,
The register. with It's spindle and accom-
panying roll of paper the embossed let
tors of the Morse alphabet being printed
thereon by the steel point OF the pen
lever. was the mode. This was ffty-three
years ago. Telegraphers of this year OF
our Lord 1900 would be astounded Ii they
were asked to climb up on high three.
legged stool. and with the paper ribbon
In their left hand. wind up four feet OF
catgut cord, suspending heavy weight
with the other hand to Keep the register
In motion until the message was fully
received.
Fancy long special OF two or three
thousand word.sabout congressional pro-
ceedings being handled now at such a
slow rate! Fancy an operator working
from A, NJ. to and A. NJ, next morn
ing on dead stretch when foreign
steamer off Sandy Hook had been sighted
and Reporter Abbott of New York, noti-
fled (as he always did all offices to keep
open for steamer news! Fancy the fact
that night operators and day operators
were as yet an UNKNOWN 1dCIOF IN telS-
graphic methods, and realize In full, ye
latter day operators, the superiority OF
the system of to-day!
We worked grove cells for main and
local batteries. The chief operator or
some one delegated by him had to clean
them. Fancy a fellow long before an
early breakfast, and before the Office
opened breathing in the fumes of nitric
acid. In the battery room, and giving his
hlnc mercury bath after cleaning them,
Let us suppose the lines are inter-
rupted by grounds. crosses or breaks.
what did the "Old Timer do then, poor
thing? Why, he only went for his sad
dle-bags, containing his line equipment
sent messenger boy for n saddle horse
mounted his mettesome nag and trotted
away for many a. weary mile over the
worst roads In old Virginia, to remove
the trouble.
Many times have our operators ridden
miles, climbed poles and cut wires and
tested with Washington. to see Ii the
operator az the other end, call booted
and spurred," had found the break, FIRE.
quently the reply was negative; then
connecting line again, he would climb
dawn the pole, mount his steed, and trot
away for pastures new"
Very Different Now
Hanpily for the operator of the pres
rnt Say, there are day and night opera
tors. battery men and linemen. and their,