The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-08-14
WHERE THE TELEGRAPH BEGAN
Scene of Morse's First Success Now
II Trolley Repair Shop.

YOUNGSTOWN, y. 1.-THE ma
chine shop where Prof. Samuel f. b.
Morse worked out his idea of the
electromagnetic telegraph and gave
the first exhibition of the instrument
is now the property of the Morris
| County Traction company and will
| be used for car barns and repair
shops The building formed part of
the Speedwell Iron Works and was
built by Judge Stephen Vail in 1872.
1t is now dilapideted.
Until Judge Vail died in 1864 it
was occupied. Here was turned out
the boiler used on the steamship Sa-
vannah, which was the first vessel of
its kind to cross the Atlantic ocean.
While Prof. Morse was working
on his invention he came to the
| Speedwell Iron Works to have some
machinery made. de also intended
to paint a portrait of Judge Walls
family. The works were in charge
of Alfred Vail, a son of the Judge.
Prof Morse explained to young
Vail what he desired made, and the
latter, interested in the idea, offered
to assist in constructing the machin-
cry. The offer was accepted and
young Vail submitted the PROPOSE
ton to his father, who furnished
funds for Morse to conduct his ex-
periments.
The machine was completed jan
uary II, 1888, and plaJ ed on exhi-
bition in the foundry Mrs. John
II. Lidgerwood, a granddaughter of
Alfred Vail, recalls her grandfath-
er's story of how the instrument was
placed in the factory.
My grandfather has told me fire.
quently that the machine was placed
upon the first floor" said Mrs. Lid
gerwood, land about three miles OF
copper wire, insulated by being
wound around with cotton yarn, was
coiled around the walls of the second
story. There are still some of the
hooks in the side walls, and some
of the original wire l have in my
possession
The Speedwell works also supplied
the tires, axles and cranks for the
first American locomotive and made
the first cast iron plough. These
were turned out by Judge Vail, who
was a born mechanic. AS proof of
this DR.. Willard P. Vail tells the
story of how he visited the nail fac
tory of jeremiah H. Pierson at Ra-
mapo, n. j., and then started one of
his own.
He could understand machine
at sight" says the doctor. How he
got inside Persons place l don't
know, as it was against the rules
to admit visitors to the establish
ment.
by some means he found his way
ihSiuc anu III tHe character OF an
unskilled country boy wandered ar
ound in apparent stupid wonder at
what he saw. At length Mr. Pierson
saw him looking intently at the cut
nail machine. Instantly waving his
bandana handkerchief he beckoned
to the entrance, telling him bluntly
that he had no business there.
Making an awkward apology Vail
took his leave. but he took that cut
nail machine away in his head. He
had seen enough. Not long after
ward cut nail machine was at work
in Dover, n. ].
Many years afterward Pierson
and Vail formed an acquaintance.
One day Mr.. Vail asked Pierson if he
knew how the nail factory came to
be started at Dover. Pierson said
he hadn't any idea, but had often
wondered about it, as he didn't be-
lieve any one in the country knew
anything about the making of nails
but himself. Then Mr.. Vail related
his visit to the Ramapo factory and
the two men shook hands and laugh
ed together