The Telegraph in America

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Mr. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph system which bears his name, first conceived the idea on board the packet ship “Sully” on which he was a passenger. He sailed from Havre for New York on the first day of October, 1832. He was accompanied by a number of others, the whole company being unusually intelligent and agreeable. There was a long voyage before them, and each amiably undertook to relieve the tedium of the journey by the many pleasant devices indulged in by companionable travellers.

At an early period of the voyage, the conversation around the evening table turned upon the subject of electricity and magnetism which was then a popular topic of discussion and general interest.

One of the passengers (a Doctor Jackson) introduced the subject by reference to lectures to which he had recently attended while in Paris, in which interesting illustrations of the more recent discoveries in electro-magnetism had been given.

He also referred to the experiments of AmpÈre with the electro magnet; the subject excited very general interest into which Morse entered with great spirit. Hitherto he had felt no other concern in electrical matters than that of a lively and attentive curiosity. Dr. Jackson had in his trunk an electro-magnet, which he described, and during the conversation alluded to the length of the wire in the coils. This led one of the company to enquire “if the velocity of the current was retarded by the length of the wire?”

Dr. Jackson replied that electricity passed instantaneously over any known length of wire. This aroused the interest of Morse who was struck with the idea that electricity might be made the medium of conveying intelligence.

The conversation went on but he left them. As he paced the deck the idea rapidly took form in his mind that, either by electro-chemical or electro-magnetic effects of a current, marks might be made at distances so great and in such variety as to render possible the easy communication of and record of an intelligible language.

This was, so far as he knew at the time, a new thought. Gradually the conception took shape and system until at last it had assumed such a form that next morning, at the breakfast table, he communicated the plan by which he believed a recording telegraph could be serviceable.

Later on as the voyage was nearing its end, Mr. Morse, addressing the Captain, said “Well, Captain, should you hear of the telegraph one of these days as the wonder of the world, remember the discovery was made on board the good ship “Sully.”

He would now have devoted himself entirely to the elaboration of this new thought, but he had to betake himself to his work as an artist. He was poor and for three or four years following his return he had to travel much of the time to meet engagements in connection with his profession. Meanwhile, he devoted every spare moment to the perfecting of his apparatus.

In a letter to a friend Mr. Morse wrote: “Up to the autumn of 1837, my telegraphic apparatus existed in so crude a form that I felt reluctant to have it seen. My means were very limited—so limited as to preclude the possibility of constructing an apparatus of such mechanical finish as to warrant my success in venturing upon its public exhibition. I had no wish to expose to ridicule the representative of so many hours of laborious thought. Prior to the summer of 1837, at which time Mr. Alfred Vail’s attention became attracted to my telegraph, I depended upon my pencil for my subsistence. Indeed, so straightened were my circumstances, that in order to save time to carry out my invention, and to economize my scanty means, I had for months lodged and eaten in my studio, procuring my food in small quantities from some grocery, and preparing it myself to conceal from my friends the stinted manner in which I lived. I was in the habit of bringing my food to my room in the evenings, and this was my mode of life for many years.”

Under these distressing circumstances, Mr. Morse labored in perfecting his apparatus in which he finally succeeded. His caveat was filed in the patent office in Washington on October 6, 1837, but a patent was not obtained until 1840.

On the 8th of February, 1838, in response to an invitation from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Prof. Morse exhibited the new telegraph before the Committee of Science and Arts of that institution, who reported their gratification and expressed their desire that government would give the means of testing it on an extensive scale.

Mr. Morse, shortly after this, exhibited his apparatus before the President and his cabinet, and which gave great satisfaction, in reference to which he wrote his friend and partner Mr. Alfred Vail, as follows: “Everything looks encouraging, but I need not say to you that in this world a continued course of prosperity is not a rational expectation. We shall doubtless find troubles and difficulties in store for us, and it is part of true wisdom to be prepared for whatever may await us. If our hearts are right, we shall not be taken by surprise. I see nothing now but an unclouded prospect, for which let us pay to Him who shows it to us, the homage of grateful and obedient hearts, with most earnest prayers for grace to use prosperity aright.”

Morse now determined to ask Congress for aid to make a thorough test of his apparatus on an actual line to show its capacity and practicability; in this he was encouraged by his friends. On December 6, 1842, he wrote an exhaustive letter to the Hon. C.G. Ferris, an influential member of the House Committee on Commerce, in which he gave a minute history of the invention, stated fully the basis of his claims as the inventor, and asked that through his committee an appeal might be made to Congress for the means to erect an experimental line to prove its value. In response to this the Hon. John P. Kennedy, February 23, 1843, offered a resolution “That the Bill appropriating thirty thousand dollars to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, in a series of experiments to test the expediency of the telegraph projected by Professor Morse should be passed.”

Mr. Morse sat in the gallery during the discussion which followed, a quiet but intensively anxious observer. For a time the project was made the subject of ridicule. Irritated perhaps because the committee passed him in the control of the experiment, the Postmaster proposed to give half the sum appropriated by the bill to mesmeric experiments.

Another proposed that millerism have a share. The bill seemed doomed to failure by their ridicule. The debate became sharp and vigorous when, at length, the vote was taken with the result that the Bill passed by a majority of eight.

The bill, however, had yet to pass the Senate, and its temper respecting it was unknown. It had much unfinished business. Day after day passed, but the bill had not been reached. Finally the last hours of the session arrived.

Morse watched them as they passed with an anxious solicitude. It was getting late, ten o’clock had already struck, two hours only remained before the final adjournment. Just then the Hon. Fernando Wood, one of the Senators, came to Mr. Morse and advised him to go home. “The Senate is not in sympathy with your project. I advise you to give it up. Return home and think no more of it.” Morse, feeling it useless to remain longer, with a heavy heart went to his hotel, paid his bill, procured a ticket for New York and retired to his room for the night. He there knelt down, opened his heart to God and committed his affairs to Him. He had done all that he could and could do more.

He counted his money and found after paying his bill and ticket he had thirty-seven and a half cents left.

In the morning, refreshed by rest yet grave and thoughtful, he came down to breakfast. While seated at the table a visitor was announced. The early visitant proved to be a young lady friend, Miss Ellsworth, the daughter of the Commissioner of Patents, who taking him warmly by the hand, exclaimed with a voice of unconcealed joy, “Professor, I have come on purpose to congratulate you.” “Congratulate me! For what, my dear friend, can you offer me congratulations?” “Why,” she said gaily (as she enjoyed the Professor’s wondering surprise, and who was at the time not in the fittest mood for pleasantry), “on the passage of your bill. The Senate, last night, voted you your money, $30,000.”

She then informed him that her father remained in the Senate until the close of the session, and that in the very closing moments the telegraph bill was passed without division or debate. On reaching home, Ellsworth had communicated the news to his family, all of whom were much attached to the Professor, and his daughter begged the favor of being allowed to go to the hotel to communicate the good news.

It was the desire of a good warm-hearted woman. So she had hastened on her pleasant errand, and now, having told her story, she asked, “Am I really the first to communicate this to you?”

The tidings were so unexpected that for some moments he could make no reply. At length he said, “Yes, Annie, you are the first to inform me. I was until now utterly unconscious of the fact, and now I am going to make you a promise. When the line is completed, the first despatch sent upon it from Washington to Baltimore shall be yours.” “Well,” she replied, “I will hold you to your promise.”

All details having been arranged between the Government and Mr. Morse, the construction of the line was proceeded with. He was allowed a salary of $2,500 per annum during the test. Mr. Alfred Vail took charge of the machinery while Mr. Ezra Cornell was made Superintendent of construction.

It was most unfortunate for Mr. Morse that his mind from the very first seemed prepossessed in favor of underground lines which had been adopted in England. They gave to him the general impression of safety and permanence, and he selected the plan without experiment. He had ordered to be made in New York forty miles of a five wire cable enclosed in lead, and Mr. Cornell invented a plow to make the trench for its reception.

This cable was laid from Baltimore to the Relay House, seven miles away, but on testing it the escape was found so great that the necessity of abandoning it became evident. More than half the appropriation had been expended. After much anxious thought, it was decided to place the wires on poles, and the line was finished in this way with two copper wires of size number 14, covered with cotton saturated with gum shellac.

The first insulation of the government line shows how crude and rudimentary was the conception held at that period. It was simply two plates of glass, between which the wire, after wrapping well with cloth saturated with gum shellac, was placed and over which a wooden cover to protect from rain and press the glass upon the wire and keep it in place was nailed.

These were afterwards removed and the Bureau Knob pattern substituted.

In about one year after the appropriation had been made, the line was completed.

The first telegraph office in Washington was in a small room on the east front of the Capitol, and afterwards in a room over the city post-office. The relays were of number 16 cotton covered copper wire saturated in gum shellac, each weighing about 510 pounds, and so coarsely constructed that Mr. Vail kept the ones in use in a back room where the operator had to run when it needed adjustment.

The battery consisted of 100 cells of Grove, which was renewed three times a week. The circuits were left open when the line was not in use, and the instruments were so connected that each operator started and stopped the instrument at the distant station by the dropping of a break upon the fly wheel when the manipulations of the keys were suspended.

The magnets were soon after greatly improved, reduced in size, and increased in power.

True to the promise he had made to his friend, Miss Ellsworth, Prof. Morse now sent for her and to which she at once responded.

She was invited to indicate a message for transmission. It was promptly done in language now historic and in consonance with the inventor’s own often expressed thoughts respecting the origin of his invention, indeed, he may have suggested the words “What hath God wrought.” This message was passed over the wires, and the strip of paper on which it was imprinted was given to Governor Seymour of Connecticut, as a souvenir in honor of the young woman who was a native of his State, and of the inventor who received therein his collegiate training.

An incident now brought the usefulness of the telegraph into public recognition.

The National Convention to nominate a President was in session at Baltimore. James K. Polk had been nominated President, and Silas Wright, then in the Senate, and in Washington at the time, as Vice-President. This was communicated over the wires. In a few minutes the convention was astonished to receive a message from Mr. Wright respectfully declining the nomination. The presiding officer read the despatch, but the convention could not or would not believe its authenticity, and adjourned to await the report of a committee sent to Washington to confer with that gentleman. The committee confirmed the telegraphic message. This fact soon became known when the fame of the telegraph at once took wing.

It is related that about this time that a prominent functionary asked an assistant “how large a bundle could be sent over the wires, and if the United States mails could not be sent in the same way!”

Some wag did straddle a pair of dirty boots over the wires and very seriously told an astonished citizen that they got dirty by coming so rapidly from Baltimore!

On the opening of the government line, Mr. O. E. Wood, at that time connected with the engineering department of the State of New York, was induced by his brother-in-law, Ezra Cornell, to give up his profession and join Mr. Morse at Washington. He then became Mr. Morse’s first pupil.

In November, 1844, he received over the wires from Baltimore the result of the Presidential elections in Northern and Eastern States, and with Mr. Vail spent the winter of 1844–45 in exhibiting the working of the telegraph to members of Congress, diplomatic representatives and to visitors attracted thither from all parts of the globe. He also transmitted to the Baltimore press a report of the proceedings of Congress for publication.

On April 1, 1845, the line, which had been worked as a curiosity, was thrown open for public business.

The operators appointed were Mr. Vail at Washington and Mr. Henry J. Rogers at Baltimore.

During the first four days the receipts amounted to one cent. This was obtained from an office seeker who said he had nothing less than a twenty dollar bill and one cent, and with the modesty of his class, wanted to witness the operations of the telegraph free, this was refused because against orders. He was told he could have a cent’s worth of telegraphy, to which he agreed, and he was gratified in the following manner:

Washington asked Baltimore “4” which meant in the list of signals “what time is it?” Baltimore replied “1,” which meant “one o’clock.” This was one character each way which would amount to half a cent. The man paid his one cent, magnanimously declined the change, and went his way satisfied.

This was the total revenue of four days.

On the 5th, twelve and a half cents; the sixth was the Sabbath; on the seventh the receipts ran up to sixty cents; on the eighth, to a dollar and thirty-two cents, and on the ninth, to a dollar and four cents. Not a very dazzling prospect certainly, yet watchful eyes saw its future value.

It is recorded that about this time a certain good dame, whose ideas of discipline were somewhat stern and fundamental, after surveying a pole recently planted near her door, placing her hands on her haunches, and looking critically at the pole, exclaimed, “Now I s’pose no one can spank their brats without bein’ known to the hull cree-a-tion!”

The telegraph was fairly under weigh. Prof. Morse offered to sell his rights to the Government for one hundred thousand dollars, but the Postmaster General was not satisfied. The operations of the telegraph between Washington and Baltimore had not shown him that, under any rate of postage that could be devised, its revenue could be made equal to its expenditure. The offer was therefore declined. This refusal was fortunate both for the inventor and the country.

The next move was to enlist private capital, and this was soon accomplished.

The first telegraph company in the United States, the “Magnetic Telegraph Company,” was formed, but this was not attained without difficulty.

Early in 1845 Mr. Kendall, formerly Postmaster General in President Jackson’s administration, was induced, after much deliberation and consultation, to take a leading part in organizing the Company.

It was thought expedient to make the first attempt to construct a line between New York and Philadelphia, and to limit the capital to the probable cost of that section, the traffic between these large cities being extensive, and likely to prove remunerative.

To aid in securing capital. Mr. Ezra Cornell and Mr. O.S. Wood went to New York to exhibit the telegraphic apparatus upon a short experimental line strung on the tops of buildings.

Offices were opened, one at 112 Broadway, and the other in a building near where the Metropolitan Hotel now stands. Permission to allow the connecting wires to be erected on the tops of houses was obtained with much trouble, and only after paying Prof. Silliman, Jr., a fee of fifty dollars for an expert opinion respecting its safety before the property owners would consent to the wires being erected.

The price of admission to witness the operation of the telegraph was twenty-five cents. This seemed a novel way to secure capital in a great city like New York.

With this embargo, notwithstanding the wonderful character of the invention, there was not visitors enough to pay expenses; everything indicated poverty. The exhibitors were so poor that one of them was glad to use a couple of common chairs for his nightly rest.

It was certainly a strange experience for the future princely founder of Cornell University, making his breakfast out of the proceeds of a shilling picked up, as it were, from the sidewalks of Broadway, and which, he said, were the best meals he had ever enjoyed.

The estimated cost of a line from Fort Lee on the Hudson to Philadelphia was $15,000—a modest sum to ask of the great city of New York, but the men of capital looked over their immaculate collars at the ticking machinery, and into the faces of the hungry exhibitors, and up at the wire straggling among the chimney pots, and then down at the meagre furniture, and said “No;” each man feared to be the first fool. But what capitalists would not do, humbler men did.

One of the first men in New York to invest his money in the new device was the keeper of an eating-house on Nassau Street, and who afterward became one of the directors.

The money needed was finally raised, but chiefly outside of New York. It was provided in this original subscription that the payment of fifty dollars should entitle the subscribers to two shares of fifty dollars each.

A payment of fifteen thousand dollars, therefore, required an issue of $30,000 stock. To the patentees was issued an additional $30,000 stock, or half of the capital, as a consideration of the patent; the capital was, therefore, $60,000 for the first link.

Trustees were appointed to hold the patent rights and property until the organization was effected.

The incorporators were:—

S.F.B. Morse,
B. B. French,
Geo. C. Penniman,
Henry J. Rogers,
John S. McKim,
J. T. Trimble,
W. M. Swain,
John O. Sterns,
A. Sydney Doane.

“THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY.”

Early in November, 1845, the line was first opened between Philadelphia and Norristown, Pa. distant 14 miles, so as to gratify public curiosity, while the building was going on beyond. This was completed to Fort Lee on January 20, 1846, and from Baltimore to Philadelphia, June 5, the same year.

No attempt was made for a long time to cross the Hudson.

In April, 1850, two gutta percha covered wires were submerged at Fort Lee, which for a time did good service. Shortly after the formation of the Magnetic Telegraph Company (the Pioneer Telegraph Company in America), numerous organizations followed. In 1859, the company amalgamated with the American Telegraph Company.

THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ITS ORIGIN.

In April, 1854, a combination was agreed upon between the Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company and the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company. The united capital being $500,000 under the name of the Western Union Telegraph Company, by an act of the legislature of Wisconsin, dated March 4, 1856, and of the State of New York, of April 4, 1856.

The following year the Michigan Southern Telegraph Company was added to this combination.

The headquarters of the Company were at Rochester, N.Y. Other companies joined the united companies and the Western Union found it necessary to transfer its headquarters to New York, but the most notable of these consolidations took place in 1866, when the United States Telegraph Company, as well as the American Telegraph Company, joined forces with the Western Union, thus virtually embracing the entire telegraph business of the country.

In this year the capital was readjusted and appointed to the various interests forming the Western Union combination.

Soon after the union of the many conflicting telegraph interests had been effected, and through fear of a burdensome monopoly, a move was made towards the nationalization of the telegraphs. As a matter of course, this was strenuously opposed by the telegraph company’s representatives, and public sentiment was with the company.

Although politicians as a rule were favourably inclined to such a step, the majority of the people were against it, or indifferent, with the result that the movement dropped out of view, and has so far as known never been revived up to this period.

In telegraph operations little attention had been given to electricity as a science in America. Any improvements which had been made in connection with telegraphic appliances, except in repeating appliances, were of a comparatively trifling and unscientific character.

Marshall Lefferts had done much to show the value of statistics, and had laid down important ground work for systematized and scientific methods; he had even introduced some of the electric tests by which the telegraph wires afterward became so potential, but no clearly defined system had been in practice.

The battery man still multiplied his cells, emptied his carboys of nitric or sulphuric acid, and bathed his zincs in mercury, to raise the telegraphic steam; the patient operator turned and returned during the long hours of the weary nights the spring of his relay, to catch the erratic movements of the armature as it vibrated before the changing currents on the line.

Cromwell Varley, a well-known electrician whose accomplishments as a gentleman of education as well as a scientist had preceded him in the frequent appearance of his name in the records of scientific investigation, had arrived in New York. Mr. Orton, at this time the President of the Western Union Company, invited Mr. Varley to make a thorough investigation into the condition of the lines and apparatus owned by the Company.

The report made by Mr. Varley, minute and exhaustive, revealed a startling condition of things—half of the wires were found to be practically unavailable.

The best wires in the service showed a resistance far above the proper standard.

A popular relay was found to have a resistance equal to one hundred miles of number 8 wire, the use of which was choking the most important circuits.

The chief value of Mr. Varley’s report, indeed was in giving a practical illustration of the immense value of a scientific electrical training.

The electrician now came to be an important factor in American telegraphic work.

To this report also may be fairly traced the beginning of a series of improvements and inventions which have made famous the American name. By removing the obstructions to the electric current and reducing resistances in wires, magnets and batteries to a minimum, the great possibilities of the wires were discovered in accomplishments which were never dreamed of.

The duplex and quadruplex are great advances on the old condition, and would have been inoperative had they continued.

The visit of Mr. Varley had another result—the consolidation of so many important organizations under a single administration had unavoidably brought together more or less discordant elements; each company had its own peculiar methods, ideas of management, limitations of authority, rules of order, etc., as well as of tariffs and compensation. It was of the utmost importance that, in order to unity of management, distinct and clearly defined ideas of duty should be made to permeate the entire working force so as to make conflict impossible, and work quick, certain, harmonious.

It was scarcely less desirable also, now that the value of electric knowledge had been demonstrated, that by some means its attainment might be rendered easy and general, and a stimulus given to its acquisition. Under these circumstances Mr. Orton established the journal of the telegraph, and its usefulness soon became apparent; its clippings from the scientific journals of European and Home papers on electric art soon came to be the theme of almost universal interest. A copy of this paper was mailed to every office of the Company as soon as issued. It became not only the vehicle for executive orders for the announcement of new offices and of changes in the tariff, but imperceptibly, yet markedly, the means of infusing an “esprit de corps” and sense of brotherhood throughout the telegraph service.

At the solicitation of Mr. Orton, Mr. James D. Reid accepted the management of the journal of the telegraph, by whom it was admirably conducted for a number of years, with the praiseworthy results previously noted.

In view of the recent boundary arbitration between the United States and Great Britain, it may be interesting to recall the circumstances which led the American Government to become interested in Alaska as a connecting link in a telegraph project, to connect Europe and America by land wires.

When, in 1858, the Atlantic Cable proved a failure, and was looked upon as an utter impossibility, a Mr. Collins, the American commercial agent resident at St. Petersburg, proposed to construct a line of telegraph overland from the United States (via) Behring Strait and Asiatic Russia to Europe.

Perceiving the importance of the project, Mr. J. Cochrane, a member of Congress and of the Committee on Commerce, reported to that body on Feb. 18, 1861, a bill appropriating $50,000 for “The Survey of the Northern Waters, Coasts and Islands of the Pacific Ocean and Behring Strait, having reference to telegraphic connection with Russia,” and expressing full faith in its possibility.

In the United States Senate, Feb. 17, 1862, Mr. Latham also made an elaborate report, revealing the vast progress of telegraphs in Europe and the enthusiastic and enlightened action of the Russian Government in the proposed extension of her telegraph system to the Pacific.

A line had already been mapped out from Kazan, through Circassia.

From Omsk a line was traced out with the design of reaching India through the Northern Central gate of Asia. Still another was projected from the Amoor line to Pekin, Shanghai, Amoy and Hong Kong—thus, to reach the trade of China, these projects showed the value of the telegraph to commerce.

Mr. Latham asked an appropriation of $100,000 for a survey of the route from California to the Amoor.

Russia offered her aid and a rebate of forty per cent. on American messages when communication was established.

Russia had already assured the construction of the line 7,000 miles from Moscow to the Pacific.

Secretary Seward took a deep interest in the enterprise, in a report to the Senate, May 4, 1864.

On the proposition of Mr. Collins, he said: “I think it may be regarded as settled that the United States cannot neglect to employ telegraphic communication with foreign countries, and yet expect to maintain a healthful commerce with them; that the United States cannot hope to inspire respect, confidence and good will abroad, and to secure peace with foreign States, without using the magnetic telegraph when it is possible. I do not know any one object lying within the scope of our foreign relations more directly important than the preservation of peace and friendship with Great Britain and Russia; nor can I conceive of any measure of nationality that would more effectually tend to secure that great object than the construction of this proposed international telegraph.”

The sentiments thus officially expressed by Mr. Seward were responded to by all intelligent men, and the Russian line was the most popular of the enterprises of the period.

The proposition to construct the Russian American line was first formally submitted by Mr. Collins to the Western Union Telegraph Company, Sept. 28, 1863, and again at a meeting of the board of that company in Rochester, N.Y., March 16, 1864.

It was in the form of a letter from Mr. Collins, requesting the acceptance of his project to connect Europe and America by way of the Behring Strait, and offering, if accepted within twenty days, to transfer his rights and privileges under certain conditions. The terms offered by him were accepted by the board of directors.

Soon after this construction commenced, beginning at New Westminster, B.C., the terminus of the California State Telegraph Company. The line in a few months was carried to the Skeena river. Meanwhile Mr. Serge Abasa, a Russian gentleman who had entered the service of the Western Union Company, was despatched to the Asiatic coast between the mouth of the Amoor and Behring Strait.

Mr. Abasa reported, January 18, 1866:—“Inform the directors, the entire extent between Anadyr and Okhotsk district has been surveyed, but the route of the line has been determined by me in person, and notwithstanding the scarcity of laborers in the country, I have commenced preparatory works in Anudirsk, Jijiginsk, Yamsk, Taousk and Okhotsk.”

In the midst of all this enthusiasm, however, the Great Eastern, at the docks of an English harbor was having a cable coiled in her immense hold for another attempt to lay a submarine line between Europe and America.

When it was announced that at last victory had come, and that the continents were speaking to each other with easy garrulity, the overland line was abandoned.

It was a question of two thousand miles of cable against sixteen thousand miles of land line, half of which was along an uninhabited coast. The advantage of the cable was too palpable; orders were, therefore, issued recalling the men.

Already some eight hundred and fifty miles of line had been built, and was in operation between New Westminster, B.C., and the Skeena River.

The United States Government were duly notified of the stoppage of the work by the Western Union Telegraph Company, to which the Secretary of State wrote the following reply:—

I am not one of those who have been disappointed by the complete and magnificent success of the International Atlantic Telegraph.

I regard it as tributary to an expansion of our national commerce, and ultimately to our political institutions, both of which are important forces in the progress of civilization.

I would not have the Atlantic become dumb again if thereby I could immediately secure the success of the Inter-Continental Pacific enterprise which was committed into your hands. Nevertheless, I confess to a profound disappointment in the suspension of the latter enterprise.

I admit that the reasons you have assigned for the suspension seem to be irresistible. On the other hand, I abate no jot of my former estimate of the importance of the Inter-Continental Pacific Telegraph.

I do not believe that the United States and Russia have given their faith to each other and to the world for the prosecution of that great enterprise in vain.

W. H. Seward.

The loss was very great to the enterprising company who had undertaken the responsibility, but everything was paid up without a murmur. The sum expended amounted to $3,170,292.

That the Western Union was enabled to defray this enormous expenditure without in any way impairing its stock value or credit proved the solidity of the Company even at that period of its history.

The friendly intercourse between the American and Russian authorities in connection with their telegraph project was, no doubt, the direct cause of the subsequent negotiations between the two Governments for the sale and purchase of Alaska, the advantages of which the astute Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, became cognizant, and finally consummated the transfer of that territory from Russia to the great Republic.

In the early days of telegraph enterprise the necessity soon became evident that, in order to provide the requisite facilities for public convenience and for the economical employment of capital, the consolidation of the many struggling companies was self-evident. This policy has been carried out effectually by the Western Union Telegraph Company, which gradually absorbed by lease or purchase upwards of fifty concerns from the date of its organization at Rochester, N.Y., to the removal of its offices to New York. In 1866 this Company had virtually absorbed all rival and opposing companies of any importance. The commanding position reached by the Western Union in 1866, with its growing ramifications covered by 75,000 miles of wire, has steadily advanced until the present. It embraces in its great system over 1,000,000 miles of wire, over 23,500 separate offices, two atlantic cables, a cable to Cuba with connections throughout the West Indies, and close direct connections with all parts of South America. In Canada the Great Northwestern Telegraph Company, which leased the Montreal and Dominion Telegraph Companies, is controlled by the Western Union Telegraph Company. So also is the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Telegraph Companies.

In 1872, six years after its reorganization, the Western Union owned in

Pole mileage. Wire mileage.
62,033 137,190
In 1882 131,060 374,368
” 1892 189,576 739,105
” 1902 196,115 1,029,984
In 1872 it had 5,237 offices
” 1882 12,068
” 1892 20,700
” 1902 23,567
In 1872 it transmitted 12,444,497 messages
” 1882 ”” 38,842,247
” 1892 ”” 62,387,298
” 1902 ”” 69,373,095
In 1872 its receipts were $ 8,457,095 77
” 1882 ”” 17,114,165 92
” 1892 ”” 23,706,404 72
” 1902 ”” 28,073,095 10

In 1902, 2,506 miles of poles and 57,218 miles of wires (of which 28,767 miles were copper) and 329 offices have been added to its system.

The increase in the number of messages transmitted in 1902 over 1901 was 3,717,834.

This increase does not include messages sent by brokers, press association and others over wires they lease from the Company, nor railway messages under contracts.

The receipts for the transmission of regular commercial messages increased in 1902 over the previous year $1,348,531.34 and from leased wires $451,749.64.

The maintenance and reconstruction of this enormous system cost the Company in 1902 $3,591,069.17, and $2,188,101.03 were expended in the construction of new lines during the same year.

Through the re-arrangement of the operating forces and substitution of direct working circuits for repeating or relay offices a reduction of $388,746 has been effected and the service besides greatly improved.

In 1903 contracts were made early in that year with various railway companies for the building of 16,800 miles of line. The capital stock of the Company is $100,000,000, on which a dividend of 5 per cent. per annum is paid, payable quarterly.

The Company has had the good fortune to have secured men of conspicuous ability to direct its affairs from its inception to the present time.

THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH CABLE COMPANY.

This Company was organized in 1881. Its original promoters expected by the use of compound steel and copper wire of large size and the use of the Leggo-automatic and Gray-harmonic apparatus to transmit a large volume of business by the use of so few wires and at such a speed that a uniform and low rate would produce a revenue sufficient to justify a capitalization largely in excess of the cost of the plant.

The name postal was chosen upon the theory that the new plan of construction and method of transmission would bring the property into extensive use in competition with or perhaps as an auxiliary of the Post-Office department.

How far the purpose of the founders was speculative need not now be considered. Probably some of them were sincere in their beliefs, but they were ignorant of the telegraph business, and the fallacy of their plan was soon demonstrated.

In order to help a friend, who had become largely involved in the bonds of the Company, Mr. John W. Mackay found himself in control of the property in 1884. He had in the meantime been induced to interest himself in the organization of a new cable service between Great Britain, France and the United States, of which, through the failure of some of those who were to join in the enterprise, he also came into control. Having “put his hand to the plow,” so to speak, although the business was wholly new to him, he was not the man to turn back, and the more he examined the merit of the business itself, the better satisfied he became that, if it could be properly conducted in its details and the complicated and chaotic condition of the numerous comparatively small, but ruinously competing land line companies could be brought into right form and order, a successful and in every way creditable business worthy of the employment of his ample resources could be built up.

When the Western Union Company, early in 1881, under the leadership of Mr. Jay Gould, acquired control of the Atlantic & Pacific, the American Union and the combined Canadian telegraphs, and formed an alliance with the cable companies, it then seemed as if competition in the telegraph business had come to an end, and many of its ablest men were of that opinion, but by the end of 1884 more extensive and more injurious competition had been built up in the United States than had ever existed before, and the possibility of bringing order out of such chaos seemed remote, but Mr. Mackay was not discouraged.

Early in 1884 he secured the services of Mr. George G. Ward, who had been brought up in the business of the telegraph in England, and had been in the service of the cable companies almost from their inception, and was Superintendent of the Direct United States Cable Company from 1875 to 1883. Under his direction the first of the Commercial Cable Company’s cables was completed in December, 1884.

Early in that month Mr. Albert B. Chandler entered Mr. Mackay’s personal service, having been assured of his purpose to permanently establish a telegraph system upon sound and just principles respecting which they were in full accord.

Mr. Chandler had served in almost every capacity known to the telegraph business, from operator in 1858 to President in 1879, and had won the confidence of proprietors of telegraph property, of their officials and employees, and the public as a practical, energetic and conservative manager. Under his guidance as receiver, the mortgage which had been placed upon the property of the Postal Telegraph Company under complete misapprehension of its earning power, was foreclosed.

The Postal Telegraph Cable Company, of which he became President and General Manager early in 1886, was organized. Extremely complicated and vexatious litigation, chiefly a legacy from the smaller companies, was gradually removed, and when, near the close of 1887, the various fragmentary companies had been acquired by either the Western Union or the Postal Companies, competition, based upon the cutting of rates, rebates and other wasteful practices which could only end in destruction, was promptly terminated by the competing companies.

Since then the telegraph business has been carried on in the United States in a more business-like and progressive manner than ever before.

There is so little friction between the two companies apparent to the public, that it is sometimes charged, or at least suspected, they are in actual alliance, but such is not the case. Competition for patronage was never so sharp as now, but it is based upon excellence of facilities and service and treatment of patrons, and not upon any form of buying patronage with money, which has proven the ruin of so many companies whose chief purpose seemed to be to do the most harm in the shortest time, in order to sell or lease their property for more than it was fairly worth.

Probably no two men ever had more complete control of large interests not their own during their formative period than has been the case of Mr. Chandler and Mr. Ward in their respective positions, and to Mr. Mackay’s implicit confidence in them may be attributed much of the success that has been attained by the Commercial Cable and Postal Telegraph Companies, which are now practically one property.

Most of the principal officers of these companies have been brought to their present positions by these gentlemen, and the business is conducted with singular harmony and efficiency.

Mr. Mackay, who was from its inception President of the Commercial Cable Company, assumed also the Presidency of the Postal Company early in 1901 at the earnest request of Mr. Chandler, who desired to be relieved, partly by reason of somewhat impaired health, and partly because of his preference to spend much of his time in his Vermont home. Upon his retirement from active charge, he was made Chairman of the Board of Directors, and in this capacity renders a variety of services and exercises as a useful influence. He is still, as he has been for many years, a Vice-President of the Commercial Cable Company, of which Mr. Ward continues as first Vice-President and General Manager.

Mr. Clarence H. Mackay has succeeded his father as President of the Commercial Cable and Postal Telegraph Companies, and entered with great pride and energy into the project of laying a cable to Hawaii and the Philippine Islands as projected by his father.

These very important links in the circuit round the globe adds further power and opportunity to the Postal Company, whose activity seems now to have fairly begun, and being laid upon sound foundations of finance, construction and methods of business is evidently destined to continue an increasing success.

The following figures show the pole and wire mileage, number of offices operated or reached, and number of messages handled in 1903 by the Postal Telegraph Cable Company, its subsidiary companies and direct connections in North America:

Pole mileage 48,801
Wire” 276,244
Points reached 19,977A
Messages handled 21,600,577
Number of new offices added in 1903 3,729

A1,782 of these are reached by no other company.

The properties in the United States owned and controlled by the Postal Company represent an investment in lines and equipment aggregating about $25,000,000.

In order to perpetuate the name of his father, the virtual founder of the Commercial Cable and Postal Telegraph Companies, Mr. Clarence H. Mackay, President of the United Companies, recently addressed a circular letter to the stockholders inviting the deposit of their stock for exchange for shares in a trusteeship created under the Massachusetts laws with the name of “The Mackay Companies.”

The capitalization of the Commercial Cable Company, which also owns the Postal Telegraph and Cable Company, is $15,000,000, upon which 8 per cent. dividends are paid.

“The Mackay Companies” has authorized for exchange for this stock $30,000,000 par value of its own 4 per cent. cumulative preferred shares and a like amount of common shares, so that each stockholder in the Cable Company will receive for his holdings 200 per cent. in the common shares of the new concern.

The Trustees are Clarence H. Mackay, John I. Waterbury, President of the Manhattan Trust Company of New York; T. Jefferson Coolidge, jun., President of the Old Colony Trust Company of Boston, both directors of the Commercial Cable Company, and Mr. W. Cook, Counsel to the Company.

The plan is practically consummated.

Mr. Mackay said in reply to an enquiry that this action on his part was the outcome of his desire to put on a permanent basis the properties created by his father, and to provide for all contingencies that might arise from death or changes in commercial conditions. He will continue to devote his entire time to the active management of the Company.

The Commercial Cable Company owns and operates four transatlantic cable lines and its connecting lines between Nova Scotia and New York, and Ireland and France, in all some fourteen thousand miles of cable, with also the cable from San Francisco to Honolulu and thence to the Philippines.

The Mackay system has an exclusive connection with the Canadian Pacific telegraphs and with the all red cable line to Australia and New Zealand.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OF AMERICA.
(London Daily Express.)

With the evolution of the United States into a world power there has grown up across the Atlantic the greatest news-gathering agency ever imagined or created, whose despatches are momentarily being read by nearly half a hundred million people, and upon which Europe itself is sometimes dependent for the first word or whisper of what has happened within her own gates. The name of the agency which supplies America with its news is the Associated Press.

Startling in its scope, romantic in its history, the Associated Press has now, probably, more influence upon daily international events than any other agent, except the will of the peoples, which it helps to form.

Sixty years ago, when America was in industrial and political childhood, its papers depended for news upon Associated Press post-boys, who, after meeting incoming schooners at New York, rode hot haste, or leisurely, according to the character of the rider and nature of the beast, to the various papers inland.

To-day the Associated Press sends over 31,000 miles of private telegraph lines, which form a network across the continent of America, thousands and thousands of columns, supplying about 3,000 American papers with news of what is happening from minute to minute in America and abroad.

NETWORK OF WIRES.

In addition, the Associated Press keeps Europe and the rest of the world informed of the news of the great Republic, gathered and distributed by over 2,000 employees, who are supported on an annual revenue of over half a million sterling.

The Associated Press was started about 1840, when seven of the New York daily papers combined to reduce the expense of news by post-boys.

The organization at present consists of over 700 of the leading American daily papers. Each paper has a vote whereby fifteen directors are elected. These in turn elect officers. Through contract relations 2,300 other papers are granted the Associated Press News service, making a total of 3,000 out of the 3,200 daily papers published in America.

These 3,000 papers have a daily issue of 15,000,000, and each paper is estimated by an impartial statistician to pass through the hands of three persons; hence it is estimated that every despatch sent by the Associated Press reaches 45,000 pairs of eyes.

The Associated Press is not in itself a profit-making concern, being purely co-operative, and has nothing whatever to do with any advertising. Its papers, which include those of all languages, creeds and politics, are assessed according to the expenditure involved in gathering and distributing the home and foreign news.

Over its own telegraph wires the Associated Press sends through its own telegraph operators, east, west, north and south, the news of the moment.

SOME QUICK WORK.

This is received in its branch offices in all the important towns throughout the United States, and transmitted to the papers. The result of last year’s Derby was in the New York office of the Associated Press, nearly 3,000 miles away, twenty-five seconds after “Rock Sand” had passed the winning post, and was published in San Francisco, about 7,000 miles from Epsom, two minutes afterwards.

Interesting as is this system whereby the news of America and the outside world is simultaneously distributed to the American papers—a system of mechanical ingenuity and organization that would require several columns to describe adequately—it must be almost of secondary importance to English readers compared with the influence wielded by this American news agency over matters British and European.

The Associated Press has treaty relations with the three great European news agencies, viz., Reuter’s, which supplies Great Britain, Greater Britain, all the British possessions, Egypt and the Far East, except Tonquin, with their news. Havas, which covers the newsfield of France, and through its subsidiary agencies all the Latin countries, including South America; and Wolff’s, which from Berlin controls and distributes the news of Germany and all the Teutonic countries, and, through allies, the news of Russia, Austria-Hungary, the Slav countries, Scandinavia and Danish territory.

These three European agencies in turn rely upon tributary agencies such as the Telbureau, in St. Petersburg; the Stefani, in Rome; the Fabrin, in Madrid, and the Corresponz, in Vienna—all official voices of Government opinion.

NO SALES IN ENGLAND.

These European agencies and their tributaries constitute one great clearing-house of news. Havas gathers the news of France primarily into Paris; thence it radiates throughout the world: to Reuter for England, to the Associated Press for America, to Stefani for Italy, and so on. In this way a budget comprising the news of the world appears day by day.

Not content with receiving for its papers the news of Europe through the agencies already mentioned, the Associated Press has established in practically all the European capitals, bureaus of its own. In London the Associated Press keeps a large staff, though no attempt is made to sell a single item of news to English papers. All their work is to gather news and send it to America.

In London the staff of the Associated Press, as it is familiarly called, is under the direct supervision of Mr. Walter Neef, who is in charge of the entire European service.

The correspondents resident on the continent are in close touch with the Chancelleries, and are welcomed at their respective Foreign Offices with a kindness that speaks eloquently for the friendship these European nations are willing to offer to America.

The first news of the arbitration treaty that sealed the Anglo-French “entente” was cabled to New York by the Associated Press from Paris, and re-cabled to London, where it was promptly denied by no less an authority than the Times. The first news of the recent Anglo-Spanish treaty came to England from the Associated Press in New York, having been cabled from its London office.

When Martinique was devastated by a volcanic eruption, which included among its victims the correspondent of the Associated Press at St. Pierre, the Fort de France representative called on Mr. Melville E. Stone, the General Manager, then in New York, for assistance.

Mr. Stone promptly placed a steamer at his service, and the other correspondents of the Associated Press in places of danger were rescued, and lived to tell to the world the story of that hideous visitation.

This cost the Associated Press about £5,000, and that is the sum it usually expends on the international yacht races for the America Cup, which are reported for England and America by correspondents and half a dozen special boats equipped with wireless telegraphic instruments.

When Pope Leo died, London, Paris, Berlin and other European capitals got the first intimation of his death from New York. The Associated Press correspondent in Rome had telegraphed the news on which all the world waited, and it had arrived in America exactly nine minutes after having been sent out from the Vatican, which is nearly two miles from the central telegraphic office in Rome.

This gave the Associated Press time to re-cable the news to Europe before it had arrived from another source. On that day the Associated Press published in its American papers over one page of closely printed description of the events centering round the Vatican, all of which was cabled from Rome after 4 o’clock on the preceding afternoon.

When Cardinal Sarto was elected Pope, the news again came to Europe in the same way—from the Associated Press office in New York. The decision of the Alaska Boundary Commission was cabled by the Associated Press to New York and Canada on a Saturday, and re-cabled back to England for the Sunday papers, though it was not officially announced in London until the following Tuesday.

To come to still more recent events, the news of the transmission of Russia’s final note to Japan was received in London from the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Associated Press via New York, while despatches from the same agency announced in America the rupture of diplomatic relations and the practical outbreak of war as early as Saturday afternoon on February 6.

A MANAGERIAL GENIUS.

Mr. Melville E. Stone, the General Manager and presiding genius of the Associated Press, whose indomitable “grit”—as they say in America—was the chief factor in the victory won when the Associated Press fought for five years for supremacy in America, has recently paid a flying visit to England, after being received by the Czar in St. Petersburg and by the Kaiser in Berlin.

Several other crowned heads have been pleased to consult with Mr. Stone, who naturally is one of the most prominent of Americans. He has been decorated by the King of Italy, the President of the French Republic, and the Kaiser.

As a result of Mr. Stone’s personal suggestion, the Czar has removed the censorship on all news that leaves Russia for abroad. In a few hours the head of the American news agency was able to convince the Ruler of All the Russias that the censorship was not only useless, but absolutely harmful to the Empire. The tradition of centuries has been swept away, and, on the word of the Czar, all the world will be free to have the individual opinions of correspondents who may care to come into Russian domain.

No country is likely to benefit more by this decision of the Czar than Russia itself; no public is likely to be more slow to realize the genuineness of the change than that of Europe. The extent of the revolution effected can scarcely be gauged except by those who know Russia well.

When asked the other day to what principles this American news agency owed its ascendancy in the world, Mr. Stone laconically replied: “Accuracy of statement and speed in transmission.”

Of such is the Associated Press of America.

S.F.B. MORSE.

PROF. S.F.B. MORSE.

Born April 27, 1791, at Charleston, Mass. His father, the Rev. Jedediah Morse, author of the well-known book entitled “American Geography” and compiler of the “Universal Gazette.” His mother was Elizabeth Ann Breese.

At seven years of age young Morse entered the preparatory school at Andover, Mass., and at 14 the Freshman Class at Yale, graduating in 1810.

The faculty which first developed in him was the artistic. He provided himself with brush and paint and commenced taking on ivory the portraits of his more opulent companions. He found in painting an inspiration, and selected it as his chosen profession.

He placed himself under the tutelage of Washington Allston, one of America’s famous artists, who encouraged him in the choice he had made. He accompanied Allston to Europe in 1811, bearing introductions to some of England’s most distinguished men.

Benjamin West was then in the zenith of his fame. It was a proud day for Morse when he met West and was welcomed to his studio. A mutual attachment sprang up between them, and West became thereafter his friend and counsellor. Meanwhile West’s friendship and the introductory letters he had brought with him introduced him to men of influence and reputation.

Some of their names are historic. It was something for a young man to meet such men as William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton, Zacharias MacCauley, father of the great historian, Lord Glenelg and many others, all of whom gave a warm and cordial welcome.

Mr. Morse’s instincts were refined and his companionships choice. He had for his room-mate in London the gifted Leslie, then, like himself, struggling for fame in a sublime art. For companions he had such men as Benjamin West, Copley, Allston, Coleridge, Rogers, Charles Lamb and others famous in art and literature.

He wrote thus to his mother in 1812:

“My passion for my art is firmly rooted, that I am confident; no human power could destroy it. The more I study the greater I think is its claim to the appellation of divine. I am going to begin a picture of the death of Hercules. The figure is to be large as life.”

The picture when finished was shown to West who warmly praised it, and in May, 1813, it was accepted for exhibition in the rooms of the Royal Academy, at Somerset House, then regarded as a very marked token of favor.

A new and unexpected triumph grew out of this painting. In executing it he pursued the plan of conscientious artists who first model in clay the figure to be painted in order to ensure strict anatomical proportions and accuracy.

This cast, to which he attached no special value, was seen by West, and was induced through his kind criticism to send this model to the Society of Arts in competition for a prize in sculpture.

This venture proved successful, and was publicly presented with the annual prize and a gold medal by the Duke of Norfolk.

In the British Art Reports the “Dying Hercules” is placed among the nine best paintings in a gallery of nearly one thousand, and among them the works of Turner, Northcote, Lawrence and Wilkie.

When young Morse went to Europe he was dependent to some extent upon his father for his resources. He was to be away three years. It was now 1815, one year longer than his limit, but he was ambitious and felt he had the power within him. He determined to compete for the chief prize offered by the Royal Academy for a subject he had chosen, “The Judgment of Jupiter in the case of Apollo, Marpessa and Idas.” The prize was a gold medal and fifty guineas.

The picture was completed, and hoping he would be allowed to compete in his absence, he offered it for that purpose to West, who, struck with its merits, advised him to stay, but this he could not do, and the rules cut him off. The premium had to be delivered to the successful artist in person.

A petition to make his case an exception was declined, and “Jupiter” went with its author to America.

He arrived in Boston, Oct. 18, and, without delay, rented a studio. He had his “Jupiter” on exhibition, and his own fame had preceded him. Many crowded the studio to see both the artist and the painting.

Society opened its doors, but this was all. No one offered to buy his picture or give him an order in the line of high art he had marked out for himself.

After various experiences Mr. Morse settled in New York, founding the National Academy of the Arts of Design, of which in 1827 he became President, and to which office he was annually elected until 1845. He delivered the first course of lectures on the fine arts ever delivered in America, and they were notable for suggestiveness and learning.

As an historical painter Morse stood next to Allston. Had the country demanded art of a very high order it is probable that Morse would have engaged his attention as an historical painter, but the nation was too young, knew little of art and cared less. Morse was honored, but his art kept him poor. He longed, however, too, for the opportunity to try his power on some national work. He conceived the idea of painting the interior of Representatives Chamber in the Capital at Washington, and devoted eighteen months to this. The picture measured eight feet by nine, and contained a great variety of figures. Its exhibition, however, caused him serious loss. The painting is in the possession of the President of the Arts of Design in New York.

He painted a picture of General Lafayette, who was at the time in the United States, and with whom he by this means formed a warm friendship.

In 1829 he again visited Europe, spending three years among artists and collectors of art in England, Italy and France.

In Paris he painted the interior of the Louvre, copying in miniature the chief pictures hanging on its walls. In the fall of 1832 he returned to America and resumed the Presidency of the Academy of Design, to which he was regularly elected annually during his absence.

When an artist was employed to fill with a picture one of the vacant panels in the rotunda of the Capitol, American artists, without exception, considered Morse best entitled to the honor, but great disappointment was felt when another was selected.

It was on his return from Europe on board the packet-ship “Sully” the idea of the electric telegraph engaged his attention, but it occupied many years of his time to bring it to practical shape. He would have accomplished this much earlier had he not been hampered from lack of means.

When his invention was matured and its usefulness perceived and applied, he was fortunate enough at last to reap the reward of many years of struggle and anxiety he had undergone.

On June 5, 1856, with the telegraph established in America, he again left for Europe. In London he met with great joy his artist friends: West, Landsear, Leslie and many others distinguished in science and art, all of whom warmly congratulated him on the brilliant career which had been opened up to him. In their estimation he had honored in this new realm the old art which he loved and elevated.

Morse’s development from an artist into an inventor was to them no marvel. He was still giving utterance to natural forces as when a few years before he combined his colors on canvass and produced his “Hercules.”

After enjoying for a time this pleasant reunion with his old friends in London, he also met and consulted with the English electricians, Glass, Bright, Whitehouse and others in respect to the proposed Atlantic cable in which experiments were then being made as to its possibility.

He then left for the continent. On his arrival at Copenhagen, whither he first directed his course, he was introduced to Frederick VII. King of Denmark, who, with his Court, received him with every mark of honor. There he visited the study chamber of Oersted, whose discovery of the reflection of a needle by a galvanic current was the dawning fact which eventually made his invention possible.

Continuing his journey to Russia, he found on arriving at the quay at Peterhoff the Imperial carriages with their usual retinue of footmen wearing the Royal livery in waiting. By these he and his party were driven to the Imperial Palace, where, with every demonstration of respect, he was received by the Emperor Alexander II., by whom he was most kindly congratulated as one of the world’s benefactors.

He next proceeded to Berlin. Here he was received with great cordiality by Humboldt, who welcomed him to his house and treated him during his stay with every mark of respect.

At his departure the great author of Cosmos presented him with an Imperial photograph of himself, on the margin of which he wrote:

“To Mr. S.F.B. Morse, whose philosophic and useful labors have rendered his name illustrious in two worlds. The homage of the high and affectionate esteem of

Alexander Humboldt.”

This memorial of one so great and gifted he greatly valued and carefully preserved.

Prussia, about the same time, presented to him the Prussian golden medal for scientific merit. After passing through many places of interest in Europe, in all of which he was received with distinguished honor, Professor Morse returned to London the latter part of September, 1856.

The public at that time were much interested in the subject of the proposed submarine telegraph connection with America.

A plateau extending across the bed of the ocean between the two continents had been discovered under a survey conducted by Lieutenant Maury for the United States Government, and which was regarded as extremely favorable for the projected enterprise.

Professor Morse, in concert with Mr. Whitehouse and Mr. Bright, the English electricians, conducted a series of experiments and sent signals through 2,000 miles of insulated wire.

These experiments removed any apprehension respecting the retardation of the electric current over this long length of wire.

It now became a question of capital and nautical engineering. The first was quickly pledged, the latter was not doubted.

While in London thus occupied, Professor Morse was tendered a banquet, which he promptly accepted.

The dinner was given Oct. 9, 1856. The Chairman was Mr. Fothergill Cooke, who, in presenting the guest of the evening, used the following language:— “Gentlemen, I was consulted only a few months ago on the subject of a telegraph for a country in which no telegraph at present exists.

“I recommended the system of Professor Morse. I believe that system to be one of the simplest in the world, and in that lies its permanence and certainty. (Cheers.) It is a great thing to say, and I do so after twenty years’ experience, that Professor Morse’s system is one of the simplest that has ever been, and I think ever will be, conceived. (Cheers.) He stands alone in America as the original and carrier-out of a grand conception.

“We know that America is an enormous country, but I think we have a right to quarrel with Mr. Morse for not being content with giving the benefit of it to his country, but that he extended it to Canada and Newfoundland, and even beyond there. His system has been adopted over all Europe.

“The nuisance is that we in England are obliged to communicate by means of his system, and he threatens to go further still, and promises, if we do not, he will carry out a communication between England and Newfoundland across the Atlantic.

“I almost envy Professor Morse for having forced from an unwilling rival a willing acknowledgment of his services.

“May he long live to enjoy the high reputation he has attained throughout the world.” (Long continued cheers.) Other speeches equally complimentary followed.

It was on the day of this banquet Mr. Morse received from Paris the announcement that the Emperor Napoleon III. had made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Martin Farquhar Tupper sent him a few days afterwards the following lines referring to the banquet:

“A good and generous spirit ruled the hour,
Old jealousies were drowned in brotherhood,
Philanthropy rejoiced that skill and power,
Servants to science, compass all men’s good.
“And over all religions banner stood
Upheld by thee, true patriarch of the plans
Which in two hemispheres was chimed, to shower
Mercies from God on universal man.
“Yes, the electric chain from East to West,
More than mere metal, more than mammon, can
Binds us together, kinsmen in the best
As most affectionate and frankest bond,
Brothers as one, and looking far beyond,
The world in an electric union blest.”

Although the Morse telegraph had been generally adopted in continental Europe, no compensation had hitherto been paid to the inventor.

Professor Morse, therefore, was much gratified in receiving the following letter while in Paris:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Paris, September 1, 1858.

“Sir,—It is with a lively satisfaction that I have the honor to announce to you that a sum of 400,000 francs will be remitted to you in four annuities in the name of France, of Austria, of Belgium, of the Netherlands, of Piedmont, of Russia, of the Holy See, of Sweden, of Tuscany and of Turkey, as an honorary gratuity, and as a reward altogether personal of your useful labors.

“Nothing can better mark, than this collective act of reward, the sentiment of public gratitude which your invention has justly excited.

“The Emperor has already given you a testimonial of his high esteem, when he conferred on you, more than a year ago, the decoration of a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

“You will find a new mark of it in the initiative, which His Majesty wished that his Government should take in conjunction, and the decision that I charge myself to bring to your knowledge, is a brilliant proof of the eager and sympathetic adhesion that his proposition has met with from the States I have just enumerated.

“I pray you to accept on this occasion, sir, my personal congratulations as well as the assurance of my sentiments of the most distinguished consideration.

S. Walewski.

Professor Morse, in addition to this handsome gratuity, received tokens of honor from each of the contributing nationalities:—

From France, the Legion of Honor; Prussia, the Gold Medal of Scientific Merit; Austria, a gold medal; Spain, Knight Commander de Numero of the Order of Isabella the Catholic; Portugal, Knight of the Tower and Sword; Italy, Saints Lazaro and Mauritis; Denmark, Knight of the Danneborg; Turkey, decoration in diamonds of the “Nisham Iftichar,” or Order of Glory.

He was also the recipient of many other marks of honor of a more private character.

As early as 1835 Mr. Morse was elected a corresponding member of the Historical Institute of France.

In 1837 he was made a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Belgium.

July 15, 1839, the Silver Medal of the Academy of Industry was voted to him for the invention of the telegraph.

The National Institute for the promotion of science, established at Washington, made him a corresponding member in 1841, and in 1842 the Gold Medal of the American Institute was awarded him for successful experiments in subaqueous telegraphy.

In 1845 he was made a corresponding member of the Archeological Society in Belgium, and in 1848 he became a member of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. The following year he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston.

Many other tokens of honor was accorded him from time to time.

While in Paris in 1867, the year of the International Exposition, Professor Morse served on the Committee of Telegraphic Appliances, and wrote an exhaustive report on the merits of telegraphic contrivances.

He also prepared with great minuteness a complete narrative of his own inventions.

Covered with honors, and having long overstepped the three score years and ten, Professor Morse returned to America and arrived at his rural home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he was affectionately welcomed by friends and neighbors.

Shortly after his return a number of influential and representative gentlemen of New York felt that something should be done by his fellow countrymen to honor the distinguished inventor and welcome him home.

He was tendered a banquet, which was held at Delmonico’s on Dec. 30, 1868.

The banqueting room was beautifully decorated the chair being occupied by the Hon. Salmon P. Chase. After the dinner the toasts to the Queen of Great Britain and the Army and Navy had been responded to by Mr. Thornton, the British Minister, and General McDowell, the Chairman, said: “Gentlemen, you will now allow me to invite your attention to the next regular toast. God has given understanding to man to be employed for His glory in promoting the happiness of His creatures and in nothing that belongs to earth can the human understanding be more worthily employed than in the researches of science and in the works of invention.

“Science and invention may be called, perhaps not unfitly, the creators and servants of civilization. Sometimes invention by a sort of intuition of principles has grasped results and seemed to anticipate science.

“More usually science by the patient investigation of truth and the discovery of principles has prepared the way for the triumph of invention. All invention is realized science, and this is especially true of the telegraph.

“I will not fatigue your attention with ancient and modern devices for communicating intelligence at a distance, but it seems proper to notice here how many men of science, and of what various nationalities have contributed to that wonderful art and instrument by which the world is now bound in electric chains.

“Many shining names will occur to any one familiar with the history of the telegraph. Among them I can pause to mention only those of Volta, the Italian, to whose discoveries the battery is due; Oersted, the Dane, who first discovered the magnetic properties of the electric current; AmpÈre and Arago, the Frenchmen who prosecuted still further and most successfully similar researches.

“Then Sturgeon, the Englishman, who may be said to have made the first electric magnet, next, and not least, illustrious. Among these illustrious men, our countryman, Henry, who first showed the practicability of producing electro-magnetic effects by means of the galvanic current at distances indefinitely great, and finally Steinheil, the German, who, after the invention of the telegraph in all material parts was complete, taught, in 1837, the use of the ground as part of the circuit.

“These are some of those searchers for truth whose names will be long held in grateful memory, and not among the least of their titles to gratitude and remembrance will be the discoveries which contributed to the possibility of the modern telegraph. But these discoveries only made the telegraph possible, they offered the brilliant opportunity. There was needed a man to bring into being the new art and the new interest to which they pointed. And it is the providential distinction and splendid honor of the eminent American who is our guest to-night, that happily prepared by previous acquirements and pursuits. He was quick to seize the opportunity and give to the world the first recording telegraph; fortunate man, thus to link his name forever with the greatest wonder and the greatest benefit of the age. “But his work was not done when in 1832 he conceived the idea and devised the plan of the first telegraph.

“Long years of patient labor and constant perseverance were needed to bring the telegraph into use. Its first message was not transmitted until 1844. Even then, and indeed before that year with something like prophetic inspiration, he grasped the future and predicted that telegraphic connection between Europe and America, which it was reserved for another distinguished American, kindred in spirit and kindred in renown and illustrious, to accomplish. Here I must pause, not, however, without uniting all your aspirations in the fervent wish that our honored guest may live long and happily to enjoy the applause, the gratitude and the reverence of mankind, which he has so honorably won.

“Gentlemen, I now give you ‘Our Guest,’ Prof. S.F.B. Morse, the man of science who explored the laws of nature, wrested electricity from her embrace and made it a missionary in the cause of human progress.”

The venerable Professor then arose amid tumultuous applause. He was laboring under deep feeling, too strong to be concealed.

As he did so the whole company made cheer follow cheer in testimony of their admiration and respect. At last in a clear voice he addressed the company at considerable length, reciting the history of the telegraph, and concluding as follows: “In casting my eyes around I am most agreeably greeted by faces that carry me back in memory to the days of my art struggles in this city, the early days of the National Academy of Design.

“Brothers (for you are yet brothers if I have left your ranks), you well know it cost me many a pang. I did not leave you until I saw you well established and entering on that career of prosperity due to your own just appreciation of the important duties belonging to your profession.

“You have an institution which now holds, and (if true to yourselves) will continue to hold, a high position in the estimation of this appreciative community.

“If I have stepped aside from art to tread what seems another path, there is a good precedent for it in the lives of artists. Science and art are not opposed.

“Leonardo da Vinci could find congenial relaxation in scientific researches and invention, and our own Fulton was a painter, whose scientific studies resulted in steam navigation.

“It may not be generally known that the important invention of the percussion cap is due to the scientific recreations of the English painter, Shaw; but I must not further detain you from more instructive speech. One word only in closing.

“I have claimed for America the origination of the modern telegraph system of the world; impartial history, I think, will support that claim.

“‘Not unto us, not unto us,
But to God be the glory
What hath God wrought.’”

Mr. Morse’s address was listened to with deep attention, and greeted at the close with great and continued applause.

Among the last, but not the least, of the honors paid Professor Morse, was the erection of his statue in Central Park, New York, by the telegraph operators of the United States and the British provinces. The ceremony of unveiling the monument took place on June 10, 1871.

Many delegates were present from all parts of the country to witness the function.

In the evening a reception was held in the Academy of Music, at which the aged inventor was present, when he bade farewell to “his children of the telegraph.”

He did not long survive this event. He passed away full of years and honors on April 2, 1872.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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