Art. VIII. — On the Velocity of the Electric Current over 

 Telegraph Wire} By Prof. G. W. Hough, A. M. ? 

 Director of the Dudley Observatory. 



[Read before the Albany Institute, June, 1869.] 



The velocity of the electric current over land lines of 

 telegraph has been the subject of numerous experiments 

 during the past twenty years. The great discrepancies 

 existing between the different determinations, led us to 

 suspect that the so-called velocities were mixed up with 

 some other phenomena ; since they were found to vary be- 

 tween 13,000 and 30,000 miles per second. 



My attention was especially called to the subject by Mr. 

 C. S. Jones, manager of the Albany W. U. Office. He 

 expressed a desire to undertake some experiments for ve- 

 locity determinations, which were finally begun in April 

 last. 



Whatever value may attach to these results, Mr. Jones 

 is entitled to an equal share of credit ; since without his 

 assistance and cooperation it would have been impossible 

 to make them. "We would also express our thanks to the 

 officers of the W. IT. Telegraph Co.", for the use of the 

 necessary wires, batteries, etc. We might here state, that 

 the company have on other occasions shown great libe- 

 rality in furnishing us wires, for the use of scientific inves- 

 tigations. 



The following table will exhibit the principal results 

 heretofore deduced for the velocity of the electric 

 current : 



1 Abstract read at the Salem meeting of the American Association. 



