222 ELECTRICITY. 



line of greatest attraction and least resistance, conditions Avliicli cannot, in all 

 cases, be ascertained, even with a minute examination of all tlie objects, since 

 active attracting materials frequently exist beneatli tlie surface of the earth. — 

 J. H.] 



From W. S. Giljian. 



One of the most beautiful electrical phenomena imaginable was witnessed on 

 the evening of the 9th January, 1868, in the office of the Atlantic and Pacific 

 telegraph line, Rochester, New York. Wire No. 1 of this line was down between 

 this city and tS^-racuse. Suddenly it was discovered that neither wire would 

 work. A continuous current of electricity was then observed to be passing over 

 the wires and through the several instruments, and this while the batteries were 

 detached. The current seemed to be of the volume of a medium-sized pipe-stem, 

 and exhibited the several colors of the rainbow. AVith the ke}^ open the cuiTent 

 flowed in waves or imdulations, and from the surcharged wire it leaped over the 

 insulated portions of the key and passed along the wires beyond. The same 

 phenomenon was observed at Buffalo and at Cleveland. The gas in the office 

 was lighted without difficulty by holding the end of a wire within an inch or two 

 of the gas-burner. The current was intense enough to shock one holding the 

 wires or instruments; indeed, one of the employes of the office had his fingers 

 scorched by the current. With closed keys the current was continuous, as before 

 stated. 



This phenomenon has never been witnessed except when cold weather prevails 

 extensively. The broken wire spoken of, wliicli rested on the ground, Avas the 

 point of communication with the earth. 



Here we may notice one thing not generally known. A poilion of a speech 

 of Hon. William H. Seward in Rochester, a few years since, was telegraphed to 

 New York and from Boston to Portland by the electrical influences of the aurora 

 borealis, all the batteries on the line being detached. This feat, it is said, has 

 never been repeated. 



The following additional information was famished in answer to inquires by 

 the Institution : 



The questions you put with reference to the Rochester electrical phenomena 

 are thus answered : 



1. Whether any appearance of the aurora was visible at the time? I learn 

 of none ; sky clouded at Rochester, Toronto, and Montreal, and storming. 



2. Whether the discharges were continuous or fitful? Prom B. P. Blackall, 

 manager of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company, Rochester, I learn as 

 follows : At 4.30 p. m. trouble commenced while he was " transmitting a telegram 

 to New York over the No. 1 wire, which was afterwards located between Pulton 

 and Syracuse, one wire being broken, and the western end hanging across No. 2, 

 rested on the ground. At the same instant I not-^ced my relay surcharged with an 

 unusual amount of magnetism. Upon opening my key, which we usually give 

 the sixteenth of an incli play, discharges of electricity, averaging as high as 300 

 pulsations a minute from one platina point to the other, and the nearer I placed 

 these points the more rapid they occurred. * * * * The fluid was passing 

 from west to east through the ke}'. In addition there was a current about the 

 size of a })in flowing from the core of the helices to the soft piece of iron on the 

 armature, which sounded very much like electricity produced by friction on a 

 glass cylinder when passing to a Leyden jar." The phenomenon continued until 

 al)Out 7 p. m. The writer informs me that he has witnessed a half dozen similar 

 but weaker displays during the past 14 years, and always between 4 p. m. and 

 7 p. m. 



Prom C. W. Dean, manager of the same line, Cleveland, Ohio, I learn as 

 follows: An extraneous current made it impossible to work the wire on January 

 9th last. It was first noticed at 9 a. m.^ when the current grew so strong that 



