124 REPORT—1848, 
The “‘ Uniformity of Time ” Telegraph is on the principle of the centimetral hands 
of well-made clocks or chronometers, indicating to the hundredth part of a minute 
the same time. 
In order to ensure this desideratum, the ordinary dial is surrounded by an annular 
compensating plate, either moved by hand or by a tangent screw arrangement, so 
that if two clocks differ as to time to the extent of any part of a minute, the centi- 
metral hand will, by the movement of the annular plate, indicate precisely the same 
time at the two stations. 
The subsequent arrangement, as to giving signals, is similar to that used in the 
telekoiograph as above described. 
This telegraph is doubly useful, as it furnishes an accurate timepiece on one side 
and a colloquial telegraph on the other. 
The Telegraphic Code Box, for public or private use, consists of a series of rollers 
placed within a mahogany box, the front of which is hung on hinges, and is inclined 
at an angle of 45°. In this front there are as many slits or openings as there are 
rollers within. At the top of each set of slits a letter is attached, and also another 
letter opposite the sets of slits laterally, so that by the intersection of two imaginary 
lines at any one of these openings the desired signal is found, as Ac, &c. The word 
or information intended to be communicated by the two-letter signal is written or 
printed on a slip of paper, and repeated many times; this slip of paper is wound 
round its corresponding roller, with its end projecting sufficiently beyond the slit or 
opening to afford hold for the thumb and finger to draw it out when the required 
word, &c. is cut off, and the same operation is repeated for the next signal. 
The Telegraphic Despatch Box is intended as an accompaniment to every office 
where telegraphic despatch is required in the transaction of business. It contains 
not only everything that is required in the shape of stationery, postage-stamps, light- 
box, letter-balance, memorandum-slate, &c., but also the day of the week and month 
and the time of day. The whole is shut up (when not in use) by folding-doors, and 
forms a neat appendage to the library or office-table. 
Two Letter-Codes. By the use of four distinct alphabets upwards of 100,000 
changes are effected, either as words or sentences, and by varying the colour of these 
alphabets an infinity of changes may be produced. These codes extend to all words 
in the English language, including christian and surnames, names of places, ships, 
&c., and by their use the power of the telegraph is increased in a manifold ratio. 
On the Improved Velocentimeter. 
By Francis Wuisuaw, C.E., M. Inst. CLE. 
The novelty and use of the first velocentimeter proposed by the author consisted, 
—lIst, in the substitution of a central decimals’ hand for that of the ordinary seconds’ 
hand, whether placed centrally or excentrally, so that the time could be taken to the 
hundredth part of a minute; and 2nd, by surrounding the dial by an annular space 
containing velocities tabulated from 12°60 miles per hour up to seventy-five miles 
per hour, taking for a basis the fixed distance of a quarter of a mile. 
In roaking a single observation on this plan, it was necessary to note down the 
decimal division at the time of passing the first standard, and also the decimal divi- 
sion at the time of passing the next standard, and having subtracted the one from 
the other, to look to the table for the result. 
By the improved velocentimeter, which has the addition of a moveable annular 
plate, on which the table of velocities is engraved, instead of on the fixed dial, as by 
the first plan, a single experiment may be made by one observation : thus in passing 
the first quarter of a mile standard the central hand is made to coincide therewith, 
and also with zero (100) on the table ; and when the next quarter of a mile standard is 
passed, the tabulated figures opposite to the central hand give the velocities required. 
A Kilometral or any other British or foreign table may be substituted for the table 
of velocities when required, either for railway, steam-boats, or other experiments 
where time and distance are the principal elements. 
