TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 133 
On the Present State of Electro- Telegraphic Communication in England, 
Prussia, and America. By F. WuisHaw. 
Mr. Whishaw stated that the object of his present communication was not to 
bring before the Section the numerous telegraphic instruments now in use and re- 
cently made public, but to point out the advantages and disadvantages of the three 
great systems of electric telegraphs now in operation in England, Prussia and Ame- 
rica. In England, the wires, being suspended from post to post along the sides of 
railways, are exposed to the following disadvantages—running of trains off the lines, 
by which posts and wires are all carried away together, and thus the communica- 
tion is stopped. Secondly, from atmospheric influences, whereby irregular and un- 
certain deflections of the needles in Cooke and Wheatstone’s telegraphic instruments 
take place, besides occasional destruction to parts of the instruments, &c. Thirdly, 
from snow-storms, as in the case of the South-Eastern telegraph which occurred 
during the last winter, when the wires and posts were all removed, and considerable 
interruption was caused in the transmission of communications. Fourthly, from 
damage by malicious persons, who sometimes twist the wires together; and for 
whose apprehension rewards have frequently been offered by the English companies. 
Fifthly, the wires have sometimes been connected together by a fine wire nicely 
soldered to the line wires, and thus the communications have been diverted from 
their right channel. Sixthly, the expense, viz. 150/. a mile, for the above-ground 
system, with an annual expenditure for repairs. Seventhly, and consequently, heavy 
charges for the transmission of messages. Eighthly, the time required in learning per- 
_ fectly the manipulations of the needle telegraph, so that if a telegraphist is from any 
_ cause disabled, there is no one at hand to take his place. With regard to the charges, 
_ the following facts will suffice to show the advantages of ceconomical telegraphs. 
In America, the charge for twenty words transmitted by the telegraph to the distance 
of 500 miles is but 4s.; whereas by the English company’s charges the same com- 
munication would only be transmitted 60 miles, or less than one-eighth the distance, 
and by the South-Eastern Company’s charges not 20 miles, or one-twenty-fifth 
of the 500 miles. Again, a communication of ninety words in America may be 
transmitted from Washington to New Orleans, 1716 miles, for 41s. 8d.; whereas 
| by the Electric Telegraph Company’s charges it would only be transmitted a little 
more than 200 miles, and by the South-Eastern Company’s scale under 100 miles. 
The extent of telegraphs in Great Britain at present is about 2000 miles ; and there 
yet remain railways to an equal extent without telegraphs. Mr. Whishaw expressed 
a hope that within a short time every principal town in the kingdom would be con- 
nected by telegraph, as the underground system may be effected without the aid of 
railways, viz. under turnpike-roads and towing-paths, &c. This plan has been 
practically carried out in Prussia, where at the present time there are 319 German 
‘miles=1492°92 English miles in actual operation. A single wire coated with gutta 
_ percha is laid under the railway at a depth of two feet, and connected with the in- 
struments and batteries at the different stations. A colloquial and also a printing 
telegraph are used in each principal station—both worked as required by the single 
wire. The experiment as to burying the gutta percha wire in the ground was com- 
-menced some years ago, and being found to answer perfectly, the Prussian Telegraph 
Commissioners appointed in 1844 determined on adopting the underground plan 
entirely for the government telegraphs, which were commenced in July 1848, so 
that no time has been lost in carrying them out. At Oderberg, the Prussian system 
is in connexion with the telegraphic line now in course of construction between 
that place and Trieste vid Vienna; and as regards the Prussian Government Tele- 
graphs, the public has the advantage of them by payment of certain fixed rates. 
The cost of the Prussian system is under 401. a mile. The American system is re- 
markable for the great extent to which it is already carried, viz. 10,511 miles, cost- 
ing less than 20/. a mile. It consists of a single iron wire supported from post to 
post, but is carried far beyond the limits of railways, and is consequently frequently 
‘damaged, so that a code of rules is established for the repair of the wires, which is 
_ undertaken by gentlemen living along the lines, and who are furnished with a set of 
tools for the purpose, their reward being the free use of the telegraphs for their own 
“private communications. The ceconomy of first cost, however, causes a very 

f 
; 
; 











































