336' HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY. 



and Charleston, the batteries were set up, and the greater 

 part of the night spent in attempts to obtain direct com- 

 munication between the two places. After a series of the 

 most varied experiments, the operators were forced to the 

 conclusion that the condition of the telegraph wires was 

 such that direct telegraphic communication between the 

 two stations was impossible. It thus became necessary 

 to establish an intermediate station : and one was accord- 

 ingly erected at Baleigh, North Carolina. It was here 

 found that direct communication both with Washington 

 and Charleston was possible. The series of observations 

 was completed on the 14th of May, 1853, at which time 

 eighty-four transits of stars had been exchanged with 

 Washington on four nights ; and fifty-nine exchanged 

 with Charleston on four nights. 



During the winter of 1853 and '54, the longitude experi- 

 ments were renewed under the direction of Dr. Gould. 

 On account of the telegraph facilities, it appeared de- 

 sirable that Columbia, South Carolina, rather than 

 Charleston should form a link in the great chain of 

 telegraphic longitude-stations which are to connect the 

 north-eastern with the south-western sea-ports of the 

 United States, and a station was accordingly selected at 

 Columbia. The observations at Columbia were made by 

 Dr. Gould and those at Raleigh by Mr. G. W. Dean. It 

 was Dr. Gould's intention to push the longitude con- 

 nections as far as Macon, Gorgia, and an astronomical 

 station was also selected in that city, but the unfavorable 

 state of the weather prevented his occupying that station. 



