102 REASONS FOR LEAVING THE PUBLIC SERVICE. 



of the time, which called for the rapid construction of 

 a telegraphic network to embrace the whole country, 

 even at the risk of its not being of long duration. 

 The external protection of the conductors by iron 

 tubes proposed by me. as in crossing the Rhine, or 

 by sheathing with iron wires, for the manufacture of 

 which a Cologne firm had at my instigation already 

 made preparations, was declared to be too dear and 

 not readily producible; the provisional character of 

 the first attempts was maintained. 



On the other hand the factory for telegraphic 

 apparatus, which I had founded along with my friend 

 Halske. and into which I had reserved the rio*ht of 



D 



entry, had already under his excellent management 

 obtained considerable recognition by reason of its re- 

 markable achievements. The great importance of 

 electric telegraphy for practical life was perceived, 

 and the managers of railways in particular began to 

 increase the efficiency of the lines and the security of 

 their working by laying down telegraph - wires for 

 intelligence and signals. In connection with this an 

 abundance of interesting scientific and technical problems 

 cropped up, which I felt a vocation to solve. My 

 choice could therefore not be a matter of doubt. In 

 June 1849 I requested my discharge from the military 

 service, and soon afterwards also resigned my office 

 as technical manager of the Prussian state-telegraphs. 

 The latter post was offered at my suggestion to my 

 friend William Meyer, who threw up his commission 

 at the same time as myself. 



