TRANSLATION. 109 



and made it therefore our task to improve and perfect 

 the system mechanically as far as possible. 



We gave the apparatus good wheel -works with 

 automatic regulation of the velocity, a reliable magnetic 

 system, sure contacts and commutators, improved the 

 relays, and introduced a complete system of translation. 

 This consisted in an arrangement, whereby all the 

 currents circulating in a telegraphic circuit were auto- 

 matically transferred to a neighbouring circuit pro- 

 vided with its own battery, so that the whole line 

 was divided into several separate closed circuits, but 

 yet without the assistance of the telegraph clerks of the 

 intermediate stations communication could be directly 

 held between the terminal stations. 



Such a system of translation I had elaborated 

 as early as 1847 for my dial and printing tele- 

 graphs, and had laid before the Staff Commission an 

 apparatus constructed by myself for this purpose, 

 the so-called go-between (relay). Translation however 

 only attained its full importance through the application 

 to the Morse apparatus; it came into use for the first 

 time on the Berlin- Vienna line, which was provided 

 in Breslau and Oderberg with translation stations. It 

 may be here mentioned that the contrivance was sub- 

 sequently very considerably improved by Professor Dr. 

 Steinheil. the then Director of the Austrian telegraphs, 

 by fitting an automatic contact to the wheel-work. 



The railway companies remained longest faithful 

 to the dial telegraphs with automatic interruption. 

 In this system we had however ourselves brought 



