USES OP THE TELEGRAPH. 



for some papers there, and which agreed, if the speech was first 

 received, to share the expense with the 'Herald.' The < Tribune' 

 in New York, and the 'North American' in Philadelphia, agreed 

 to start for a report of the speech, in opposition. From Lexington 

 to Cincinnati was eighty miles, over which an express had to be 

 run. Horses were placed at every ten miles by the Cincinnati agent. 

 An expert rider was engaged, and a short-hand reporter or two 

 stationed in Lexington. When they had prepared his speech it 

 was then dark. The express-man, on receiving it, proceeded with 

 it for Cincinnati. The night was dark and rainy, yet he accom- 

 plished the trip in eight hours, over a rough, hilly, country road. 

 The whole speech was received at the ' Herald ' office at an 

 early hour the next morning, although the wires were interrupted 

 for a short time in the night, near Pittsburg, in consequence of the 

 limb of a tree having fallen across them. An enterprising operator 

 in the Pittsburg office, finding communication suspended, procured 

 a horse, and rode along the line amidst the darkness and rain, 

 found the place, and the cause of the break, which he repaired ; 

 then returned to the office, and finished sending the speech." 



The Philadelphia "North American," upon whom the " Tri- 

 bune " chiefly depended, failed to get its report, and the latter 

 purchased a copy from the " Herald." 



The expense of securing the speech by express and telegraph, 

 amounted to about 100Z. 



The telegraphs have derived a very large share of their revenue 

 from the press. The whole expense, for telegraph reports of all 

 kinds, have some years cost the New York Associated Press (six 

 in number) probably about 1000?. each, or a total of 6000?. per 

 annum. The average for the past five years probably has not been 

 less than about 5000?. to 6000?. per annum. During long sessions 

 of Congress it exceeded this amount. 



Sometimes a single paper availed itself of the privilege of 

 ordering long and expensive reports of meetings, speeches, con- 

 ventions, &c., in which its associates participated or declined as 

 best suited their estimate of the value of the news. In case the 

 other papers refused to receive it, the whole expense was borne by 

 it. The "Herald" is the only one of its associates which publishes 

 a Sunday paper hence it takes all the telegraph news which is 

 received on Saturday afternoon and night, and pays the whole 

 expense of the tolls.* 



264. The electric telegraph, an offspring of science, has rendered 

 to its parent great and important services. 



From the moment that it was discovered that tho pulsations of 



* Jones, p. 138. 



95 



