THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 



The American lines are generally classified according to the 

 telegraph instruments with which they work. These are those 

 of Morse, House, and Bain, all of which transmit despatches hy 

 means of a single conducting wire, and all of which write or 

 print the despatches they transmit, those of Morse and Bain, 

 in a telegraphic cipher, and that of House in the common Roman 

 capitals. 



Of these three systems, that of Morse is in the most general 

 use a circumstance which is partly explained by the fact, that it 

 was the earliest adopted, and had established its ground long before 

 either of the competing systems. It must be admitted, that so far 

 as public opinion and favour can be accepted as a test of practical 

 excellence, the system of Morse has received not only a large 

 majority of the suffrages in the United States, but also in the 

 northern and eastern states of Europe. 



According to a report published in 1853, the total length of 

 telegraphic wire, at the end of 1852, then in operation in the 

 United States, was 24375 miles, which was distributed between 

 the three systems of telegraphs in the following proportion : 



Miles 



Morse . . , . . 19963 

 House . . . . 2400 

 Bain 2012 



24375 



It appears by a more recent estimate, published in a report 

 presented by Mr. T. P. Shaffher to the Telegraphic Conven- 

 tion, that in March, 1854, the total extent of telegraphic wire 

 then in operation was above 40000 miles, which were thus 

 distributed : 



Morse . . ^ : .. . 

 House . . . . 

 Bain ..... 



41392 



The decrease of the extent of the Bain lines was owing to the 

 coalition of some of the most extensive ol them with the Morse 

 companies. 



It would thus appear that in little more than twelve months the 

 increase of telegraphic wire amounted to 17000 miles. It is pro- 

 bable, however, that the estimate which we have quoted of the 

 extent in operation at the end of 1852 may have been below the 

 actual length. 

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