168 TEAU-EOOK OF FACTS. 



larly automatic character, all that is necessary being the mere put- 

 ting of the message (that is, a perforated strip of paper) into the 

 machine. — Mechanics' Magazine. 



Mr. Walter Hale has read to the British Association a paper 

 explanatory of a process for Covering Submarine Wires with India- 

 rubber for telegraphic purposes, and exhibited a model of his machine, 

 which effected the object by winding strips of leather, previously 

 moistened with naphtha, over the wire ; and the whole being after- 

 wards subjected to a temperature of 140°. The wires thus covered 

 were protected with a plaited covering of hempen cord, into which 

 longitudinal steel wires were introduced for the purpose of giving 

 strength. 



Messrs. Werner and C. W. Siemens then described their mode of 

 covering wires with India-rubber, and exhibited a very ingenious 

 machine for accomplishing this object. These gentlemen use no 

 solvent or heat whatever, but take advantage of the property which 

 India-rubber possesses of forming a perfect junction when newly-cut 

 surfaces are brought together under pressure. The core or wire, 

 with the ribbon of rubber applied to it longitudinally, is mshed 

 into an orifice, which serves as a guide to carry them into the 

 machine, so that the superfluous rubber is cut off by what may be 

 termed a revolving pair of scissors, formed by a disc of steel vith a 

 sharp edge turning exccntrically against a stationary plate ; and 

 immediately, by means of two grooved wheels, the edges are pressed 

 together, and thus the wire becomes encased in a perfect tube of 

 India-rubber. As many additional tubes as may be desired cm be 

 then put on. The machine is also applicable to the coating of wires 

 with what is known as W ray's Compound, a material of very high 

 insulating power, combined with very low inductive capacity.; 



PRIVATE TELEGRAPHS. 



A Public Company has been formed, proposing to establisl 

 Private Telegraphs in offices and elsewhere. For this purpose the 

 Company extend a rope, containing a great number of line insulated 

 wires, Over the streets and houses, and an/ one of those wins may 



be rented. To render Buch arrangements practicable, it was essential, 



in the first place, that the wire connexions should be effectually 

 made at a comparatively small cost. This object is attained by .Mr. 

 SiK-i's process for insulating wires by coating them witli India- 

 rubber. The wires are very much thinner than bell wires, and a 

 rope containing upwards of .i» of them properly insulated is barely 

 half-an-ineli in diameter. The rope is fixed on poles at the tops of 

 the- houses, about 200 yards apart, and it is said that the Company 

 have experienced no difficulty in obtaining tie of the occu- 



piers to have the poll i fixed on their dwellings. This arrangement 

 is so economical that the Company offers to 1. 1 out each wire at the 

 net. of -I'. i"-r mile per annum. The instruments t" !>•• emploj 

 the magneto-electric telegraphs, invented by Professor Wheal 



its mechanism being slightly modified to adapt it to its new duties. 



