Polytechnic Association Proceedings. 943 



operators, while waiting for the current to pass off, were highly- 

 amused by the fantastic streaks which would flash across the wires. 

 At one time a continuous stream of fire passed off, which lasted 

 from four to five seconds. The gas was readily lighted by apply- 

 ing the wire to the gas burner. Had the current been more steady, 

 the wires could have been worked without the aid of batteries. 

 On passing the hand over the covered wire in the office, the effect 

 was similar to that occasioned by passing the hand over a cat's 

 back, only more intense. At Lockport, the electricity passed off 

 the wires, and set fire to the board to which they were attached. 

 At different points along the line, as far as Albany, similar phe- 

 nomena were witnessed. The magnets became so surcharged with 

 electricity, that when the wires were disconnected the ' armature ' 

 remained drawn up to the * coils ' for full three-quarters of an 

 hour." 



The following letter, written by the manager of the Atlantic 

 and Pacific Telegraph Company, at Rochester, on the above phe- 

 nomenon, will doubtless be of interest to many: 



"Rochester, Feb. 10, 1868. 

 "W. S. GiLMAN, Je. — Dear Sir: Your letter of the 3d inst., 

 asking for certain information in connection with the electrical 

 phenomonon which exhibited itself upon our wires on the afternoon 

 and evening of the 9th ult., has been handed to me to answer, and 

 I am gratified to be able to give the desired information. The 

 first time that I ever witnessed a phenomenon of this character was 

 at Cleveland, Ohio, fourteen years ago this winter, while working 

 a wire between that place and Buflalo. I have since that time 

 witnessed about six similar displays, but never before one as brilliant 

 or as powerful as the last, which can be accounted for from the 

 fact that our wires are all galvanized. On the 9th ult., while I was 

 transmitting a telegram to New York over our No. 1 wire, trouble 

 came- in, which was afterward located between Fulton and Syracuse; 

 our wire being broken, and the western end hanging across No. 2, 

 rested on the ground. At the same instant I noticed my relay 

 surcharged with an unusual amount of magnetism. Upon opening 

 my key (which we usually give the sixteenth of an inch play), 

 discharges of electricity averaging as high as 300 pulsations a 

 minute flew from one platina point to the other, and the nearer I 

 placed these points the more rapid they occurred. I could not 

 only count them by sight, but by the thumping noise which they 



