158 Velocity of the Galvanic Current in Telegraph Wires. 
grand phenomena of terrestrial magnetism,* but the immense 
galvanic force which m mustt be exerted by the mutual influence of 
the huge masses of metal in the bowels of the earth,—when I 
consider the mighty electrical activity developed{ in the great 
processes of nature,—I will confess that I can not bring myself 
to believe that one special continuous line of electric tension in 
the ground between two remote stations can be established athwart 
all these colossal sos by the action of a puny os battery.$ 
Still, any views must be presented with diffidence, which vary 
from. the "expressed opinions of some of the nue of our 
scienti ists 
_ The view which I take appears to be 4 by the ~ 
Coast Survey experiments of Feb. 4, in a two-fold manner. 
irst, if we suppose the clock-signals, starting snltaneonsly 
from the Seaton Station in two directions, to be opagated both 
through the wires and through the earth to the tall minus at St. 
Louis, we must assume one of two things :— 
1. That the signal which traverses the ground, moves with 
a velocity bearing precisely sae same ratio to that through the 
Wire, that the dista ance by one route bears to the distance by 
the other. This would be Peis infinitely improbable, had we 
only the St. Louis experiment to guide us. But we have the 
results of the Coast-Survey experiments to Cincinnaly and to — 
Charleston, which prove this hypothesis to be incorrect. 
* Faraday, Researches, ii, p. 151. ¢ Phil. Tran 
t Pouillet, Ann, de Chim. et de Phys. xxxv, p. 414; Be ecteete rai iv, pp- 
164 . : ee Se — Univ., xi 1; Faraday, Researches, ii, pp. 47, 
4 Xiv, pp. 129, 17 ae eee 
special line of tension, meaning by this a line, whether independent 
or ees naar is capable of conveying electrotome and electropcea signals mn 
the same man g ly a wire conveys them. After the admirable analytical investi- 
gation na of Sm: and the corroborative though independent researches+ of 
+ coer Agha character “of “onde ction so the earth can no — be doubtful. 
palais current ge a peat dependatis | in piste asure upon on eee cal forma- 
tion of the localities traversed, as his —T. = measure the earth’s conductive 
— n different directi 
and Kirchhoff | would lead us to fee a> But are not his expe 
the criticism, suggested § by Smaasen, that we must know th 
lates before i i infe 
> 
4 | 
@ 
ps) 
el 
Le") 
ae. 
b~~) 
But 
conduct signals as oa this assumption vitiates the ex nts 
ind of Retin tnd’ Clout : 2 
* Pogg. Annalen nee a oe 5 
Il Cimento, 1847, May, June. v. Pogg. A n, Ixii, p. 449. 
Sit itzungsbericht ag aoe) ae May 10, A 
§ Pose. Annalen, lxxii, p. mB Oe § P Annalen, 
ogg. 
Pogg. p. 48 + De la Rive, Archives de ’Eleetr.,: 
“Hf Aste dour pa §§ Comptes Rendus, xxx, p. 
