and its application to Fire Alarms. 83 
length of the Signal wires, and also to the proposed power of the 
Striking Machines, by which the total expense will be increased 
perhaps more than a thousand dollars. The cost of superin- 
tendence and of the patent right will probably amount.to nearly 
two thousand dollars. 
The System can be introduced into small towns where two or 
three bells and a few Signal Stations are to be connected with 
the wires, at a cost, for the mechanical part, not exceeding one 
thousand or fifteen hundred dollars,—and into larger towns or 
cities at a proportionate rate. In the smaller towns the same 
wires may be used for both Circuits, that is, to constitute a closed 
Signal Circuit with a feeble battery, and subsequently an Alarm 
one half, but the principle of double conductors, in this case, 
should still be preserved. ; 
n the approach of the System to its completion in Boston, no 
doubt exists as to its mechanical efficiency, and to the precision 
of its operation, except where departures, almost unavoidable in 
a first experience, may have been made from the Prats pies of 
Construction, already indicated. The introduction of the System 
may be influenced by moral causes, but these have not been 
found, heretofore, to embarrass the working of the Telegraph in 
's country. Here is simply a test of the civilization of our 
People. Local and peculiar obstacles may also affect the System 
in its introduction. It is believed that none of these difficulties 
will prove insurmountable in the trial about to be made in Bos- 
ton, but that with patience and experience the uses of the Sys- 
tem will be fully developed. Should it be otherwise, the System 
18 still correct in principle, and will wait its own time for general 
adoption, _- 
reat credit is due to the government of the City of Boston 
for the liberality with which it has tried this experiment. To 
uperintendent, Mr. Farmer, intelligently seconded by the 
Committee of construction, the praise of great practical efficiency 
uld al 
- 
application of the Telegraph, by which a single clock registers 
18 time on an indefinite number of dials throughout a city, by 
© simple magic of the electric circuit, is also one which deserves 
to be brought into immediate public use. 
Nov. 11, 1851. 
