SB 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
METHOD OF MEASURING DISTANCES OF SHIPS FROM COAST BATTERIES 
BY MEANS OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 
[COMMUNICATED BY CAPTAIN R. W. HAIG, R.A.] 
The following account of Mr Madsen’s telegraphic method of measuring 
distances of ships from coast batteries bj means of the electric telegraph is 
translated almost literally from that gentleman’s address to the Danish 
government, and is the more interesting as describing a method -which has 
actually been adopted and is now in use at Copenhagen. 
The value of such a. system must be estimated in a great measure by its 
practicability, and when it is remarked that by its means the positions of a 
ship in motion can be readily determined at successive intervals of one 
minute, and that the employes are regularly practised in doing this, the 
reader can scarcely fail to be of opinion that Mr Madsen has well earned the 
Order of the Danebrog, which has been conferred upon him by the King of 
Denmark, in consequence of the success of his endeavours and experiments. 
Copenhagen, 
15th March, 1865. 
“In forwarding to the Government the accompanying work, entitled ‘Scheme of a 
telegraphic method of measuring distances for artillery purposes/ I have the honour 
to point out that my system has been approved by the Minister of War and adopted 
in the maritime fortifications of Copenhagen where it was used with complete success 
during the war of 1864.” 
I will now confine myself to giving a short description of the telegraphic 
arrangement for fortifications, and of the manner in which the measurement 
of distances has been effected. 
Telegraph . 
As will be seen by the plan, the maritime forts and the principal station of 
“ Quintus ” are connected together by a submarine cable of four strands, 
which extends from “Trekroner” to “ Provesteen,” passing through 
“ Lynetten,” “ Quintus/’ and “ Mellemfort.” 
Two other cables, starting from “ Quintus,” go one to the coast batteries 
“ Huth ” and “ Ny Kalkbrsenderi ” to the north, and the second to Battery 
“ Strieker ” to the south, and this latter cable then goes on to the pilot 
station “ Dragor,” where a post has been established for observing the Gulf 
of Kjoge and quarter to the south. 
Finally, Elsinore, where there is a similar look-out station, is in telegraphic 
communication with “ Quintus/’ 
All the telegraphic cables are thus united at “ Quintus,” and by this 
arrangement, and by making all the stations intermediary, telegrams sent from 
