COMPLIMENTARY TO PROF. MORSE.

343

of wire which are in several cases extended along the Boulevards and across the river.

But the most surprising examples of long lines of wires without intermediate support, are presented on the telegraphic line passing north and south through Piedmont between Turin and Genoa. There, according to a report published in the "Piedmontese Gazette," in the course of the line passing through the district intersected by the chain of the Bochetta, the engineer, M. Bonelli, had the boldness to carry the wires from summit to summit across extensive valleys and ravines at immense heights above the level of the ground. In many cases the distance between these summits amounted to more than half a mile, and in some to nearly three-quarters of a mile. In passing through towns, this line is carried underground, emerging from which it is again stretched through the air from crest to crest of the Maritime Apennines, after which it finally sinks into the earth, passing through Genoa under the streets, and terminating in the Ducal palace.

It is stated that the insulation of the wires on this picturesque line has been so perfect, notwithstanding the adverse circumstances of its locality, that although it was constantly at work day and night during the first winter, no failure of transmission or extraordinary delay ever occurred."

COMPLIMENTARY TO PROF. MORSE.-During the pendency of a suit at Frankfort, Kentucky, Sept. 9th, 1848, Chancellor Henry Pirtle, an attorney for the defendant, and against Prof. Morse, wrote the following lines, and presented them to Mrs. Morse, viz:

"Et non eripuit cælo fulmen,'

Fulguri mentem fudit, et orbem lumine cinxit."

Translation, we make as follows:

Though he did not "snatch the thunder from heaven,"

He gave to the lightning thought and girdled the earth with glory.

While this honored the great inventor, it showed the heart of one of the purest and noblest of Kentuckians; one whom we always admired and loved to honor.

Art. II-NEWFOUNDLAND TELEGRAPH.

THE early history of this line we copy from a recent work, written by Mr. John Mullaly, and published by T. W. Strong, Esq., of New-York. The work is styled a " Trip to Newfoundland," and contains much valuable information. It is also embellished with numerous engravings, and the incidents of the voy. age to Newfoundland for the laying of the telegraph cable, are well portrayed by the graphic pen of the author.

"In June, 1851, Mr. H. B. Tebbetts of the City of New-York, associated with him several influential gentlemen, for the purpose of organizing a company to build steamers of a large size, to run between the ports of New-York and Galway, Ireland. These ships were to be specially adapted to perform the mail service between the two continents, and to accommodate the large emigrant travel from Ireland to the United States.

In originating this enterprise, Mr. Tebbetts conceived the idea of the Newfoundland Telegraph, which is at present so prominently before the public. Confident of the practicability of the project, he entered into a correspondence with different members of the Government of Newfoundland in regard to the subject, and with the view of making St. Johns a port of call for the steamers to and from Galway. He was assured that his plan was perfectly feasible, and that the Government would make liberal grants and concessions to secure its acomplishment.

Soon after, the government ordered a survey to be made, and on its completion sent the engineer with his report and a letter of introduction from Mr. S. G. Archibald, dated December 17, 1851, to Mr. Tebbetts. The introduction resulted in the offer of the liberal sum of twenty thousand dollars by Mr. Tebbetts to the engineer, on condition that he would return and procure such a charter from the government as he desired. The offer was accepted, the engineer returned and succeeded in procuring the required charter, which was granted in March, 1852, and under which Mr. Tebbetts organized an association entitled, "The Newfoundland Electric Telegraph Company." When Mr. Tebbetts first conceived the project, it was his design to run small steamers across the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Cape Ray and Cape North, the proposed termini of the land lines in Newfoundland and Cape Breton. This was the only means of communication, as up to this period every attempt to manufacture a submarine cable had been attended with a signal failure. Shortly after, however, it was discovered that by means of gutta percha, the conducting wires could be completely insulated, and in less than a

year the first cable was laid between France and England, distance of twenty-six miles. This great achievement was performed in September, 1851.

The success of this cable led to the abandonment of the plan of running steamers between Cape North and Cape Ray, and to a change in the proposed route of the line. It was deci ded that the line should run from New-Brunswick to Prince Edward's Island and thence to Newfoundland. The company accordingly ordered a submarine cable to be made, which was successfully laid down in September, 1852, between NewBrunswick and Prince Edward's Island—a distance of ten miles. This was the first laid on this side of the Atlantic.

After expending about one hundred thousand dollars in the prosecution of the work, numerous embarrassments arose, and the company was eventually obliged to suspend payment. Through the exertions of Mr. Tebbetts, however, the gentlemen now engaged in the enterprise were induced to take hold of it, and they did so with an alacrity which showed their confidence in its ultimate success. Its practicability had been satisfactorily proved, and it only required men possessing the means and energy to carry it to a successful completion. The property of the old company was purchased by the new. Previous to the dissolution of the "Newfoundland Electric Telegraph Company," the charter was surrendered to the Government, and the gentlemen who had now the control and management of the enterprise proceeded at once with due diligence and energy to the accomplishment of the great work which they had undertaken.

The new association was organized under the title of the "New-York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company." The gentlemen composing this new company, having carefully weighed and considered the difficulties by which the enterprise was beset, applied to the Newfoundland Government for a new charter, in which they obtained some additions to the privileges and grants conferred in that procured by the old company. They were given the exclusive privilege for fifty years, which was an increase of twenty over the former grant, of running a telegraph across the island and through any of the adjacent waters. In addition to this the government, realizing the great advantage such a work would be in opening up the country and developing its resources, made them a present of fifty square miles of land, which was twenty more than they gave to the company organized by Mr. Tebbetts. Their liberality, however, did not stop here; they also, as an encouragement to the enterprise, appropriated five thousand pounds sterling, towards the construction of a bridle path across the

island, a work indispensable for the repair and regulation of the telegraph. The land was granted with the privilege of selecting it in any part of the country, and the interest on fifty thousand pounds sterling guaranteed to the company for twenty years. In addition to all this, fifty miles are to be given when the great Transatlantie Telegraph is laid.

The company having now obtained all they had asked for, proceeded energetically to work, and, as a preliminary step, made a contract with Professor Morse, by which they secured the use of his patents and all renewals. An engineer and assistants were engaged for the construction of the land telegraph across the island from St. Johns to Cape Ray, and about six hundred men having been employed, operations were immediately commenced. The route over which it was proposed to run the line is almost a wilderness, and presents, one would suppose, an insuperable obstacle in the way of the enterprise; but the men who had undertaken it were not to be deterred by difficulties, and they went to work with an energy that ensures success. While they had operatives employed in clearing the wilderness and constructing their line, they had others engaged in the selection and exploration of the land granted by the Government. The services of three mineralogists were secured, and their investigations resulted in the discovery of two coal mines, one lead mine, and one of copper, besides valuable tracts of ship timber and several quarries of alabaster and slate. The discovery of these, however, is only one of the many benefits which it is expected the new telegraph will confer upon Newfoundland. The length of the route which will be traversed by the line of the new company seven hundred miles, and extends from St. Johns to Cape Tormentine. Commencing at this cape, it runs through the Straits of Northumberland to Prince Edward's Island, a distance of ten miles and a half; thence to Cape East, thence to Cape Breton, and thence to St. Johns. A one wire cable, ten miles long, has already, as we have stated, been laid between NewBrunswick and Prince Edward's Island.

A contract was made with the "Transatlantic Telegraph Company," composed of French and English capitalists,* by which that company agreed to construct and lay down at their own expense and risk, a submarine cable extending across the Atlantic to Newfoundland.

This line is to be not only completed according to the terms of the agreement by the 22d of January, 1858, but in success

The contract was made with Tal, P. Shaffner, and John W. Brett sole gérants of the Transatlantic Telegraph.

ful operation. The contract also binds the two companies, that is the American and European, to operate in connection with each other, to the exclusion of all other lines, for the period of fifty years. In the meantime it is intended to make St. Johns a port of call for the steamers passing between the two continents, by which means we can obtain news at least three days earlier than we receive it at present. Among the many inducements which this route presents to steamers, there is one which cannot be overlooked: by stopping at St. Johns, a very considerable portion of the space which is taken up by coal can be devoted to freight, as a sufficient supply of fuel can be obtained there in a few hours. This fact alone will have great weight with the mercantile community."

This line is alluded to in the above extract, sufficiently to explain the ultimate designs of the company. How far the results will be realized, time will determine. It passes over water and land, embracing the most difficult route for a telegraph in America, and in its working, the greatest difficulties will be experienced. The best of scientific and practical skill will be required in its construction and in its management. In its progress, so far, it is clear to our mind that a want of skill has been manifested; but, if not, the difficulties of the route are extraordinary. It is the most liberal to contribute the delays and mishaps to the latter, and we prefer to place the question on that basis, and hope for better success in the future. The line starts from the City of St. Johns.