The propriety of presenting to the public a work of this character,
seemed desirable, from the frequent calls made upon the author for
some accurate and full description of the American Electro Magnetic
Telegraph, which might assist to an intelligible comprehension of the
principles upon which it is based, and the mode of its operations,
as well as descriptions of those plans now in operation in Europe.
In the execution of this task it has been his determination to spare
no labour, and to omit nothing that could enable those who had never
seen the operation of the telegraph, to obtain a full understanding,
of the subject, and also to judge for themselves of the merit of the
American invention, as compared with those of Europe. For this purpose
eighty-one wood cuts are introduced to illustrate this and collateral
subjects.
The various reports of Congress which have been made, from time to
time, as the subject of the Electro Magnetic Telegraph has been
presented to them, have been embraced in the work. They contain much
information in relation to the origin and progress of the invention,
as well as other useful matter. In the closing part of the work
is given a synopsis of the early discoveries in electricity; the
experiment of Franklin, and also the discoveries of ingenious and
scientific gentlemen of the present day. The principal part, however,
is devoted to a full and complete description of the various plans of
telegraphic communication, by means of electricity and galvanism, in
the chronological order of their invention; by which it will be seen,
that for priority as well as originality, America has the pre-eminence,
not only at the time of the invention, but up to the present period;
nothing having yet been brought forward that fulfils so completely the
conditions of what is signified by the term _telegraph_, as that plan
invented by Professor Morse. Some of the foreign plans the author has
found extremely difficult to illustrate, without almost re-inventing
them, so imperfectly and obscurely have they been described.
The experimental line from Washington to Baltimore has been in
successful operation for more than a year, and has been the means of
conveying much important information: consisting of messages to and
from merchants, members of Congress, officers of the government, banks,
brokers, police officers; parties, who by agreement had met each other
at the two stations, or had been sent for by one of the parties; items
of news, election returns, announcement of deaths, inquiries respecting
the health of families and individuals, the daily proceedings of the
Senate and House of Representatives, orders for goods, inquiries
respecting the sailing of vessels, proceedings of cases in the various
courts, summoning of witnesses, messages in relation to special and
express trains, invitations, the receipt of money at one station and
its payment at the other, for persons requesting the transmission of
funds from debtors, consultation of physicians, and messages of every
character usually sent by mail.
The author trusts that the work will be received as one of a practical
character, and furnish to those desirous to acquaint themselves with
the subject, such information as they seek.
ALFRED VAIL.
WASHINGTON, D. C. _August 18, 1845_.