The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

838 APPENDIX.
in this enterprise, at an early hour of the day, know well how to appreciate the consequence and merit of the success.
It was during his services in this station as chief operator, that he
devised the plan of working any number of circuits, or lines. from the one
voltaic organization. He was the first to accomplish the end by practical
demonstration, notwithstanding others had theorized that it could be
done. It was accomplished, however, by novel modes, original with Mr.
Stager, essentially differing from the supposed theories advanced by
others. He arranged the battery and the wires according to the laws of
electrical phenomena, as manifested from time to time in the manipulation of the telegraph, observable to the operator. He connected the
various lines centring at his station with the one battery, and successfully
worked all of the different lines at the same time from the one battery.
This was an achievement far ahead of any other progress of the age, and
one entitling the inventor to more honor and reward than has fallen to his
lot to realize.
During the years of 1848.'49, and 50, Mr. Stager was employed as an
auxiliary in the Coast Survey Department of the United States Government. lie was the telegrapher for the service, and was under the direction of the late Prof. Sears C. Walker, in' determining longitudes,"
"wave time of electric currents,' and in testing the astronomical clocks
of Profs. Mitchell and Locke. In this important service he won new
laurels; and his ability was duly appreciated by the United States government.
In January, 1852, Mr. Stager was appointed superintendent of the new
line of telegraph, constructed by the New York and Mississippi Valley
Printing Telegraph Company. The line extended from Buffalo to Louisville, and operated the House Printing apparatus. During the same year
his administration as superintendent was extended over the line from
Buffalo to New-York City. These respective lines, and others east and
west of Buffalo, were ultimately united, by lease, purchase, or otherwise,
under the name of the Western Union Telegraph Company. This new
organization has grown to be the largest and most extensive telegraph
company in the world. Its lines extend over the northwestern states,
and proximate fifteen thousand miles in length, and it is extending its
lines with wonderful rapidity. This vast range of the telegraph has a
centralized administration, under the direction of gentlemen of distinguished telegraphic ability. Each department is placed in charge of
those competent for the discharge of the speciality; and in this manner
it has gone on, like the rivulet that rises in the Rocky Mountains;-at
its source very small, but ere it reaches the ocean it is gigantic in proportion and power, and is hailed as the' Father of waters."
The immense range of lines under the Western Union Company is
supplied from one central station with all the various equipments, such
as magnets, batteries, sounders. insulators, &c.. &c. As general
superintendent of these lines, Mr. Stager has done well for his company
in the adoption of the "Supply Department," as great economy must
result therefrom.
In connection with Mr. Wade, his sterling coadjutor, Mr. Stager completed a system of Railway Telegraphs which are now in successful operation throughout the northwest. lie has had arranged all the necessary
contrivances to effect the most good for that important public enterprise,
having in view the welfare of the people and the interests of the respective companies. I have seen the various railway telegraph systems in
Europe, the most prominent of which are the French, the Belgian; and
the Prussian. But they are far behind the arrangements operated under
the direction of Mr. Stager. No system of telegraph works with more
perfection than that established on the American railways above