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

624 ATLANTIC OCEAN TELEGRAPHY.
that is in no way accordant to the movement of the electrical
current in an unembarrassed way along the simple conductors;
3d. That magneto-electric currents travel more quickly
along such wires than simple voltaic currents;
4th. That magneto-electric currents travel more quickly
when in high energy than when in low, although voltaic currents of large intensity do not travel more quickly than voltaic
currents of small intensity;
5th1. That the velocity of the transmission of signals along
insulated submerged wires can be enormously increased, from
the rate indeed of one in two seconds to the rate of eight in a
single second, by making each alternate signal with a current
of different quality, positive following negative, and negative
following positive;
6th. That the diminution of the velocity of the transmission
of a magneto-electric current, in induction-embarrassed coated
wires, is not in the inverse ratio of the squares of the distance
traversed, but much more nearly in the ratio of simple arithmetical progression;
7th. That several distinct waves of electricity may be travelling along different parts of a long wire simultaneously, and
within certain limits, without interference;
8th. That large coated wires used beneath the water or
earth are worse conductors, so far as velocity of transmission is
concerned, than small ones, and therefore are not so well suited
as small ones for the purpose of submarine transmission of telegraphic signals; and
9th. That by the use of comparatively small coated wires,
and of electro-magnetic induction coils for the exciting agents,
telegraphic signals can be transmitted through two thousand
miles with a speed amply sufficient for all commercial and
economical purposes.
On the night of the 9th of October, 1856, some experiments
were instituted which were regarded of great importance.
"' Ten gutta-percha insulated wires, each measuring more than
200 miles, were connected, so that one continuous circuit of
above 2,000 miles was formed. There were coils of five wires,
introduced for experimental purposes at the joints of the wires,
further increasing the circuit virtually to the amount of 2,300
miles. The magneto-electric induction coils of Mr. Whitehouse
were used to excite the wires, and the current was made to
operate by means of the receiving apparatus, upon one of Professor Morse's ordinary recording instruments. Signals were
distinctly and satisfactorily telegraphed through the two thou.