Marshall Lefferts

The late General Marshall Lefferts - His

Characteristics and Connection with Telegraphy.

THE connection of General Lefferts with the telegraphic interest dates back to 1848. In that year Henry O'Rielly, having secured the right to use the electro-chemical telegraph of Alexander Bain, made arrangements to construct a line between New York and Boston, in opposition to the existing Morse line under the management of F. O. J. Smith. A company was organized to take the line, mainly composed of leading New York merchants. General Lefferts was at that time engaged in the metal business in this city, and, being naturally of a scientific turn of mind, at once took an active interest in the new line. During its construction he was secretary of the company, supervising the construction and payments, and after its completion in 1849, he was elected president. Even at this early day he plainly foresaw the extraordinary future that awaited the telegraph, and with that enlightened judgment and practical common sense for which he has always been noted, he at once realized the conditions requisite for success-that the lines must be constructed in the most substantial and durable manner, and that they must be managed on systematic commercial principles. The Merchants' Line, as it was called, is justly entitled to the credit of being the first to acquire in a marked degree the confidence of the business public. It worked with little delay or interruption, and its management was characterized by an enlightened liberality towards the public and towards its employes, and its business increased with great rapidity. In 1850 a convention of the executive officers of the various existing telegraph companies was held in New York, in order to form a general organization for facilitating the exchange of business, etc., at which General Lefferts took a prominent part in advocacy of the plan, strongly urging the need of increased system and harmony in the management of the different lines, by which errors might be detected and corrected and messages transmitted with the same promptness and certainty over a number of lines as over a single one-and predicting that if this were once effected, the business would increase to an extent which the most sanguine expectations of those present would utterly fail to realize. In 1852 the Morse and Bain lines between New York and Boston were consolidated. This consolidation did not meet his views, and for the time his active connection with telegraphy ceased, and he devoted himself to his commercial interests. In the meantime General Lefferts had taken great interest in the development of Bain's fast method, now known as the automatic system. He believed that it was destined in future to effect a complete revolution in telegraphy, and he labored unceasingly to effect its improvement. Having acquired the control of the ingenious perforating apparatus of Humaston, which apparently was the key to the success of the system, he proceeded to organize a company to construct a rival line between New York and Boston, to be worked on the new system, an enterprise which, however, he soon abandoned to accept the position of Engineer of the Consolidated American Company. The duties of this position also embraced those of the general superintendency of the company, which had now become a very extensive organization, its line reaching from Nova Scotia to New Orleans, and covering all the intermediate seaboard States. This important position afforded full scope to General Lefferts remarkable organizing and executive ability, and the succeeding five years of his administration; were signalized by a great number of important reforms and improvements in telegraphic management, the influence of which will continue to be felt for all future time. Up to this time telegraphic construction in this country had been mostly of an inferior and temporary character, and the same was true in a great degree of the service itself. General Lefferts' labors were directed towards placing the telegraph business upon a permanent foundation befitting its importance and its high mission. Under his direction all the lines were rebuilt with heavy poles and galvanized wire upon a uniform system, and were equipped with improved instruments made in the company's own shop; maps were prepared showing at a glance every detail of the construction and arrangement of the lines and offices throughout the company's territory; a system of accurate testing was commenced and carried out so far as was possible, considering the difficulties of obtaining proper instruments and teaching operators to use them, and above all, by a liberal system of promotion and advancement to the skilful, the intelligent and the deserving, the standard of character and acquirements among the company's employes was elevated in a marked degree. It is in fact to the labors of General Lefferts, more than of any one person, that we may trace what may be properly called the commencement in America of the era of scientific telegraphy, and it is probably not too much to say that at the time the American company was united with the Western Union, in 1866, that it was the most complete, efficient and thoroughly organized telegraphic system in the world.

The employment of female labor in the telegraphic service was always a favorite scheme of General Lefferts, and one which, from his first appointment as engineer of the American Company, was persistently advocated and carried out by him in spite of much ridicule and determined opposition. This, however, in a few years almost wholly died away, and the justice and wisdom of the step is now generally acknowledged, even by many of its most determined opponents. In the death of General Lefferts the lady operatives of the United States have to mourn the loss of a friend, to whom they are indebted more than to any other single individual for their general admission to and recognized status in the telegraphic profession.

One notable characteristic of General Lefferts as a telegraph manager was his personal attention to all the details of the service under his charge. This necessarily imposed upon him a large amount of labor which could have been discharged by subordinates, and which many men in his position would have so confided. It is noteworthy, however, that he was never impatient or petulant in the performance of his self-imposed tasks, but was always pleasant and courteous in his intercourse with subordinates. Of a naturally genial and kindly disposition, he was at all times ready to listen to and serve, so far as he could, the humblest employe. None were ever refused an audience, and if he could not accede to their desires or requests, the refusal was invariably made in such a way as not to wound the susceptibilities or personal feelings of the applicant.

The discipline established by the deceased on the Merchants' line was very strict, especially for those days when the administration of telegraph affairs was more loose than it has been since the business has become so extended. The public were excluded from the operating rooms, and none admitted except under stringent regulations. He modified some of his views in this respect subsequently, but up to the time of his decease the lines and offices under his control were noted for the excellent discipline maintained.

He took great interest in the science of electricity and the development of scientific telegraphy, and was always ready to examine and test new electrical and telegraphic inventions, and to advocate the adoption of such as should prove of real value.

The end of all so far as he is concerned, has, however, come at last, and we shall no more receive his cordial greeting and genial smile, which were wont to cheer us in our daily labors and trials. The active mind and busy hands are at rest, and the places which have known him so long shall know him no more. But few connected with telegraphic interests could be more missed, and he is sincerely mourned by all who knew him or were associated with him in business.