Telegraphic History and Experience, Lefferts mentioned

Telegraphic History and Experience.

THE recent sudden and unexpected death of General Marshall Lefferts, who had been connected with telegraphic interests from within a short time after its first introduction, calls up reminiscences of its early struggles, and of the experience in the construction and operation of the original lines. It was natural that such a startling innovation upon the ideas and modes of business as the electric telegraph should have been looked upon distrustfully. The fact of instant communication over long distances was regarded as marvellous [sic] marvelous, and almost incredible. It required time to accustom the public to the idea and to the practical value of the new invention, which was destined to change the whole social and business fabric of the world. The lines originally constructed were necessarily, from the lack of experience, crude and imperfect, and their operation comparatively slow and unreliable. Not only the constructors but the operators lacked experience, and but little was practically known of the laws which govern electrical science, or the adaptation of means to produce desired results.

It is highly creditable to Gen. Lefferts that he appreciated the value of the great invention, and that he foresaw the future of which it was capable, and applied his vigorous intellect and executive ability to devising the means and improvements required to advance telegraphic interests, and render the system capable of realizing the proper expectations of the public, and the future which was in store for it. It is to him and others of similar enlarged ideas and views that we are indebted for the so speedy and remarkable a development of the telegraph in this country. His life was mainly devoted to improving and developing the system, and making the telegraph what it is to-day, one of the leading interests and most powerful agencies of the world.

As we look back upon the history of the telegraph for the last thirty years, we cannot fail to be impressed with the energy arid persistence with which those early connected with it labored to secure the general introduction and appreciation of the system. They were obliged to labor under discouragements and against obstacles which such persistent energy alone could overcome. Capitalists looked coldly upon their enterprises, and money with which to build the lines was obtained with the greatest difficulty. The lines having been poorly constructed, and the public as yet unaccustomed to rise them, the pecuniary results were not favorable. The lines were frequently interrupted, and there was an uncertainty about the prompt and accurate transmission of messages which restricted the patronage of the system, and impaired the confidence of the public in its reliability and efficiency. These obstacles could only be obviated gradually, but they were overcome, and we see and profit by the labors of Gen. Lefferts and others in the splendid telegraph system which now connects every section, and, almost very locality on the continent.

What the future of the telegraph is to be we cannot now foresee, but that it is destined to even a much greater development and more universal use cannot he doubted. The latest telegraphic enterprise with which Gen. Lefferts was connected, the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, has done much to extend the sphere of telegraphic operations. He did not originate this enterprise, and came into it after it had already achieved a marked success and become an indispensable business agency, but under his management its scope has been greatly extended and enlarged. Originally intended only for reporting quotations of stocks and gold from the Stock Exchange and Gold Board, there has been added to it an extensive system of private lines rented to private parties, and a system of reporting general commercial news throughout the country, which has been found of the greatest value and importance.

New adaptations of the telegraph to popular service are constantly being made. In no other country has there been so general a use of the telegraph, arid adaptations of it which to us are familiar as household words, are unrecognized in other countries, or only making slow and difficult progress in them in public estimation and use. The Fire Alarm Telegraph, the Automatic Signal Telegraph, for notifying the occurrence of fire in buildings and rooms, the Commercial and Quotation Telegraph, and the District Telegraph systems are essentially American ideas, and the use of telegraph lines for connecting houses, shops, factories, etc., has been much more general and extensive here than elsewhere. Inventive talent and scientific ability has been devoted to the development of telegraphic facilities, and their work is not yet completed.

The limited, feeble and struggling interest of but little more than a quarter of a century ago has developed into a mighty and universal agency, which spans the world, and which has brought into instant communication the most distant quarters of the globe. The few inexperienced but enthusiastic persons that then comprised the telegraphic fraternity has become an army of tens of thousands, and still the work goes on and their numbers annually increase. Hundreds of millions of capital are invested in place of the few thousands which were at first grudgingly given, and the agency then employed infrequently and with little confidence has become the familiar and trusted servant of rich and poor alike, and multitudinous wires in the air and under the seas vibrate constantly with tidings of weal and woe, of success and failure, of rejoicing and sorrow.

It is well for us occasionally to pause and look back at the early history of telegraphy, that we may realize the enormous progress and development which has been realized and derive encouragement therefrom for the future. We shall then appreciate what has been accomplished, and honor those who, in discouragement and against obstacles that appeared then almost invincible, have brought so remarkable a success.