Hide Article Text (OCR)
The people are anxious to hear the cause of the detention of messages through the Atlantic cable. We present to our readers some of the reasons which has possibly contributed to the delay. It will be remembered that nothing intelligible has been received from Valencia since the 1st of Sep tember, and there has been little variation via the electrical manifestations. From the New York Herald we Jeary, that, When the Atlantic Telegraph Company was organized, Dr. Wildman Whitehouse was appoin ted chief electrician, at a salary of one thousand pounds sterling per annum. It was subsequently agreed that in case the cable should be successful ly worked, and with his instruments, he was to receive ten thousand pounds sterling a year. Dr Whitehouse was enable to impress the direct ors for a long time with the idea of his ability to send messages through the whole cable at the rate of four words a minute. Doubts finally arose on the subject, and numerous experiments by the doctor, in the presence of the directors, failed to such a degree as to shake their faith entirely in his instruments. Dr. Thompson, a scientific gentleman of high reputation in Great Britain, followed Dr. White~ house, and his instruments also failed. Professor Hughes, the American, then essayed, and al though his instruments had never been tried on se, great a length of wire, and he had no means of adjusting them,he succeeded in sending messages through at a rate of three words a minute, which was more than had ever been, attained. Drs. Whitehouse and Thompson now insisted on their being allowed to experiment on the cable after it was laid, which was finally accorded them. Dr. Whitehouse was granted the use of the cable from the 5th of August, the day it was landed, to the 1st of September. He transmitted the President’s and Queen’s messages and news of the China treaty. Dr. Thompson then had the use of the cable from the Ist to the 15th of Sep tember, and failed completely. Dr. Whitehouse’s experiments, be it added, cost the company one hundred and seventy six thousand dollars. Prof. Hughes then was to have commenced experiments on the cable on the 15th last. A steamer left England on the 8th for ‘Trinity Bay, with one of his operators, an instrument, and all other necessary apparatus. ‘This steamer has reached her destination. Prof. Hughes is to re ceive a certain amount, contingent on his success in sending words a hundred per cent, faster than Dr. Whitehouse, whose last message was dispatch ed at the rate of four letters a minute. In pro portion as he sends still faster than this, he is to receive a still larger compensation. Should he fail, Prof. Farraday will try what he can do. But we have no idea that Hughes will fail.
Newspaper Details
Columbus Daily Times
Columbus, Georgia, US
Fri, Oct 01, 1858
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 18 Dec 2025
Other Publications Near Columbus, Georgia
Columbus Enquirer Tri Weekly
Columbus Weekly Enquirer
Columbus Enquirer
Columbus Daily Enquirer
Columbus Enquirer Sun
