MORSE, Samuel F.B. (1791-1872), Inventor of the telegraph. Autograph letter signed ("SFBM") to John Spencer Secretary of the Treasury , a retained copy, Washington, D.C., 19 April 1844. 1 page, folio, endorsed on verso "Copy to the Secy. Treasury...submitting contract for 400 posts." -- SPENCER, John C. Two letters signed ("J.C. Spencer") to Samuel F.B. Morse, Treasury Department, Washington, D.C., 8 & 22 April 1844. Together 2 pages, 4to . -- BURBANK, David. Voucher for sales of lead pipe to Samuel Morse, August-September 1844, Baltimore, 11 October 1844. 1 page, oblong 4to. BUILDING THE FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE A group of documents relating to Morse's construction of the first test telegraph line. One month before Morse's newly perfected telegraph transmitted its first message, its creator Samuel Morse orders the first telegraph poles to support the wires on the test line running from Washington to Baltimore. In their letter of 8th April, the Treasury Department approves Morse's plan of "suspending the conductors for the Electric magnetic Telegraphs above ground on Poles." Morse replies on the 19th: ..."in conformity with instructions...I advertised for proposals to furnish 500 chestnut poles. Six persons sent in their proposals, and the lowest bid is Mr. David Burbank of Baltimore, who will furnish them for .98...cents a piece. As I shall require but 400 posts, as wish also to experiment on the durability of different kinds of timber I have drawn up the enclosed contract...and submit it for the approval for the Dept." The Treasury Department agrees to Burbank's price and adds [22 April]: "With the view, as stated, of testing the durability of different kinds of timber, there is no objection to your substituting Seventy five posts of other kinds of wood in place of that number of Chestnut wood." Samuel Morse's original plan for the test telegraph line was to lay lead pipe along the railroad line, with the wire protected inside. After having spent a large part of the budget allocated by Congress to purchase pipe, it was discovered that the wires inside the pipes had a tendency to ground out (Samuel F.B. Morse, Letters and Journals, pp.214-5). Radically altering his design, Morse proposed stringing the telegraph wires along poles, and the Treasury approved this extra cost. The first telegraph line was accordingly completed between Washington and Baltimore, and on 24 May 1844 Morse sent through the famous salutation, "What hath God wrought!" Together 4 items. (4)
MORSE, Samuel F.B. (1791-1872), Inventor of the telegraph. Autograph letter signed ("SFBM") to John Spencer Secretary of the Treasury , a retained copy, Washington, D.C., 19 April 1844. 1 page, folio, endorsed on verso "Copy to the Secy. Treasury...submitting contract for 400 posts." -- SPENCER, John C. Two letters signed ("J.C. Spencer") to Samuel F.B. Morse, Treasury Department, Washington, D.C., 8 & 22 April 1844. Together 2 pages, 4to . -- BURBANK, David. Voucher for sales of lead pipe to Samuel Morse, August-September 1844, Baltimore, 11 October 1844. 1 page, oblong 4to. BUILDING THE FIRST TELEGRAPH LINE A group of documents relating to Morse's construction of the first test telegraph line. One month before Morse's newly perfected telegraph transmitted its first message, its creator Samuel Morse orders the first telegraph poles to support the wires on the test line running from Washington to Baltimore. In their letter of 8th April, the Treasury Department approves Morse's plan of "suspending the conductors for the Electric magnetic Telegraphs above ground on Poles." Morse replies on the 19th: ..."in conformity with instructions...I advertised for proposals to furnish 500 chestnut poles. Six persons sent in their proposals, and the lowest bid is Mr. David Burbank of Baltimore, who will furnish them for .98...cents a piece. As I shall require but 400 posts, as wish also to experiment on the durability of different kinds of timber I have drawn up the enclosed contract...and submit it for the approval for the Dept." The Treasury Department agrees to Burbank's price and adds [22 April]: "With the view, as stated, of testing the durability of different kinds of timber, there is no objection to your substituting Seventy five posts of other kinds of wood in place of that number of Chestnut wood." Samuel Morse's original plan for the test telegraph line was to lay lead pipe along the railroad line, with the wire protected inside. After having spent a large part of the budget allocated by Congress to purchase pipe, it was discovered that the wires inside the pipes had a tendency to ground out (Samuel F.B. Morse, Letters and Journals, pp.214-5). Radically altering his design, Morse proposed stringing the telegraph wires along poles, and the Treasury approved this extra cost. The first telegraph line was accordingly completed between Washington and Baltimore, and on 24 May 1844 Morse sent through the famous salutation, "What hath God wrought!" Together 4 items. (4)
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