MORSE, Samuel F.B., Inventor of the telegraph (1791-1857). Autograph letter signed ("Sam:F:B:Morse" "Superintendant of the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph") to Secretary of the Treasury John C. Spencer New York, 19 July 1843. 1 full page, 4to, on pale green paper, integral blank with recipient's docket . In superb condition. FINANCIAL HURDLES FOR THE "SUPERINTENDANT OF THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. A letter that relates to an early instance of Federally funded entrepreneurship and portrays Morse's continuing difficulties with the Federal government's stingy support of his telegraph research. Morse filed his telegraph patent in 1837 and in 1843, after much lobbying, Congress voted $30,000 for the construction of an experimental line between Washington and Baltimore. Here, Morse politely responds to Spencer's request "'that I would state whether Two thousand dollars,' (instead of Four thousand for which I had applied...) would not answer for the present,' to say that in addition to the sum in my hands yet unexpended I can make two thousand dollars answer for the present. A passage in your letter has made me anxious to receive the Comptroller's adjustment of my last month's account, which I have not yet received. You observe that 'my account...exhibits a balance...of upwards of [$1200] .' I have been induced by this remark carefully to revise my accounts and I do not perceive that I have made any error in their adjustment...." Morse's experiments, after several abortive efforts, proved successful, and, on May 24, 1844, the historic message "What hath God wrought?" was flashed across the 41 miles separating Baltimore and Washington.
MORSE, Samuel F.B., Inventor of the telegraph (1791-1857). Autograph letter signed ("Sam:F:B:Morse" "Superintendant of the Electro-Magnetic Telegraph") to Secretary of the Treasury John C. Spencer New York, 19 July 1843. 1 full page, 4to, on pale green paper, integral blank with recipient's docket . In superb condition. FINANCIAL HURDLES FOR THE "SUPERINTENDANT OF THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. A letter that relates to an early instance of Federally funded entrepreneurship and portrays Morse's continuing difficulties with the Federal government's stingy support of his telegraph research. Morse filed his telegraph patent in 1837 and in 1843, after much lobbying, Congress voted $30,000 for the construction of an experimental line between Washington and Baltimore. Here, Morse politely responds to Spencer's request "'that I would state whether Two thousand dollars,' (instead of Four thousand for which I had applied...) would not answer for the present,' to say that in addition to the sum in my hands yet unexpended I can make two thousand dollars answer for the present. A passage in your letter has made me anxious to receive the Comptroller's adjustment of my last month's account, which I have not yet received. You observe that 'my account...exhibits a balance...of upwards of [$1200] .' I have been induced by this remark carefully to revise my accounts and I do not perceive that I have made any error in their adjustment...." Morse's experiments, after several abortive efforts, proved successful, and, on May 24, 1844, the historic message "What hath God wrought?" was flashed across the 41 miles separating Baltimore and Washington.
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