Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1882 — The Telegraph in America. [ARTICLE]

The Telegraph in America.

The first telegraph line in operation was between Paddington and Drayton, in England, in 1835, and was thirteen miles in length. Prof. Morse, on March 3, 1842, was voted an appropriation of $30,000 by Congress for the purpose of establishing an experimental line. The appropriation was made on the last night of the session. The lino was erected b* tween Washington and Baltimore, and the first message sent May 27, 1844. By the reports of October, 1881, the following will show the number of miles of telegraph in the United States at that time: Miles of Miles oj Company. Line. Wire. Western Unionllo,3lo 327,171 Mutual Union 1,800 50,(.'00 Baltimore and Ohio railroad.... 2,500 16,000 American Rapid Telegraph Company’ 500 1,5)0 International Ocean (inland).... 502 574 The aggregate mileage of telegraph lines in the United States open for public business exceeds 120,000 miles, beside railway, Government, private and telephonic lines, length not ascertainable.