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REQUESTING FUNDSTO CONTINUETESTING
FIRST-EVERTELEGRAPH LINE
64
●
MORSE, SAMUEL F.B. Autograph Letter Signed, “S.F.B. Morse / Supt. Elec. Mag.
Tel.,” to Treasury Secretary McClintock Young, retained draft, in pencil with several holo-
graph corrections in ink, requesting the remainder of the government appropriation to
continue his Telegraph experiments. 2 pages, folio, with integral blank, ruled paper; faint
scattered soiling, some foxing in left margin, horizontal folds, docketing on terminal page.
(TFC)
Washington, 29 June 1844
[6,000/9,000]
“
Understanding that there is some doubt
expressed at the Department respecting
the power of applying the surplus of the
appropriation to the further trial of the
experiment for which the fund was cre-
ated. . . . I would respectfully suggest a
few considerations which . . . will make it
clear that the remainder of the appropria-
tion is available . . . for the objects
proposed.
“
The act provides for two specific objects,
to wit, 1st to test the practicability and
2d to test the utility of the system. The
first comprises the work on construction of
the Telegraphic line, and a set of instru-
ments adapted to test the efficiency of
that line. This work is done, and the
practicability proven, and on the ground
of the completion of this work, I asked,
and have received the conditional addi-
tion of $500 to my salary.The 2d object
. . . presupposes the work done. Its utility
is now in process of being tested and I
had supposed there could not be a doubt
that the sum remaining from the
expenses of construction, was legitimately
used if applied merely to the keeping in
repair and otherwise maintaining what
has been constructed. . . . In the testing of
the utility of the Telegraph I had con-
ceived that experiments were included to
ascertain the greatest economy of the materials that are consumed in the process of communicating
intelligence, such as acid, zinc, & paper, the greatest amount of intelligence that can be communicated
in a given time, and the actual cost . . . of maintaining stations, as also the demand likely to be made
for the use of the telegraph.These points are not yet ascertained and experience alone . . . can satisfac-
torily determine them. With the approbation of the department, I have already made many
experiments which have resulted in economical modes . . . which, if successful, will be the means of
diminishing the cost of maintenance of the Telegraph many thousands of dollars . . . .
“
Should the opinion prevail however that no more of the appropriation can be drawn out upon my
application, I beg it to be considered in what condition the property of the Gov’t thus invested in the
Telegraph will be left. I cannot bring myself to believe such a construction of the law as will endanger
the whole work, will meet with the approval of the Department.”
After Morse’s initial success in 1844, Congress debated whether to convert the telegraph service into
an agency of the government, making the body reluctant to invest further in theWashington-Baltimore
line.A conclusion was not reached until 1847, when Congress turned over theWashington-Baltimore
line to the MagneticTelegraph Co., judging the enterprise too risky to continue under public sponsorship.