The American Electro Magnetic Telegraph With the Reports of Congress, and a Description of All Telegraphs Known, Employing Electricity or Galvanism

Part 5

Chapter 53,746 wordsPublic domain

In the above figure, 23, let the right hand side represent Washington, and the left, Baltimore. The lines marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, between _m_ and _k_, respectively, represent the six wires connecting (for example) Washington with Baltimore. Each cluster of black dots, P and N, represent the batteries of that line upon which it is placed. There are three batteries at W, and three at B; _m_ 1, _m_ 3, and _m_ 5, represent the three magnets, or registers, and _k_ 2, _k_ 4, and _k_ 6, the three keys, or correspondents, at Baltimore; _k_ 1, _k_ 3, and _k_ 5, are the three keys, or correspondents, and _m_ 2, _m_ 4, and _m_ 6, the three magnets, or registers, at Washington. C B is the copper plate at Baltimore, and C W, the copper plate at Washington, one at each terminus.

In order to operate the six lines, simultaneously, if required by the pressure of telegraphic communications, there must be three operators at each station, commanding their respective keys, and presiding at their respective registers. If the three operators at Washington choose to write in Baltimore, together, or in succession, on their respective registers at the latter place, the galvanic current of the three lines 1, 3, and 5, takes this direction. Commencing at the point, P, of the three batteries, 1, 3, and 5, at W, it passes to _k_, of the keys; thence along the wires to _m_, the magnets, 1, 3, and 5 at B; thence to the single wire, where the three currents join in one to C B, the copper plate; then through the ground to C W, the other copper plate; then up the single line to their respective batteries at the point, N, having each finished its circuit independently of each other.

If, in reply, the three operators at Baltimore wish to write upon their registers at Washington, either together, or in any succession, they may choose; the fluid leaves the point, P, of their respective batteries, at Baltimore, 2, 4, and 6; unite in the single wire to C B, the copper plate; then pass through the ground in the direction of arrows to C W, copper plate at Washington, then along the single wire to their respective magnets, _m_, 2, 4, and 6; then along the extended wires to _k_, 2, 4, and 6 at Baltimore; and then to N pole of their respective batteries. In this manner six distinct circuits may be operated independently of each other, at the same time, or in any succession, with only one wire for each, and the ground in common, as a part of the circuit.

It is obvious from the above arrangement that if one wire only, extended between two distant points, will suffice to enable communications to be exchanged with each other; that any number of wires extended, will also, each, individually, give a distinct and separate line for telegraphic purposes, independently of all the other lines on the same route.

In figure 24, the same arrangement of wires is observed as respects their number, and the situation of the keys and magnets; but, with this difference, that instead of six batteries, one for each wire, there is but one, which is placed upon the single wire, with which the six wires join. The battery is represented by four black dots, marked N B P. The course of the fluid in this case is from P to C, the copper plate on the left side; then through the ground to C, the copper plate on the right; then through the single wire to any of the six wires, which may be required, then to the single wire on the left side to N, of the battery. It is obvious that in this arrangement there is a division of the power of the battery, depending upon the number of circuits that may be closed at any one instant. For example: if circuit 1 is alone being used, then it is worked with the whole force of the battery. If 1 and 2 are used at the same instant; each of them employ one-half the force of the battery. If 1, 2 and 3 are used, then each use one-third its power. If 1, 2, 3 and 4, then each circuit has one-fourth the power; if 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are used, at the same moment, then one-fifth is only appropriated to each circuit, and if 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, then each employ a sixth part of the galvanic fluid generated by the battery.

MODE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.

The great advantage which this telegraph possesses in transmitting messages with the rapidity of lightning, annihilating time and space, would perhaps be much lessened in its usefulness, could it not avail itself of the application of a secret alphabet. We will now proceed to describe some of the various systems by which a message may pass between two correspondents, through the medium of the telegraph, and yet the contents of that message remain a profound secret to all others, not excepting the operators of the telegraphic stations, through whose hands it must pass.

For this purpose let the telegraphic characters representing particular letters be transposed and interchanged. Then the representative of _a_, in the _permanent_ alphabet, may be represented by _y_, or _c_, or _x_, in the _secret_ alphabet; and so of every other letter. As there are twenty-seven characters in the telegraphic alphabet, they can, by transposition, furnish six hundred and seventy-six different kinds of secret alphabets; nearly two for every day of the year. Two persons have agreed to use, in their telegraphic correspondence, the secret alphabet. From the six hundred and seventy-six combinations, they have selected one for each day in the year, and given each their particular date. In the course of their business, it becomes necessary on the first of July, for one to transmit important information to the other. He then refers to the telegraphic book, for the alphabet belonging to that date, and from it writes his communication, as follows: _The firm of G. Barlow & Co. have failed._ He runs his eye along the alphabetical column for _t_, and finds that for the first of July it is _e_, that _h_ is _j_, _e_ is _n_, and in the same manner, he proceeds with the remaining letters of his message, which, when completed, reads as follows: _Ejn stwz ys & qhwkyf p iy jhan shtknr_. As every person employing the telegraph has his name, occupation and place of business registered in the record book of the office, with his telegraphic number, we will suppose, that _Mr. Hammond, Builder, 57 Anson-st. Philadelphia_, sends the above communication to the office for _Messrs. Talford & Co. Lumber Merchants, 41 Bradford-st. New York_. In the record, the former name is numbered 14; and the latter 31. The private message is then directed thus, _No. 14 to No. 31_, and reads thus: Mr. Hammond, &c. sends the following communication to Messrs. Talford & Co. &c. “The firm of G. Barlow & Co. have failed.” This message, in substituted characters, is copied at the receiving station, and immediately delivered. The messenger returns with the following: _Syw fjhe hzyxce._ To which is prefixed _No. 31 to No. 14_. This is sent to Mr. Hammond, who, on translating it, discovers that it must be answered by figures. He then refers to the secret numerals, under the date of the first of July, and finds the private numerals required are 897, 312, adding to it a few letters, when it reads thus, _No. 14 to No. 31, 879, 312 rykkm_. If it should happen, that on the 6th of December, or 13th of May, it was necessary to send a private communication, the secret alphabets of those dates are used, and so for any date of the year.

The transposed secret alphabet is not perfectly secure for private messages, when the message contains more than eight or ten words. It is, therefore, necessary to adopt some of the following modes of making it perfectly incomprehensible, and beyond the power of any person to decypher it. Any one or two, or more, of these modes may be selected and combined for this purpose. Let the following key or transposed alphabet, be used in illustrating the following rules:

A to R | F to X | K to U | P to E | U to K | Z to M B Y | G B | L V | Q P | V G | & I C Z | H T | M D | R L | W N | D A | I W | N & | S F | X J | E S | J C | O Q | T O | Y H |

1st. Let the last letter of a word remain unchanged, viz. _Rome_, transposed, _lqde_.

2d. Let the first letter of a word remain unchanged, viz. _Rome_, transposed, _rqds_.

3d. Let the first and last letter remain unchanged, viz. _Rome_, transposed, _rqde_.

4th. Let the middle letter of a word of 5, 7, 9 or 11 letters remain unchanged, viz. _First_, transposed, _xwrfo_, and in words of 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 letters, let the two middle letters remain unchanged, viz. _Rome_, transposed, _loms_.

5th. Let the first, middle, and last letters of a word remain unchanged, viz. _first_, transposed, _fwrft_.

6th. Let the middle letter of words of 5, 7, 9, 11 or 13 letters commence the word, viz. _first_, transposed, _lxwfo_.

7th. Let the two middle letters of a word of 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 letters commence the word, viz. _Rome_ transposed, _qdls_.

8th. In a word of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 letters, let the first half of the word be substituted for the last half, viz. _Rome_, transposed, _dslq_.

9th. Let every other entire word be reversed, viz. _What is the news_, transposed, _ntro fw ots fns_ &.

10th. Let every third word be reversed.

11th. Let every fourth word be reversed.

12th. Let every fifth word be reversed.

13th. Let the three middle letters of every word of 5, 7, 9, 11 or 13 letters be reversed, viz. _first_, transposed, _xflwo_.

14th. Let every word of two or three letters be prefixed to the beginning of the following word, or affixed to the end of the preceding word, viz, _State of Maine_, transposed, _forosqx drw&s_.

15th. Let one, where double letters occur in a word, be excluded, viz. _will_ transposed, _nwv_.

16th. Where two or more words, of two or three letters, follow each other, let them be joined together, viz. _Cotton is on the rise_, transposed, _zqoq& wfq&ots lwfs_.

17th. Make no separation between words of less than eight letters, viz. _Cotton is on the rise_, transposed, _zqoq&wfq&otslwfs_.

18th. Make no separation between words.

19th. Reverse the order of the letters of the whole message, viz. _Cotton is on the rise_, transposed and reversed, _sfwl sto &q fw &qoqz_.

20th. Change the key, alternately, every ten or fifteen words, using two keys.

21st. Let the two first letters of all words of four letters be affixed to the end of the preceding word, and the remaining two letters be prefixed to the word following, viz. _stocks have fallen_, transposed, _foqzuftr gsxrvs&_.

22d. Change the key irregularly, thus, for example, the first three words transpose from one key; the next three words from another key; the next three from another key, and so on.

23d. Reverse the termination of those words ending with _tion_, _sion_, _ness_, _less_, _tive_, _ty_, _ly_, _ed_, &c.

24th. Make a division of long words into two.

25th. Let those words which occur frequently and have only two or three letters remain unchanged, viz. _to_, _a_, _the_, _of_, _and_, _for_, _with_, &c.

26th. Let every two words, or every three, or every four, be reversed.

27th. Omit one vowel in every word.

28th. Omit the letter _e_ at the beginning and end of a word.

29th. Omit the letter _i_ or _y_ at the beginning and end of a word.

30th. Omit the letter _o_ at the beginning and end of a word.

31st. In words of 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 letters, let the first of the two middle letters commence the word, and the last of the two middle letters end the word.

32d. Let _t_ signify _the_; _e_ for _of the_; _f_ for _of_; _u_ for _you_; _wi_ for _with_; _i_ for _by_; _tt_ for _that_; _ts_ for _this_; _fr_ for _from_; _n_ for _no_ or _not_; _w_ for _will_; _td_ for _to-day_; _tm_ for _to-morrow_; _s_ for _was_; _sh_ for _shall_; _wd_ for _would_; _sd_ for _should_; _cd_ for _could_; _te_ for _to the_.

We have here given a few of the various modes, by which a message can be made so complicated, that no clue will be given that shall enable the inquisitive to decypher it. Others may be easily devised, and as it is better that those using the secret alphabet should devise their own modes of transposition and reversion, none others need be given.

The following is written from the secret alphabet, and afterwards rendered more obscure by one of the methods laid down above. The key does not accompany it. Who can decypher it?

zbpvp yslup nbguxpyu zbyi, lovmy-&-yux gxp, zlegvt lovappai lubyizlvji hozovpsg zplup cbynb zbvloxbgm _the_ jpgvizl nlep ibgm izgua zlnvlvlcu _the_ inypvnp lhlov xmlvyloi mgua, _the_ pnpuzvyn wmgrhzb gzhmgibpili’pv _the_ itjcbpu _the_ gypagvlpui _and the_ izlveyi byxbwj wlma yu & puzyla _and_ iovsguyux ilymulc wlci, giowkpnzl _the_ bvegu cymicyhzpv zbgu zbloxbz zb’ yuzpurp _and_ iowzmp. Zlal egu’i wyayux hmypi gmlux _the_ cyop. Lmazyep yinlufopvpa, ayizgunpyi l’ pvbvlcu, _and_ ul&g rpewmy klyui _the_ zlvyarlup. Hgep ibgmwp byicblip ipgvnbyux eyua byixy&pu. Zlegu _the_ slcpvzl oip _the_ hyvp _of_ bpg&pu, _and the_ lmahgwmpi, cbynbyu mpxpuai voulh bgvpiyux _the_ blvipi _of the_ iou, sppeulc ulhgwmpi, iyunp, elvp cluavloihgv, bpjltpi _the_ myxbzuyux zlbyi vgsya ngv; pgepibgmwp byi; _and_ cbpuyu hozovp agji sbymlilsbj bpveluvepuz ibymgyzp zlzbip cblwlmapiz mgci, luth eigep zgwmpz cyzblov hvgulmyu’i ugep zbyup, elvip, yuwmgryux nbgvgnzpvi ibgmhmgep.

The following is from another key.

grvlvhmz agcxv hrvy _all the_ zacyavzwe rexzgvlcekz, gvmarcyohc gradevn neelz; rmqcyogrvcl cycgcmgvn, grvclredt dmyokmova ndgrvcl blvxmzeylt, srlcaz, ovexvglt, xvncacyv, olmxml, rczgelt, _all were_ gmkorgi ndmgcy, _they_ zmcdvn _in the_ adcknz, bmlmueqv _the_ qkdoml; _and they_ dvgbmd mgth ekgxezg. Lex grvcl zkudexv umbwa bohnvgmarvn dvmqvz hrcar xvy _were to_ gmwvks hcgrolvmg lvzsvag, ukghrcar _they were not_ sulxcgvnt opknov, yehvqvlt greyoi sarmyovn, ovycqz odelcozi nxmwcyo cyzvdb kynvlzgen _by the_ xmyt; _and_ mbgvl rmqcyo zemlvn _to the_ vgrvlvmd lvocyzo fzacvyav _in_ elnvl grvlv _to_ zuciv _the_ glqt gr _in_ rvlrcorvzg lvglvmgz, _it_ vxsdetz, cgsehvl _in_ mzalgmcycyo _the_ hmtumaw, _to_ vrnlgr _and in_ mslemarcyo odezvdt _to us_ grmgi txmt zreh _us the_ lekgv _it has_ glmqvdvn, _and the_ zvalvgz _it has_ glmqvdvn, _and the_ zvalvgz _it has_ ncx aeqvlvn, ukg, cbzkar isye hthemdxezg kycqvlzmd gvynvyat _of the_ rkxmy zaev yavz _it was_ vgvl _the_ nczgcyagcqv armlmayvlczgca _of_ glkv zacvyavz amynczsvyzv _with the_ svesdv _as the_ svesdv _as the_ svesdv nczsvyzv _with them_; glkvgrvedeotey the aeyglmlt, rmzyvn _of the_ svezdvmz _the_ svesdv rmqvv frvl zrvokmlnz grvcl lvdcocey; _and_ grvcl lvdocey, _in_ cgzgklx, okmlnz rvl _he to_ grvx hrvy grvedeot dmyokczrvz, _and_ nevzyeg zsvmwtogrvx; _he to_ rvlhrvg _the_ lvdcocey _of the_ arklarvz yvodvag rvl _and_ avmzvz _to_ vzgvoxrvl; hvxkzg grvyzv _to it_. uegrey rvlmaekyg _and_ eygrvclz, grmgzrv zsvmwz _to them_ rvmlz _them_ zgkncvz _in_ lvbvlvyav _to them and_ wvsz grvcl zarcedz esvymz eklgvxsdvz mlv.

Another example of the manner of writing secret correspondence is here given, and for those to decypher who can.

ibeg pycydc peocyenxez yndexc tcacbp bepkpaetzo pcpcgkocevd pqzpeuw bpwuaqy iatdd pctpcawu uyyc elgcvkwl tytp wlwlxgy ppe kepcuwnc ptkeb badokecy in vkqunwac wuatza qodazw prvsaue tpeoebztqg ckphvkwv epgyecp wzqv adyge zcgtey eppd wubk prozlwy pwzopwzieydt. tytp wzqv tytp qznokw ptpcawu yclep tcbbcg epdptp tytzenncyp ywzpw lccypetglydcn ezwgo eppd igwdc czgt tbzwp lhzuczpowxck, acktepzgh tvkextpc aeptveg jezpcktncw epcgh gwvcncxc cgbtpy iatdd pvgcvcw itgzcxch qkcczn zwkkepcpwgc pzuczpowxck tzckptutzo pwcytmp, eppd ypepcb zoypdt _in_ lceppd pypvw watbc, in tpykpeptwzpkezyvw beyawkcyzwvnczac jiyzc, in geozwp dkqwy lqphyne txnled ppkeztuyytwz cucye zoypdt wodpdk ezdpwck tquucn; jeppd etquucn lcqozwtzo pwvkextpe tzntntxqegy jawzwkpgcn pvkextpc xictyj kypytzpc.

Another plan for sending secret intelligence, is, that of using select sentences, previously agreed upon by correspondents. In this plan, the first letter of each word in the sentence, combined, is made the representative of that sentence, as in the following examples:

iwrom I will return on Monday. mhii My health is improving. shf Stocks have fallen. smtbop Send me ten barrels of pork. ymir Your message is received. dygml Did you get my letter? gmlt Give my love to. witsotmf What is the state of the market for? cha Cotton has advanced. cwycit Call when you come in town. sosn Sails on Saturday next. hjaip Has just arrived in port. hyfmo Have you filled my order? wmietg When may I expect the goods? wyegfef Will you exchange gold for eastern funds?

Another arrangement, equally adapted to the same purpose as the last, is that of taking the first letter of the sentences, then arranging them in alphabetical order, and numbering them, thus:

a. 1. At five o’clock I leave for home. a. 2. A thunder storm is rising in the west. c. 1. Can you send me? c. 2. Cotton has advanced a little to-day. h. 1. How much have stocks fallen? h. 2. Have you received my last package? h. 3. Has the rain done much damage? t. 1. The weather is excessively hot. t. 2. There is no demand for tobacco. t. 3. Take all they have at that price. t. 4. The Eliza sails to-morrow with full cargo. t. 5. The steamer Caledonia has just arrived. w. 1. What news does she bring? w. 2. What is the state of the market for sugar?

These two systems have been found to answer in practice, and were much used in telegraphic business during the last session of Congress.

[From Silliman’s Journal.]

ART. XVI. _Experiments made with one hundred pairs of Grove’s battery, passing through one hundred and sixty miles of insulated wire_; in a letter from Prof. S. F. B. Morse, to the Editors, dated New York, Sept. 4th, 1843.

Dear Sirs—On the 8th of August, having completed my preparations of 160 miles of copper wire for the Electro Magnetic Telegraph, which I am constructing for the government, I invited several scientific friends to witness some experiments in verification of the law of Lenz, of the action of galvanic electricity through wires of great lengths. I put in action a cup battery of one hundred pairs, which I had constructed, based on the excellent plan of Prof. Grove, but with some modifications of my own, economising the platinum. The wire was reeled upon eighty reels, containing two miles upon each reel, so that any length, from two to one hundred and sixty miles, could be made at pleasure to constitute the circuit. My first trial of the battery was through the entire length of 160 miles, making of course a circuit of 80 miles, and the magnetism induced in my electro magnet,[10] which formed a part of the circuit, was sufficient to move with great strength, my telegraphic lever. Even forty-eight cups produced action in the lever, but not so promptly or surely.

We then commenced a series of experiments upon decomposition, at various distances. The battery alone (100 pairs) gave, in the measuring gauge in one minute, 5.20 inches of gas. When four miles of wire were interposed, the result was 1.20 inches; ten miles of wire, .57; 20 miles, .30 inches; 50 miles, .094. The results obtained from a battery of 100 pairs are projected in the following curve:

[10] In Prof. Daniel’s, Introduction to the Study of Chemical Philosophy, 2d edition, 1843, there are these facts to be noticed. In the preface, there are these words: “It only remains for me now, to acknowledge my obligations to my friends and colleagues, _Professor Wheatstone_ and Dr. Todd, for their great kindness in undergoing the disagreeable labour of revising and correcting the proof sheets. They have thereby prevented many errors which would have otherwise deformed the work.”

No statement then of Prof. Daniel’s, particularly in that part of his work which related especially to Wheatstone’s Telegraph, would be allowed to pass unnoticed by Mr. Wheatstone and we are authorized in considering any such statement as having his sanction.