Masters of Space Morse, Thompson, Bell, Marconi, Carty

nterested-Washingt

ecure Foreign Patents

uccess at Last-The Li

essage-P

rcoming indifference and skepticism, of securing financial support sufficient to erect a real line, still remained to be done. We shall see that this burden remained very la

who saw the apparatus in operation remained unconvinced of its ability to serve mankind. But Morse finally made a convert of the Hon. Francis O.J. Smith, chairman of the Committee on Commerce. Smith had previously been in correspondence with the inventor, and Morse had explained to him at length his belief that the Government should own the telegraph and control and opera

hilated." As a result the committee reported a bill appropriating $30,000 for the erection of an experimental line between Washington and Baltimore. Smith's report was most enthusiastic in his praise of the invention. In fact, the Congressman became so much interested that he sought a share in the enterprise, and, securing it,

n, they made application for a patent. They were opposed by Wheatstone and his associates, and could not secure even a hearing from the patent authorities. Morse strenuously insisted that his telegraph was radically different from Wheatstone's, laying especial emphasis on the fa

elegraph the best of all that had been devised. He received a patent, only to learn that to be effective the invention must be put in operation in France within two years, under the French patent law. Morse sought to establish his line in connection with a railway, as Wheatstone had established his in England, but was

on the Sully, Dr. Charles Jackson, had laid claim to a share in the invention. He insisted that the idea ha

elopment of the nation. Smith was in politics, the Vails were suffering from a financial depression, Professor Gale was a man of very limited means, and so Morse found himself without funds or support. In Paris he had met M.

him were small and irregular, and he was brought to the very verge of starvation. We are told of the call

the professor, "how a

tion, adding that he hoped to h

se. "I shall be dead by ne

service?" asked the student

d save my life,"

they dined together, Morse remarking that

is time are also illustrated by a le

ommon enterprise. I am crushed for want of means, and means of so trifling a character, too, that they who know how to ask (which I do not) could obtain in a few hours.... As it is, although everything is favorable, although I have no competition and no opposition-on the contrary, although every member of Congress, so far as I can learn, is favorable-yet I fear all will fail because I am too poor to risk the trifling expense which my journey and residence in

usness that I have an invention which is to mark an era in human civilization, and which is to contribute to the ha

gn patents, his own American rights being protected by the caveat he had filed. Although the commercial possibilities, and hence the money value

ht night in the fall of 1842, he submerged his cable in New York Harbor between Castle Garden and Governors Island. A few signals were transmitted and then the wire was carried away by a dragging anchor. Truly, misfortune se

financial possibilities of his invention, but its benefit to humanity as well. He also presented very practical estimates of the cost of establishing the line under consideration. The committee again recommended that $30,000 be appropriated for the construction of a Washington-Baltimore line. The politicians had come to look upon Morse as a crank, and it was extremely difficult for his adherents to secure favorable action in the H

ashington to press his plan, anxiously waited in the galleries. The bill came up for consideration

not in sympathy with your project. I advise you to

imagine. He paid his board bill, and found himself with but thirty-se

th, daughter of his friend the Commissioner of Patents,

me!" replied M

"on the passage of you

is was the turning-point in the history of the telegraph. His resources were reduced to the minimum, and the

ine was complete. With the Government appropriation at his disposal, Morse immediately set to work upon the Washington-Baltimore line. Professors Gale and Fisher served as his assistants, and Mr. Vail was in d

be a failure. The insulation was not adequate, and the line could not be operated to the first relay station. A large portion of the $30,000 voted by Congress had been spent and the line was still far from completion. Disaster

the wire in such fashion was no small task, but it was finally accomplished. It was later found necessary to insulate the wire with bottle necks where it passed through the poles. On May 23, 1844, the line was complete. Remembering his promise to Miss Ellsworth, Morse called upon her next morning to give him the first messag

nt, and nominated James K. Polk. Silas Wright was named for the Vice-Presidency. At that time Mr. Wright was in Washington. Hearing of the nomination, Alfred Vail telegraphed it to Morse in Washington. Morse communicated with Wright, who stated that he could not accept the honor. The telegraph was ready to carry his message declining the nomination, and within a v