MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH EXTENSION.

137

quality, for which a ready market is always at hand, at 10c. the yard, containing one half pound cotton. Purchases of cotton in the last season were made at 91@ 10c.

Mr. Pratt's enterprise displays itself in every manner. The town contains two school-houses for the children of operatives, and two churches, Methodist and Baptist; two or three stores, a resident physician-bat we believe not yet a lawyer -bad taste! A newspaper was seriously thought of when we were there. There are upwards of one hundred and fifty to two hundred hands employed, who receive their wages monthly. Their appearance is healthy and happy. Upward of forty small buildings have been constructed by the proprietor.

The private mansion at Prattsville is a splendid structure, with beautiful neighboring grounds. A fountain plays, and various shrubbery is scattered around. The prospect from the building is imposing.

We have not mentioned half the things at Prattsville worthy of admirationthe neatness, the system, the order, the extent. A single power working everything-corn, flour, cotton, saw, and every other mill-the appended blacksmithing and carriage establishments, etc., etc.

In manners the proprietor is unostentatious-simple and republican in his course of life. His energies are indomitable, and his industry knows no impediment or regards no toil. Night and day this man of enterprise may be found at his post. The interior of his mansion is adorned with a large hall and gallery of paintings. This are not the arts forgotten. A splendid picture of Rome and St. Peters adorns the hall, executed by our townsman, Geo. Cook, of New Orleans. Mr. Clay appears as large as life, and we understand that Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Webster will be procured to adorn and illustrate in the same style the gallery.

Prattsville is capable of employing with its water power, 30 000 spindles, and according to the estimate of its proprietor, $1 000,000 will create there a town of 3500 inhabitants and give employinent to them.

We take leave of this interesting place with regret, our memories of it are so lively. May every fortune attend it in the future! We hope to see it for the South a great manufacturing Lowell, and to see many such Lowells among us, Here is an instance already of an immense fortune amassed by industry and energy in scarce the third of a generation. Who will imitate the example ?*

COMMERCIAL AND AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH EXTENSION IN THE UNITED STATES. Ir is common-place in our era of the World's history to speak of the advances of science; and we shall not now fall into the error.

During our excursions at the North, we took occasion to examine into the rationale of this mysterious operator the Telegraph. The agent in New York manifested particular pleasure in introducing us to everything; at which we were determined to manifest as little surprise as possible. In fact, the best philosophy now is, to be surprised at nothing.

We explained the telegraph instrument fully in our number for February 1846; now for its alphabet.

* For many of the particulars of this sketch, we are indebted to Col. Pickett, of Clight errors may nerhaps have crept in, in unimportant points.

"Albany and Buffalo,

510

240

170

465

........

100

"Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington,

Washington to Fredericksburg and Richmond,
Philadelphia to Pittsburg and Zanesville,..

Buffalo to Montreal (Canada), via. Lockport and Toronto,.. 650

"Pottsville,..

Auburn, Ithaca and Elmira, N. Y.,

Syracuse and Oswego (side lines),
Boston to Portland (Maine),.

60

35

120

90

Total, 2,690

We are indebted to the polite agent of the Boston line, in New York, for many interesting particulars :

August 7th, a communication was received in New York from Montreal, a distance of over 1100 miles-was delivered, an answer obtained, and its receipt acknowledged by the Montreal operator in 30 minutes from the time it was received in New York.

On the New York and Boston line, a communication was sent from New York to Boston, ordering the sale of 50 shares of railroad stock. It was delivered, the sale made, and the party ordering the sale had returns of sale and price at which it was sold placed in his hands in 12 minutes from the time he left his order at the New York office!!

The books of the companies and statements of the parties to the operations, confirm the above almost incredible instances of the facilities for dispatch in business by telegraph. The amount of business done on all these lines is large, and continually increasing.

On the New York and Boston line, about 100 communications per day are sent each way, between New York and Boston; and from 30 to 50 with the way stations, aside from the lengthy newspaper dispatches.

Communications are sent and received as rapidly as a quick penman can copy; and a system of abbreviations introduced on some of the lines, enables the operator to write faster than any man can copy.

Every day affords instances of the advantages which our business men derive from the use of the telegraph. Operations are made in me day with its aid, by repeated communications, which could not be done in from two to four weeks by mail-enabling them to make purchases and sales which otherwise would be of no benefit to them, in consequence of length of time consumed in negotiation.

On those lines constructed of the large iron wire (now being generally introduced on all lines), communication is rendered as reliable as by the mails; the wires being strong enough to withstand the elements, and only failing when malice is used, or some unavoidable accident occurs.

The Buffalo and New York line is substituting iron for copper wire, it having been originally constructed of copper; and in a few months they will have two iron wires, weighing 280 pounds to the mile, from New York to Buffalo.

The New York and Boston line is constructed of iron wire, weighing 330 pounds

PRACTICAL PURSUITS IN UNIVERSITIES.

139

to the mile; and they will have two of them working through in a few days-the amount of business done on that line requiring more than one wire.

The New York, Philadelphia and Washington line is constructed of iron wire, three cords twisted together, weighing about 250 pounds to the mile. Two wires are used from New York to Baltimore on this line.

It is a source of no little consolation to us, away at the distant South, that our northern friends are not to have all the best features of the lightning to themselves, and little of the worse. A great Southern line to New Orleans is now in process of construction. In our travels we found the posts wherever we passed. The capital of the company from Washington to New Orleans is $275,000, the stock of which is all taken the distance being 1340 miles. That portion of the line between Mobile and New Orleans, it is expected, will be in operation in September, and the whole distance through by 1st January, 1848. The stations will be Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Petersburg, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Cheraw, Camden, Columbia, Charleston, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Franklin, Montgomery, Mobile, New Orleans.

The Directors are Richard Smith, Raleigh; Major McRea, Fayetteville; John M. Dessausure, Camden; Dr. Sill, Columbia; - Charleston; Edward Thomas, Augusta; Savannah; Mr. Alexander, Macon; John G. Winter, Columbus; Mr. Pollard, Montgomery; Mr. Pope, Mobile; H. C. Cammack, W. L. Hodge, J. B. Byrne, H. W. Hill, Wm. Mure, New Orleans.

Trustees.-B. B. French, W. W. Seaton, D. Gold, Washington; N. W. Hill, New Orleans.

We give the following table of prices upon the two most important lines, which are much higher than they can be very soon made:

PRICES OF NEW YORK AND BOSTON TELEGRAPH.

From BOSTON, or from NEW YORK, to WORCESTER, Springfield, Hartford of NEW HAVEN, or from either station intermediate of BOSTON and NEW YORK, to any other station of the line, 25 cts. for the first ten words or numbers, exclusive of address and signature; and two cents for_every additional word or number. From Boston to New York. or New York to Boston, FIFTY CENTS for the first ten words or numbers, and THREE CENTS for every additional word or number

PRICES OF THE NEW YORK AND WASHington Telegraph Line. For every ten words, not exceeding one hundred, exclusive of the address and directions:

When a communication exceeds that number, the price on all words exceeding one hundred, will be reduced one-third.

Communications destined for any place beyond the termination of the Telegraph, will be faithfully written out at the last station and put into the mail. All communications must be pre-paid at the station from which they are transmitted. respectively.

THE PRACTICAL PURSUITS IN UNIVERSITIES.

Abbott Lawrence's Endowment.

WHILE We were preparing and contributing to the press at one extremity of the Union a paper showing the importance of introducing STATISTICS and COMMERCE into the new University of Louisiana (see Commercial Review, June, 1847), the Hon. Abbott Lawrence, the munificent merchant prince, at the other extremity of the Union was engaged almost at the very moment in planning and devising a Department in Harvard, addressed to the other practical pursuits of life, viz., the ARTS and MANUFACTURES which he has most sumptuously endowed. Thus do

common wants suggest common remedies, and hand in hand together great improvements are carried out, blessing mankind in every section of the Union.

Without adverting further to the COMMERCIAL PROFESSORSHIP at this moment, we will say that it has long been a favorite idea with us, as many in Louisiana will remember. We shall take occasion to present its merits more than we have done in the hurried communication already made. We shall be able to furnish many new and striking facts, the results of investigation and study during our northern tour. What is to us a most delightful satisfaction at this moment isthat a gentleman in Louisiana whose name is identified with enterprise and worth, has promised to take this matter in hand, and secure the early establishment of this statistical department to the University. It is a matter about which we are sanguine. The professorship must and will be established.

But to return to Mr. Lawrence. His donation to Harvard of fifty thousand dollars is one of the most liberal upon record. and does great honor to our country. We introduce from his letter to the Hon. Samuel A. Elliott, the following pasLage:

MY DEAR SIR-I have more than once conversed with you upon the subject of establishing a school for the purpose of teaching the practical sciences in this city or neighborhood, and was gratified when I learned from you that the govern ment of Harvard University had determined to establish such a school in Cambridge, and that a Professor had been appointed who is eminent in the science of Chemistry, and who is to be supported on the foundation created by the munificence of the late Count Rumford.

For several years I have scen and felt the pressing want in our community (and in fact in the whole country), of an increased number of men educated in the practical sciences. Elementary education appears to be well provided for in Massachusetts. There is, however, a deficiency in the means for higher education in certain branches of knowledge. For an early classical education we have our schools and colleges. From thence the special schools of Theology, Law, Medicine and Surgery, receive the young men destined to those professions; and those who look to commerce as their employment, pass to the counting-house or the ocean. But where can we send those who intend to devote themselves to the practical applications of science? How educate our Engineers, our Miners, Machinists and Mechanics? Our country abounds in men of action. Hard hands are ready to work upon our hard materials; and where shall sagacious heads be taught to direct those hands?

Inventive men laboriously reinvent what has been produced before. Ignorant men fight against the laws of nature with a vain energy, and purchase their experience at great cost. Why should not all these start where their predecessors ended, and not where they began? Education can enable them to do so. The application of science to the useful arts has changed, in the last half century, the condition and relations of the world. It seems to me that we have been somewhat neglectful in the cultivation and encouragement of the scientific portion of our national economy.

THE PUBLISHING BUSINESS.

It is scarcely conceivable how important this branch of BooK Trade has become in our country, and the iminense capital which is required to sustain it. To examine through the mammoth establishments at the North, constitutes an epoch in one's life, such are the emotions which they awaken; particularly the Harpers, Wiley & Putnam, Appleton, of New York; Carey & Hart, Philadelphia, etc., etc. One scarcely can conceive what becomes of the immense quantity of material which is daily discharged from the press. Regarding the whole printing art in New York-its branches of type setting, hand and power presses, stereotyping, binding, wood cutting, engraving, lithographing-we are amazed at its extent. Such prodigious heaps of books are dispatched every hour, for every quarter of the Union and into Canada. What could be more interesting than the statistics of these, and biographical sketches of the leading men who are engaged?

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141

A friend in New York, who has long been collecting and will soon publish, perhaps, a work upon this curious subject, has promised to contribute for our Review a few pages on this head, which will doubtless excite much attention.

For the present month, we shall notice but casually the progress of the trade, but will, in other numbers, give it a leading head and place in the Review.

1. THE COMPLETE ANGLER; or, the Contemplative Man's Recreation: with biographical preface and copious notes, by the American Editor-in two parts. New York, Wiley & Putiam. 1847.

This is the first American edition of a book whose quaint interest has been commemorated time out of mind. Everybody has heard of Isaac Walton, whose piscatory reputation has given character to the sport, and is cherished with a kind of pious regard by every devotee. And, in good sooth, there is enough in these goodly volumes, which make a part of the choice reading of Messrs. Wiley & Putnam, to gladden the hearts of all true sportsmen. The novelty of the maiter, and the style, the curious details, the lively sketchings, the antiquarian researches, which abound upon every page, might indeed awaken some 66 generous feeling" in the most dull and plodding, and set us forthwith into grinding down our scythes and plowshares into-fish-hooks.

To these rich volumes Mr. Charles Cottou had added a goodly number of instructions in trout angling, &c.; and the American editor has appended a vast collection of notes and illustrations, a curious biographical preface of fishing and fishing-books, from the earliest antiquity until the time of Walton, and a notice of Colton and his writings, Nor is this all; the Appendix is a perfect curiosity in itselt equal to Burton's immortal Anatomy in interest-including illustrative ballads, music, papers on American fishing, and the most coinplete Catalogue of books on Angling, &c. ever published; including-who would deem it possible !— some forty pages of books, in all countries and times! Who is sportsman enough to collect this extraordinary library?

Our meagre notice of this rare work may well be concluded by an extract from Charles Lamb's letter to Coleridge: Among all your quaint readings, did you ever light upon Walton's Complete Angler? I asked you this question once be fore; it breathes the very spirit of innocence, purity, and simplicity of heart; there are many choice old verses interspersed in it; it would sweeten a man's temper at any time to read it. It would Christianize every discordant, angry passion."

2. OмOO: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas, by Herman Melville author of Typee. 2 vols. 1847. This delightful work, from the press of the Messrs. Harpers, occupies ground of classic interest and romance. Some of the sea scenes are inimitable. The sailor's life and adventures are all portrayed with lively pen. We follow the author with fresh delight in every new scene, in parts almost unknown-Taboo, Tamai, Tahiti, and Polynesia-so vivid and graphic are all the delineations.

3. CHAMBERS' MISCELLANY of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge, No. 1, 1847. Messrs. Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, of Boston, announce their intended republication of this valuable and popular work, in thirty numbers, each constiiuting a separate volume of itself whereof the one before us is the first. The extraordinary popularity and success of the Cyclopædia of English Literature, from the same source, induces the present publication. We have no doubt it will Le received with keen interest everywhere. The first number, among other instructive sketches, contains a biography of Louis Philippe, and an admirable story of Colbert, giving his origin, early struggles, and rise in fortunes. The tendency of all the sketches is moral and instructive.

4. CHAPMAN'S AMERICAN DRAWING-BOOK, No. 1. New York: J. S. Redfield. The work sets out with the maxim, Any one who can learn to write can learn to draw;" which, no doubt, has some share of truth in it, inasmuch as a large proportion of mankind find it impossible to "learn to write," judging from the execrable scrawls they perpetrate. Mr. Chapman's Drawing-Book is admirably executed, in paper, drawings, typography, and delineation. If the art can be made plain, no better instructor could be desired.