Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations and footnotes have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical errors have been silently corrected. THE AMERICAN ELECTRO MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH: WITH THE REPORTS OF CONGRESS, AND A DESCRIPTION OF ALL TELEGRAPHS KNOWN, EMPLOYING ELECTRICITY OR GALVANISM. ILLUSTRATED BY EIGHTY-ONE WOOD ENGRAVINGS. BY ALFRED VAIL, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF ELEC. MAG. TEL. FOR THE U. S. CANST THOU SEND LIGHTNINGS, THAT THEY MAY GO, AND SAY UNTO THEE, HERE WE ARE?—JOB. “The same principle which justified and demanded the transference of the mail on many chief routes, from the horse-drawn coach on common highways to steam-impelled vehicles on land and water, is equally potent to warrant the calling of the electro magnetic telegraph—that last and most wondrous birth of this wonder-teeming age—in aid of the post office, in discharge of its great function of rapidly transmitting correspondence and intelligence.” REP. OF COM. OF WAYS AND MEANS OF H. R., 1845. PHILADELPHIA: LEA & BLANCHARD. 1845. ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, By ALFRED VAIL, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the District of Columbia. CONTENTS.