Extending from a point, o, in the main line, near the transmitting station, to the earth at G, is a branch conductor, l, containing an adjustable artificial resistance, R. A similar conductor, ll, extends from a point, o’, near the receiving terminal of the line, L, to the conductor, 3, in which an artificial resistance, R’, is also included, this resistance being preferably approximately equal to the resistance, R. The proportions of the resistance of the main line and the artificial resistances which I prefer to employ may be approximately indicated as follows:  Assuming the resistance of the main line to be 900 ohms, the resistance, R, and R’, should be each about 3,000 ohms.  The main battery, E, should then comprise about 90 cells, and the auxiliary battery, E’, 30 cells.

The operation of my improved system is as follows:  While the apparatus is at rest a constant current from the battery, E’, traverses the line, L, and the branch conductors, l, and ll, dividing itself between them, in inverse proportion to their respective resistances, in accordance with the well-known law of Ohm.  When the transmitting pattern strip, P, is caused to pass between the roller, T, and the stylus, t, electric impulses will be transmitted upon the line, L, from the positive pole of the battery, E, which will traverse the main line, L, the two branch lines, l, and ll, and their included resistances, and also the receiving instrument, M. The greater portion of this current will, however, on account of the less resistance offered, traverse the receiving instrument, M, and the auxilary battery, E’.  The current from the last-named battery will thus be neutralized and overpowered, and the excess of current from the main battery, E, will act upon the chemically prepared paper and record in the form of dots and dashes or like arbitrary characters the impulses which are transmitted.

Immediately on the cessation of each impulse, the auxiliary battery, E’, again acts to send an impulse of positive polarity through the receiving paper and stylus in the reverse direction and through the line, L, which returns to the negative pole of the battery by way of the artificial resistances, R and R’.  Such an impulse, following immediately upon the interruption of the circuit of the transmitting battery, acts to destroy the effect of the “tailing” or static discharge of the line, L, upon the receiving instrument, and also to neutralize the same throughout the line.  By thus opposing the discharge of the line by a reverse current transmitted directly through the chemical paper, a sharply defined record will in all cases be obtained; and by transmitting the opposing impulse through the line, the latter will be placed in a condition to receive the next succeeding impulse and to record the same as a sharply defined character.

This arrangement was made on the New York-Cleveland circuit, and the characters were then clearly defined and of uniform distinctness.  The speed of transmission on this circuit was from 1,000 to 2,000 words per minute.