Samuel F. B. Morse: In His Own Words Read Transcript | Credits | Back to Menu Quest for Backing For years, Morse's efforts to secure federal funding for his telegraph were repeatedly thwarted, despite having Maine Congressman F. O. J. Smith as a secret partner. In 1843, the U.S. Congress finally appropriated $30,000 for the construction of an experimental telegraph line between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. In 1852, Morse wrote to his friend, Bishop Stevens, about that momentous day. Transcript: As evening approached there seemed to be but little chance that the Telegraph Bill would be reached before the adjournment, and consequently I had the prospect of the delay of another year, with the loss of time, and all my means already expended. In my anxiety I consulted with two of my senatorial friends . . asking their opinion of the probability of reaching the bill before the close of the session. Their answers were discouraging, and their advice was to prepare myself for disappointment . . . In the morning . . . a servant called me out, announcing that a young lady was in the parlor wishing to speak with me. I was at once greeted with the smiling face of the daughter of my old and valued friend . . . H. L. Ellsworth, the Commissioner of Patents. On my expressing surprise at so early a call, she said, "I have come to congratulate you." "Indeed, for what?" "On the passage of your bill." "Oh no, my young friend, you are mistaken; I was in the Senate chamber till after the lamps were lighted, and my senatorial friends assured me that there was no chance for me." "But," she replied, "it is you that are mistaken. Father was there at the adjournment at midnight, and saw the President put his name to your bill . . . Am I the first to tell you?" The news was so unexpected that for some moments I could not speak. At length I replied, "Yes, Annie, you are the first to inform me, and now I am going to make you a promise; the first dispatch on the completed line from Washington to Baltimore shall be yours." "Well," she said, "I shall hold you to your promise." Credits: photos: Library of Congress and Frank Leslie's illustrated Newspaper, July, 1871, Library of Congress