The  origin  of  this  system  was  related  to  me  some  years  ago
by  its  originator,  Mr.  William  A.  Childs.
In  the  spring  of  1874  [he  said]  I  proposed  to  establish  for  lawyers
in  New  York  City  a  circuit  wire  system  with  tickers  or  printing
telegraph  instruments — a  service  similar  to  that  given  brokers  and
bankers  by  the  Gold  and  Stock  Telegraph.  My  idea  was  to  connect
the  lawyers  with  the  various  courts  so  that  they  could  get  each  day
the  calendars  for  the  next  day,  the  decisions  of  the  Judges,  and
Court  news  generally.  I  went  among  the  lawyers  and  solicited
them  with  a  subscription  paper,  but  they  said, '  That  will  be  no  use
to  us.'  After  canvassing  for  a  week  or  more  with  no  encouragement
a  lawyer  one  day  said  to  me,  '  There  is  a  great  deal  of  intercom-
munication amongst  lawyers.  What  you  propose  is  no  use;  but
if  you  had  a  system  of  telegraphs  by  which  I  could  telegraph  to
any  other  lawyer  who  had  one,  that  is  something  I  would  pay  for.'
Another  lawyer  said  my  plan  was  of  no  use.  He  could  get  all
that  I  proposed  in  the  morning  or  evening  papers,  but  a
means  of  direct  telegraphic  communication  would  be  of  value.
