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Events on Saturday 6 January 1838 1
1838Samuel Morse Demonstrates the Electric TelegraphPublic test of long-distance telegraphy in New JerseySamuel Morse and Alfred Vail publicly demonstrated their electric telegraph at the Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey, sending messages over two miles of wire. The demonstration used an early version of Morse code to transmit text, convincing observers of the system's practical value. Congress later funded the Washington-to-Baltimore line built on this technology.