ener, reproduce the original sound or voice. The arrangement being the same at both ends, the machine, of course, works both ways; so that when a person is talking to the distant diaphragm the direction is reversed, and the sounds are emitted by the diaphragm near by, and thus the original talker gets his response.

To make a telephone, procure a tube, bb (Fig. 4), of thin sheet-brass, one inch long, two inches in diameter, and with a flange one-half inch wide. Then from a ferrotype-plate-the photographer's" tin-type"-cut a round plate, shown edgewise at cc, to cover the tube bb over the flange. This is the vibrator or diaphragm. Next cut a wooden ring or "washer," dd, the width of the flange, and about one-eighth of an inch thick. Then make a spool, e e, one inch long, of thin sheet-brass again, with one flange wide enough to cover the wooden ring, the tube of the spool being made so as to fit tightly the magnet g, which is a strongly-magnetized steel rod, four inches long and three-eighths of an inch in diameter. The parts will then fit together, and may be screwed firmly through the flanges bb. The least polished side of the plate c c should face the magnet, and it is well to scrape the part opposite the end of the bar, so as to expose the iron. The spool is to be wound with about fifty yards of No. 36 or 38 silk-covered copper wire, about the thickness of a bristle. The magnet is then shoved in, till it nearly touches the plate c c. After joining the ends of the spool-wire to the line-wires ff, that run to another instrument just like it, the telephone will be ready for use. It is important to concentrate the voice upon a narrow space at the middle of the plate; and for his purpose a movable wooden mouth-piece, a a, is used, with an opening at the bottom about the size of a dime. This mouth-piece should fit neatly, and reach to within about one-eighth of an inch of the diaphragm.

Fig. 5 represents a section of Bell's tele

FIG. 5.

phone. EE is the diaphragm, F the tube, B the silk-covered wire wound upon the spool, extending, CC, to the binding-screws D D, where the two ends are connected with the line-wires. The magnet A has its distance from the diaphragm adjusted by the screw at the opposite end. Fig. 6 represents the form and aspect of the instrument as used. It is

about five or six inches long and two and a half inches broad at its widest part. In sending a message, the instrument is held to the mouth, and the words distinctly spoken in ordinary tones or even a whisper. The instrument is then held to the ear to receive the answer. Instead of this, two telephones connected may be used at each station, so that one may be held to the ear all the time, while the other is used for telephoning.

The impression produced by listening to a communication through this instrument has been aptly described as follows: "The voice, whether in speaking or singing, has a weird, curious sound in the telephone. It is in a measure ventriloqual in character; and, with the telephone held an inch or two from the ear, it has the effect as if some one were singing far off in the building, or the sound were coming up from a vaulted cellar or through a massive stone-wall." The singing or speaking is heard microscopically, as it were, or rather microphonically, but wonderfully distinct and clear in character.

FIG. 6.

The longest distance at which conversation has been carried on, so far, through the telephone, is about 250 miles. With a submarine cable conversation has been carried on between England and France across the English Channel. Conversation has also been held through the bodies of sixteen persons standing hand-in-hand.

The telephone has been regarded as a toy, or a curiosity to be played with; but, while it is undoubtedly extremely interesting as a novelty, it is very much more than this; it is, scientifically and practically, a great success. There are, undoubtedly, difficulties in its use, but, considering that it is a contrivance but of yesterday, the wonder is that it is so perfect. The telegraph was much longer regarded as an impracticable invention, and it is impossible to say how soon the telephone may not take rank among the necessities of common life.

TENNESSEE. The subject which most largely occupied the attention of the public authorities and the people of the State of Tennessee during the year was that of a readjustment of the State debt on a basis that would make its requirements press less heavily upon

their exhausted resources. On the 26th of December, 1876, a letter had been addressed to Governor Porter by a number of the largest holders of the bonds of the State, expressing their confidence that an equitable adjustment could be made, and recommending that the Legislature appoint a commission to proceed to New York and confer with the creditors, with a view to bringing about such an adjustment. In response to this proposition, a resolution was adopted by the Legislature on the 27th of January, inviting the creditors to submit some definite plan, and the following proposition was subsequently made:

1. That the revenue laws of the State shall be amended so that the collection of taxes may be assured at the time or times when they become due, and that at the smallest possible cost to the tax-payer. 2. That the reforms proposed and recommended to the Legislature by your Excellency in regard to the cost of county criminal prosecutions be enacted into

a law.

3. That the expenses of the State Government be reduced to as low a figure as is consistent with the maintenance of its dignity.

4. That the present rate of taxation be maintained, and that the other sources of revenue be not dimin ished.

5. That the State levy annually a special tax of one mill on the dollar of taxable property, the proceeds of which, in every year, together with any surplus revenue, shall be used in the purchase, cancellation, and destruction of the new issue of bonds which it is proposed herein to issue for existing bonds and pastdue coupons, and the coupons of July 1, 1877.

6. That the Legislature pass a law authorizing the funding of all outstanding bonds of the State, of all past-due coupons thereon, and of the coupons which will fall due on July 1, 1877, into new bonds of the State, bearing date July 1, 1877, and having 50 years to run to maturity, bearing interest for a period of five years from their date, at the rate of three (3) per cent. per annum; for a period of five years thereafter, interest at the rate of four (4) per cent. per annum; for a period of five years from the termination of the last-mentioned period, interest at the rate of five (5) per cent. per annum; and thereafter, until maturity and payment, interest at the rate of six (6) per cent. per annum. Interest on each bond to be paid semiannually, on January 1st and July 1st, in every year from and after its date, and the coupons evidencing it to be receivable by the State for all taxes and dues payable to the State; said bonds to be for $100, $500, and $1,000.

Meanwhile, on the 25th of January, a meeting had been held at the Clearing-house in New York, "to consider the embarrassment of the several Southern States which are in default, and to devise a plan for the readjustment of their debts, and for the restoration of their credit." Five bank officers, Geo. S. Coe, J. D. Vermilye, B. B. Sherman, B. B. Comegys, and Enoch Pratt, were appointed as a board of arbiters to act in the matter. Tennessee was invited to cooperate with them in securing an adjustment of the State debt, and the Governor, in a special message on the 22d of February, recommended that a committee be appointed to meet the arbiters, and lay before them statistics of the debt and resources of the State, and such other information as might be pertinent, and receive such propositions as they should

see fit to make. After considerable discussion a commission of five members was authorized and appointed to proceed to New York on this mission. The commission reached New York on the 7th of March, and had its first conference with the arbiters on the following day. The first proposition made was that the whole debt be funded in fifty-year bonds, bearing interest at 3 per cent. for the first five years, 4 per cent. for the next five years, 5 per cent. for the third five years, and 6 per cent. thereafter. The commission protested against this as not sufficiently liberal to the State, and subsequent consultations resulted in a proposition for the adjustment and compromise of the whole debt by the issue of new bonds at the rate at 60 cents on the dollar, the bonds to run 30 years, and bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent. This plan was reported to the Legislature by the commission on the 19th of March without recommendation. The propriety of accepting or rejecting this plan of adjustment was discussed for some time, and several propositions were submitted in the Legislature, but no definite action was taken before the adjournment. The subject continued to occupy attention and to be publicly discussed. Several prominent citizens of the State, including D. M. Key, PostmasterGeneral of the United States, and Senator I. G. Harris, wrote letters, advocating at length the acceptance of the plan of adjustment. Finally, the Governor called a special session of the Legislature, to begin on the 5th of December, the object of which was thus expressed in his proclamation:

1. To consider the recommendation made by the 1877, to adjust the State debt by the issuance of new arbiters at the conference held at New York in March, six per cent. bonds at the rate of sixty per cent. of the total amount of principal and past-due interest.

the new bonds; to provide a sinking fund for the ex2. To levy a tax sufficient to meet the interest on tinguishment of the debt, and for the more efficient collection of the revenue.

3. To provide, by appropriate legislation, for the expenses of the General Assembly.

In a message submitted on the first day of the session, the Governor reviewed the action which had been taken, and urged the acceptance of the plan of the arbiters. He said that the debt was nearly all incurred prior to the civil war for purposes of internal improvement, and there was no question of its validity. He also contended that the State would be amply able to meet its obligations under the proposed adjustment. The question speedily arose whether the Legislature could do more, under the call of the Governor, than to act upon the single proposition submitted, in view of the fact that the constitution provides that, when the Legislature is convened by the Governor

on extraordinary occasions," he shall "state specifically the purposes for which they are to convene; but they shall enter on no legislative business except that for which they were specifically called together." The question was referred to a special committee, a majority of

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the action of his Excellency the President of the United States, in this extraordinary license of arbitrary power, deserves and receives the hearty condemnation of the body of liberty-loving people throughout the entire country.

Be it further resolved, That we deprecate all Federal Executive interference in State elections for partisan purposes, and invoke the law-abiding spirit of a free people to correct the evils complained of, as well as to effectuate the will of the people as expressed in the late elections, State and national.

Among the acts passed was one authorizing municipal corporations to compromise or settle their indebtedness; one creating the new county of Haines out of portions of Benton, Carroll, Henderson, and Decatur; one repealing the 10 per cent. interest law; one prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors near institutions of learning; one depriving the State

of the power to borrow money; one repealing the act of 1875, establishing an Immigration Bureau; and one creating a State Board of Health. Bills reducing the rate of taxation from 40 to 10 cents on a hundred dollars, and amending the assessment laws, were vetoed by the Governor and passed in spite of his objections. The amendments to the Constitution proposed by the previous General Assembly were defeated, failing to receive the necessary two-thirds vote in the House.

A litigation of long standing, involving the conflicting claims of the depositors and noteholders of the old Bank of Tennessee to the remaining assets of that institution, was decided in January in favor of the note-holders. The bank, which was located in Nashville, suspended on the approach of the Federal army,

in 1862; its assets were carried south and afterward captured by General Sherman at Atlanta, Ga., and delivered to the State authorities. A large portion of them consisted of Confederate bonds, Tennessee war bonds, and bills and notes which became worthless. A part of the balance was wasted or lost while nominally in custody of the State authorities, so that only $275,850 remained of what nominally footed up at $10,325,000. There was $1,500,000 due to depositors, and about the same amount outstanding in notes. According to the decision of the Supreme Court of the State, the holders of the notes are entitled to receive what is left of the assets, after the payment of various costs and expenses.

A case was decided by the Supreme Court in February, which involved the validity of the act of 1875, declaring the keeping of dogs a "privilege," and imposing a tax upon it as such. The Constitution requires all taxation

upon property to be uniform according to value, and authorizes the taxing of "merchants, peddlers, and privileges." The court held, substantially, that dogs were property, and the keeping of them could not by legislative action be made a privilege in any proper legal sense. Neither could the taxing of these animals, under the provisions of the law in question, be regarded as a police measure for the restriction of their number, as it was clearly intended as a measure for obtaining revenue. Accordingly the act was declared null and void. The judge, in concluding a long opinion on the subject, said:

The result is, that the law before us must be held void as a revenue measure or tax imposed in violation of the limitations of our Constitution, and not sustainable under the police power of the State, because not so purposed in the first place, and, second, because not using the appropriate remedies for the exercise of such power. However lightly we may esteem the animal subject to this tax; the Constitu