Living and Learning in Central Oregon

On October 24, 1861 Chief Justice Stephen Field, of California, transmitted the first transcontinental telegraph.  The message was sent to President Abraham Lincoln. 

I can’t help but find this interesting for a number of reasons.  First, I was talking with my sister yesterday on my cell phone. It was such a beautiful day I was outside for a noon walk.  As I was walking and talking a very loud truck drove by and I wondered if that driver ever considered that the noise from his truck was not only being heard by me but by someone 3,000 miles away.  It was just an interesting and random thought I had.  Second, could Lincoln have ever imagined that the telegraph message he received from Field was just the beginning? did he ever think that 150 years later we would be video conferencing with people half way around the world?  If Lincoln was unable to imagine that occuring what are we unable to imagine? In 150 years what will we be doing?  Man, I wish I could be around to see it!