There was no book and no college to instruct him.

His telegraph was then, as it is to-day, a business failure.

It was not earning its keep.

Therefore he did not dare to shoulder the risk of constructing a second system of wires, and at last consented to give licenses to private companies.
But the muddle continued.

In order to compel competition, according to the academic theories of the day, licenses were given to thir-teen private companies.