The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-12-09
Feasibility Of Telesraphing Owe
Wires or Cables Net Insulatcd.
New York Tribune

discovery which, it is expected, will
throw new light upon the nature of clcc-
tricity, and possibly manifest the exis.
tcnce Of a hitherto unknown natu, al
force. On the night of Nov. 22d, while
MIR. Edison and his assistant, Charles
Bachelor, were experimenting in their
laboratory, they made discovery which
is recorded as follows in their journal:
''ln experimenting with vibratory
magnet. consisting Of bar Of Stubbs'
steel fastened at one end and made to vi.
brate by means Of magnet, We noticed .
spark coming from the core Of the mag:
net. This we have often noticed before
the relays; in stock printers, when there
were iron filings between the armaturc
and core, and often in the new electric
pen. Always supposed it was inductive
electricity. but happened to notice it
when it seemed so strong that we sus-
pected it might be something more than
induction. Acting on the supposition,
we found that by touching any portion Of
the vibrator or magnet with piece Of
metal We got the spark. We then con-
ncctcd wire to the end of the vibrating
rod and got spark by touching a piece
of iron to it,
The experimenters were led to try the
effect of different metals in drawing Off
the spark, and soon found that cadmium
was the most effective for their purpose.
A bar OF this metal was placed across the
electrin coil of the magnetic instrument,
and long wire attached to it. The elec-
trio circuit was thus drained of its cur
rent, which passed through the cadmium
and the subsequent wire into gas-p;pe,
and so into the earth. Notwithstanding
this interruption of the continuity of the
circuit, it was found that when any me.
tallic substance was brought in contact
with the gas-pipe or with the intervening
wire, white spark was evolved with un-
usual brilliancy. Then it occurred to
Mr.. Edison that possibly this spark
might be the manifestation of some un.
known force acting simultaneously with
electricity. Accordingly he applied to it
the tests by which the presence of elec-
tricity is detected, and was surprised to
find that the testing instruments gave
no indication of the electric presence.
A delicate gold-leaf elcctroscore was
undisturbed by the new manifestations,
conclusively proving either that electric.
ity may manifest itself in entirely new
phases, or that andcr certain conditions
it gives birth to q new and distinct force.
Mr.. Edison has named the new principle
t'etheric force" This discovery was put
to test by various experiments and the
following results obtained: That the
new force is non.polar, radiating in
straight lines like heat; that it is capable
OF transmission to indefinite distances
through an uninsulatcd wire; that it is
not affected by the ordinary non con-
ductors Of electricity, as glass, etc.,
and that it is retroactive, the spark be.
ing obtainablc when the wire is turned
back so as to touch itself. Mr.. Edison is
of the opinion that it can be made to man.
ifest itself otherwise than by the spark,
and that it may be derived from heat in
dependently Of electricity.
In order to put it to = severe test he
connected wire from his laboratory with
the ordinary telegraph wire, and by per.
mission of the telegraph company was
enabled to make circuit extending from
New York to Now Brunswick, N. j., both
ends terminating in his laboratory. After
passing through this great extent of wire
the eclectic current was divided, cadmium
wire attached, and a series of sparks
evolved as readily as though the circuit
had only been yard long. The practi.
cal value of this discovery consists in it's
manifestation of the possibility of send
ing messages over cables or wires not IN.
sulated. Instead Of employing poles and
glass.insulators, it seems 10 be necessary
only to make an attachment to the rail.
road tracks or to wire laid IN the earth,
and the message can be as readily trans.
mitted as by the present process. The
expensive insulated cables now used for
ocean telegraphy can be rivalcd by Ca
blcs OF much cheaper construction, and
in other ways the present cumbrous ap-
paratus necessary for utilizing electricity
may be avoided.
New York world.]
Thus far Mr.. Edison's experiments
have been attempts to prove that this
force u electricity, and to this end every
known test has been applied, with the re-
suit Of only strengthening his belief that
it is new force. It invariably refuses
to yield other evidences Of its kinship to
the subtle agency Of electricity than that
it travcrscs wire or other metallic con.
ductor, is observed in the form Of light,
and can be controlled by the making and
breaking Of the conducting medium. The
peculiaritics and characteristics of this
"iorce' may be summed up as follows:
l. 1t fails utterly to defect the spot
Of light in direct passage through
Thompson's minor galvanometer.
2. 1t fails to affect delicate solution
of iodide of potassium after passing
through it for several hours.
3. It does not require a circuit, but
traverses equally we'll a straight wire in
sulated or non.insulated.
4. 1t has no affinity to the earth, and
cannot therefore be "grounded'' or in
ductivcly acted upon by the carth's
surface.
S. It has no polarity.
6. So far as Mr.. Edison's experiments
have gone, it seems to be infinite and all
pervadlng. Metallic resistance apparent
ly has no effect upon it.
These tests having all been made, Mr..
Edison has arrived at the conclusion that
il it is species Of electricity it differs 50
essentially from all that is known Of static
or dynamic electritity as to be entitled to
new name. and he has therefore demon.
mated it 'Etheric force" the name being
taken from IN idea he holds concerning
the phenomenon, an idea which he de.
clares is yet crude and but half formed,
namely, that the development proceeds
from simple heat. He has now construct.
ed an apparatus by which the sparks are
made to pass under 4 microscope of CO..