The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-06-21
For the Eaton Democrat.
IUI IITO IlWIUII DCTIVNI NIs
TELEGRAPH SUPERSEDED.


TELEGRAPH SUPERSEDED.
In company with a friend we were
shown to-day, by Il gentleman, who,
though unknown to the scientific
world, has for many years been max
ing the study of electricity and mag
netism a speciality, n of the most
remarkable and astounding discover
les of the age. 1t is an invention in
comparison with which the magnetic
telegraph pales into comparative in
significance, and bears the same pro-
portions to it that Dr.. Franklin's kite
and string do to the grand develop
ments Of Morse. It utilities an Gle
ment in nature long known to exist
but not heretofore brought under
control, for the communication of
ideas from one place to another, near
er or more remotes Upon the fund
amental principle that the entire
globe is It magnet, the now u%niyers-
ally acknowledged fact among our
best scientists our friend has aban-
doned telegraph poles and wires, and
by means of delicate and ingenious
mechanism, which we are at liberty
in part to explain, makes each foot
of solid ground q station from which
to any other ground on the face of
the earth messages may be sent to
and from at the will of the operators.
Rivers, mountains and oceans may
intervene, but as the earth furnishes
the return circuit for the Geographic
messenger he has boldly made it the
highway of thought,
The instrument to which we refer
has something of the appearance of
q chromometer watch, eXceptthe face
was covered with glass and around
the outer circle were placed at regu-
lar intervals the letters of the alpha
bet and the figures used in our sys-
TEN ofNotation. Across its face was
the magnetic needle pointing due
north, and through the glass we
could partially sec the delicate ma
chinery with which remarkable re-
suits are produced. VIZ noticed
springs as fine as the hair spring OF
smallest watch. The net work Of
these looked as complete as delicate
line engraving. There were delicate
cups which some Of these seemed to
intersect while others circled around
them. There we're small bars which
crossed each other, and several wheels
visible. There were two of these in
genious devices, apparently dupli-
Gates. After some delay our party
divided, one of US going with the OPP
orator and inventor, and the other
taking one of these instruments and
travelling in an opposite direction.
The writer of this took his position
about half a mile away, upon q hill,
but in view of the operator. Unfold
ing a jointed steelpointed rod about
six feet in length the writer set it in
the ground about six inches and ad-
justed upon an arm having an ar
rangement to which to attach the in
strument, SO. constructed that it
would hang as plumb Is though it
were to be used for establishing per-
pendiculars. The writer, as direct
ed, took a small horse shoe magnet
and swung the needle around to the
following letters, CARE YOU
READY" and waited for q re-
Spouse. Never was a moment more
replete with curious anxiety. In an
instant the needle turned to YES
in quick succession. Then took the
magnet and held it opposite the fol-
lowing letters, in response to which
the needle quickly swung its point
over item: "H-O-W (pause) FAR
WILL THIS O-P-E-R A T-E?"
and looked on the face of my dial
in & moment the needles point swung
around to the following letters. 1t
is proper to say here that a short
pause must be made at the last letter
of each word. Taking my pencil l
set down the following letters as IT,
dictated by the needle, thus: GA
ROUND THE WORLD"
AS agreed upon, we then went half
a mile each in opposite directions,
and precisely at three o'clock com
municated with my friends in the
same manner and with the same ease.
In fact the principle involved, like
that in the discovery of Morse, has
no limit to its working power. 1t is
the subtle force of magnetism, bro't
under control by 4 discovery Of some
universal law to which it will re-
spond.
We urged our friend to allow US to
give his name to the public. Hede-
clined upon the ground that he was
endeavoring to perfect an instrument
with magnetic keys, which could be
operated similar to the type writer,
and like all inventors, thinks he has
discovered the greatest combination
of results and unlimited force the
world ever seen. That,as soon as he
can perfect his magnetic keys so as
to control by them the movements OF
the needle, all nations may become
practically neighbors, and the re-
hottest ends of the earth hold con
verse. We suggested to our friend
that several machines working at the
same time would create confusion,
the earth being q common magnet.
He said for many years that troubled
him, but he now had discovered a
lplan by which he could make an in
finite number of duplicates, no one
of which would respond to other than
its own duplicate, That this was the
most serious obstacle he had to con
tend with, but this he had entirely
overcome. He promised to make q
public exhibition Of this at no dis,
tant day. As we looked upon the
bright eyes and sunken checks ofoul
friend the mystery of years was re.
yealcd-hours, days and weeks of un.
explained absence accounted. for. l;
is q wonderful discovery, and we feal
its terrible price will be the sacrifice