The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-08

Prof. L.. c. Loomis, Who was prin-
cipal of the Wheeling Female Col.
lege inAthis city several years since,
and is now located at Washington,
d. c., is working at project, which
if successful, will be apt to revolu
tionize the present system of tele.
graphing. His idea is to use certain
air currents, for the transmission of
electricity, and it is claimed that
series of experiments conducted by
the Professor in the mountains of this
State, has demonstrated finally that
telegraphing without wires is pra'-
ticable. His manner of operating has
been Endorsed by many scientists.
1t consists of running wire up to a
certain altitude, reachinga particular
current of Electricity, which, accord
ing to Professor Loomis, can be found
at various heights. At any distance
away this same current can be reach
ed by similar wire, and commune
cation can be had Immediately. The
apparatus necessary to bring about
this wonder is said to be very simple
and inexpensive. 1t has been fully
ascertained that telegraphic commu-
nicatlOn does not take place over or
through the wires, but through the
ground. This same communication
continues when these electric currents
supplied by nature are used. Prof.
Loomis has, it is claimed, telegraph
ed to parties eleven miles distant by
merely sending up kite, at each end
of the distance, certain height, at
tached to which in place of the ordi-
nary string was fine copper wire.
When both kites, though eleven
miles distant from each other, touch
ed the same current, communication
was had between them both, and
messages were sent from one end to
the other by means of the ordinary
Morse instrument in connection with.
the instrument invented by Professor
Loomis. This showed that the the
Dry on which he had worked for
many years was the correct one, and
that the proper means, such as sta
tionary wires arranged from natural
or artificial eminences, could be oper-
ated successfully at all times. 1t is
true that aerial biography may not
be much of certainty during violent
storms or electric showers, but it
will not meet with more Instructions
than the ordinary wire telegraphing,
which is not at all sure during the
periods spoken of. 1t will be long
time before aerial telegraphing can be
carried on between places which are
but short distance apart, if, indeed,
it ever will. In such cases the wires
will continue to be used, though for
long distances, such as telegraphing
from one side of the ocean to the
other, the aerial telegraph hopes to
take its place entirely. Professor
Loomis has scheme now on foot for
series of experiments from a point
on one of the highest peaks on the
Alps, in Switzerland, to similarly
situated point in the Rocky Noun
tains, on this side of the world. If
this succeeds, of course, his invention
will rank in Importance with that of
the electric telegraph itself, and be
even greater than that of the tele-
phone. All the money necessary for
the experiment, it Is stated, has
been promised, and it will not be
many years, if it turns out to be
success, before ocean cables will be
one of the lost arts, as, having played
its part, it will be laid aside. The
cost of aerial telegraphy, it is alleged
by the inventor, will not be over one
cent where the other is one thousand
dollars Wheeling Standard.