Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-29
Our New York Letter.
THE PHoNoGRAPH - ITS FUTURE USES - THE
CURRENCY QUEsTION-H0w SILVER IS RE-
CEIvED-TwEED's LIFE EINsURASCE-ABoUT
INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS.


THE PHOSOGRAPH - ITS FUTURE USES - TIL
| CURRENCY QUEsTIoN-How SILVER IS RE
CEIvED-TwEED's LIFE EINsURASCE-ABOU1
| INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS.
NEW YORK, March 18th, 1873.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times.
Scientific discoveries of an incredible ma
ture have trodden upon each others heels
for so long that now no sensible man daIes
to be incredulous regarding the widest
claims of inventors, until he has investigated
them. The latest astonisher that has been
thrown at US il that worthy successor Of
the telephone. the phonograph. The start
| ling performance of this instrument, al
though it is as yet very crude and imper-
feet. is enough to awaken in the most mat
ter-oi-fact mind at least a momentary sym
pathy with the most extravagant prophecies
regarding the future of scientific research
and inventive achievement.
Like its iorerunner, the telephone. the
phonoeraph (or "sound writer'') has to do
with the human voice, but unlike the for
mer. is not dependent upon electricity
for its operation. On Thursday evening,
! attended club reception, the principal
feature of which was the exhibition and eI-
PLANTATION by prominent scientist and
electrician Of this wonderful contrivance
When speak of the phonograph as won
derful, refer to the idea it embodies; the
machine itself being simple enough. con-
sisting of an iron wheel. say five inches in
diameter, with a two-inch face, upon which
is cut continuous shallow groove like the
thread of fine screw. Attached to the
frame of the machine, in such q manner
that it can be swung against or away
from the wheel at pleasure, is a small, thin
disk or membrane of iron, framed in
mouthpicce, and having affixed to its outer
surface sort Of pencil point Of iron. When
it is wished to use the instrument, q strip
of tinfoil is bound smoothly around the
grooved surface of the iron wheel, and the
mouth-piece and disk are brought down till
the little iron pencil point above mentioned
touches the tinfoil. all is now in readiness,
and the person whose voice is to be repro
duced places his mouth to the moutt-piece
and talks. sings, whistles, or cr,ws. accord
ing to his fancy, meanwhile revolving the
iron wheel by means Of q crank provided
for the purpose.
The result is as follows: The waves of air,
set In motion by the voice, strike upon the
thin iron disk before described and set it in
vibration. which vibration is transmitted to
the pencil point, which meanwhile is fol-
lowing and pressing the tinfoil into the
spiral groove upon the face Of 1.-The wheel.
When the whole length of the groove has
been traversed, the tinfoil thereon displays a
series of dots and ridges. varying in depth
and fneness according to the modulstion of
the voice producing them. By means of
thread on the crank. the iron wheel is now
turned back to the starting place and the
disk and pencil point being replaced in the
groove, the wheel is reyolved at the same
speed as on its previous journey Then the
listener, to his smazement, il not alarm,
hears issuing from the mouth-piece, the
identical words or musical tones which q
few moments before had been poured into
the same receptacle. The pencil point,
travelling rapidly over the dots and ridges
in the tinfoil, which it had on its previous
trip itself made, is caused to vibrate, and
these vibrations transmitted back to the disk
are rendered audible.
The phonograph is still crude in its work
ing; but it is already successful enough to
furnish strong hint of the possibilities Of
the principle involved. When the contri-
vance is entirely perfected, who can tell
what blessings may not be conferred by this
process of "salting down" the invisible
tremors of the atmosphere? A housekeeper
who is going out to spend the day may
int tha ynoob;ro f,,If g. -,
conduct of affairs in her absence, and the
servants can grind out instructions from
time to time. as they are wanted. II q
mother, she may murmur cradle song into
the mouth-piece, and have the nurse give |
the crank a few turns each time the baby |
stirs in its cradle. A naval officer who is |
going upon long cruise can spend two or |
tn rec days at the machine, and leave behind |
him enough conversation to entertain his |
family until his return. A distant lover, |
having recorded his vows upon the plate of
the instrument, can mail it to his darling, |
who may listen to the very tones Of his
voice. A husband. about to die, might put
away enough of affectionate talk to console
his widow in her loneliness until she married
again. 1t is 9 great invention.
The history Of general events for the week
hero is quite barren of interest. The money
question attracts perhaps more notice than
any other. The unexpected course of gold
which persists in lowering about par. has
,sused much surprise, and has induced
'everal firms. among them Stewards retail
department.. to give out gold for change in
arge quantities.
The Metropolitan Hotel, of this city.
which is one Of the most valuable items in
he Sewart estate. has become one Of the
inest houses in America under its present
at the head of which is Mr..
Henry Clair. long and favorsbly known as
of the Grand Union Hotel. of
saratoga The Metropolitan has recently
Undergone complete renovation.
Tweed's family are now engaged in a
egal dispute with local life insurance
ompany over the payment of an endow-
nent policy on his life, which the company
laims to have been rendered void by his
unning away to Spain against the proyi-
ions of the policy. The point is q novel
me, and its decision will form an impor-
ant precedent Another interesting case
n progress is the Legislative investigation
f our State Insurance Commissioner Smyth,
which is turning up an immense amount
t information, and at present looks rather
'adly for the official named.
1t seems particularly unfortunate after all
he troubles, merited and unmerited, which
ave pressed so heavily upon life insurance,
hat political maneuvering should be al
owed to come in and complicate these diff
ulties Here few months ago some carpet
ag politician who wished to obtain the Off %
t insurance commissioner of Connecticut,
ought to obtain the position by throwing
uspicion upon the vigilance of the present
fficient and pains-taking incumbent. To
his end there was carried through late in the
asst session Of the Connecticut Legislature
ill creating special commission to examine
be Connecticut companies and make report
hereon. The commission published some
Vel!-known facts damaging to the Charter
lax, and closed by an erroneous report on
he Continental Life of Hartford. The Con-
mental at once demanded and obtained q
borough examination by the joint standing
of the Legislature, who, after
oing through its whole condition, report,
q effect, the previous charges and finding
0 be utterly unfounded and the company
D bo in good condition, with a surplus Of
yer 1886, 900. There are enough shsky :
in this country, in all conscience
nd there should be severe punishments for {
hose who try to add to the number
trough violations Of the ninth command
lent.
IL is a satisfaction to add that the
carpet-bag" aspirsnt failed to get his
osition after all. Yours. DALToN.
OVER THE LAKE.
W. +. Gookin. of Port Henry. the for