The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-04-08
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Monday, April 8. 1878.

THE TELEPHoEE.--Ith a- lot been
many months since the ann ouacement
was first made to an iucreduluus world
of Prof. Bells ingenious application of
electro magnetism TO the transmission
of sounds between remote points and
its utilization in enabling persons to
converse and send verbal messages to
and from each other, at great distance
apart. Already the wonderful inven-
ton : has reached US on the farthest
western frontier. Mr.. +. IL. Lamb. the
general manager of the Western Union
Telegraph company. at Portland. came
over last week and fitted up telephone
attachments to the lines Of the Puget
Sound Telegraph company, running
around the bsy between this city and
Milton, whereby large number of our
citizens enjoyed the novel privilege Of
converting andibly and easily with the
Milton folks, each sitting costly all the
while in the telegraph Offices at the
respective stations, telephone in hand.
The new instrument is very simple in
principle. being to outward appearance
only a little box not bigger than a
shaving glass, attached TO the wire, aud
having an ear cup on one side. This
aperture is closed by thin tympanum
vanished iron or other. membran-
Gus substance, which vibrates in front
OF "a permanent magnet Of which the
helix connects with the branches Of the
common galvanized wire of the lines
II differs from the ordinary magnetic
telegraph IN not requiring the agency
of a battery. the vibrstory force of the
sound wave, being itself the exciting
cause that starts the current from the
magnet along the wire and transmitting
the same vibrations to the ear of the
the listener placed at the instrument at
tho other end of the circuit. And further
differs in that the magnet is always
such and not as in the common telegraph
only when the key is closed. The APP
paratus which Mr. Lamb has intro
duced is that of the American Tele-
phone Speaking company. consisting of
Gray's patent and combination Of all
the latest improvements There are two
descriptions, the small hand instrument
for ordinary conversational purposes,
costing a royalty of $50 per year. There
are no instruments for sale. The other
is the box or business telephone, larger,
which costs $50 per year. 1t is just the
thing for railroad lines. branches of
mercantile houses and all the other
operations of business requiring concert
of action and mutually of understand
ing across wide lines of communication.
We understand that Mr.. Colman is
favorably impressed with the idea of
adapting it on the railroad for the reg
ulation of the coal trains as soon as
occasion serves. SO delicate and perfect
is the operation that the sound of the
ticking of watch was yesterday trans
mitted clearly around the bay, between
Seattle and Milton. distance of eight
or nine miles. For signaling the ope-
rstor, there Is a sounding appliance
which can be attached and notice given
when it Is desired TO send communi.
cations This new device of science and
ingenuity is destined to revolutionize
our system of correspondence. As the
principle is studied and perfected, as it
will be from year TO year, there is no
telling what may not be accomplished
with it in the way of easy and complete
inter communication, near aud far.