New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-15
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE EDIsoN-HUGHEs DISPUTE.

POINT OF THE CoNIROVERsY--OPINIoN or TIE
LONDON ENGINEER.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Allow me TO state. in reply to the letter of
Professor Hughes contained in your paper Of this
date, that it is only an answer to my first one in
which only made assertions, and not to the letter
in reply to the cablegram of Preece and Hughes,
in which 1 gave the proofs. However. there are
some points in Professor Hughes's letter to-day
that need attention. Iquote:
The use of carbon as a varying resistance with
varying pressure did not originate with Mr. Edison.
Mr.. Clerac, electrician of the French Government
Telegraph Department. supplied me with resistance
tubes, founded upon this principle, in 1866; viz
glass tube containing powdered carbon, the resist
ance of which was regulated by the varying pres
sure Of regulating screw pressing on the carbon;
Mr. Edison claims this resistance tube as an original
invention discovery in 1873 or seven years after
it was known in Europe, and he will find IN the
Journal Telegdphique Berne, 1878, that the inven-
tiOn was claimed by German; but on Mr. Clerac
proving his priority, 1866, it was freely accorded
him. SO much for the resistance carbon tubes OF
Mr.. Edison, and the principle Of which he acknow-
lodges he has adopted in his carbon telephone. As
q coincidence, it is curious that the date-lS73-Ot
MIR. Edlsons claim to these resistance Tubes. should
be the same, when the invention Of 1866 was again
brought prominently into notice by the remarks IN
the Journal TeteTaphique.
In reply | state that the Journal TeIegraphiqUe,
Berue, 1873 contains not line alluding directly
indirectly to carbon or carbon in tubes; hence
tho insInuatiOn of priority and coincidence"
falls TO the ground. 1t would be useless to discuss
with Professor Hughes the dissimilarity between his
devices and mine it has been abundantly proved as
was stated by Sir VIM. Thomson, that his principle
and many details were the same as mine as pub
lished year previous 1t will be remembered that
Professor Hughes's original paper was claim
mostly for a telephone, an incidental modification
OF which ne called a mcrophone. He now drops the
telephone and thermOpile, and confines himself to
the microphOne hence the net gain TO myself so far
in the controversy is one telephone and one thermo
pile. quote again:
Mr. Edison, however, has gone still further He
has sent to the French journals, and published IN
lie IigarO June "a, and Correspondence ScieatiiQne
June % the following, which he declares that he
sent to Sir William Thomson:
EdisoH-SiT William ThODas,n.
TAI envoye des mcrophOnes a NM. Pieeee ct Hughes
Y n abus de cOnnance de Ia part do Mr.. Hughes cans
cette affaire, aIteudfz mes preuves. EDISON.
Menio Park, June, 1873.
Trarsidtlon-Edison 10 Sir William Thomson.
have sent some microphones to Messrs. Preeco and
III r,,Tn,t. tbcrt ~ An abuse 81 canGdenfe on me
HenL0 Park, June, 1873. EDISON
Now never sent any such dispatch here attrib-
uted to me, or any dispatch whatever to tho Figaro
hence his emphatic" rem arks on this subject are
gratuitous. Figaro, like London Punch, is poor
Journal 10 depend on for accurate information.
Profe ssor Hughes. going outside OF the subject in
controversy for the purpose of abuse says: The
Edison receiver was identioaly the same as PROBES
sor Bells the only difference being that the natural
magnet was brought round so TO touch the dia-
phragm" To this state that the instrument here
mentioned has nothing 10 do with this controversy,
and is entirely magnetic. 1t was invented by me IN
1879 and has been used ever since as receiver for
sound waves in acoustic tclegraphy, and before
Professor Bell ever brought out telephone; but
Professor Bell had the great merit of discovering
that this instrument could be used for transmitting
sound waves, rs well as receiving them.
II will be useless to continue this controversy
any further in the daily journals. as
tho subject has now been taken up
by nearly all the scientific papers, whore proper
analysis of the whole subject is now being made l
send you herewith article the subject from the
most prominent engineering publication in England,
for which hope you will find space.
Netr- York, July IS, 1878. THOMAS A. EDISON.
The Fpgnecr (London) to which Mr. Edison refers
concludes an editorial review of the microphOne
controversy with the following paragraph:
Other pertinent questions to us, but for the
present will suffice In what way arc the statements
made in the American press concern ng mr. freeze
regret 10 say extremely crcumstantal charges WHICH,
feet the reputation, man OF honor, OF an English
Goycrnment servant holding high official position As
regards the charges brought by implication against Pro
lessor Hughes they concern us very little But te case
h very different regards our own countiyman ME-
Prscce We have right TO expect him show either
that Mr. EdisOns statements are absolutely untue-fOr
lac n understood they quite eX parte-Or TO explain
clearly and precisely why IL Is that no has ehampiOned
Professor Hughes in this country as tle urst
discoyerer OF certain Phenomena when had' 70
saw the least, been discovered before, and 10
make claims In London which he could not have
aGe IN the United States without having them Instantly
denied He must not rest satisfied with the idea that
the telegram which we reproduce at his request viii be
occuIe ns sufficient refuatiOn OF charges so precise
a. those made by Mr. Edison. and can assure him
NJ a shonld not lose one moment In fully and
niefeIy answering every charge that Mr. Edison has
hrongbt against him 10 would be bad enough were q
private Individual implicated IT would be deporabie u
HE chief electrician oil the English Post ONCE allowed
himself 10 remain for one hour longer than necessary III
the posltiOn for the moment occupied by MIR. Preeee
We need hardly that gentleman that our columns
are omen TO him II he should think nj 10 avail or thef
event il will he pleasant duty TO us TO give pub
iicity to such explanation he may otherwise offer,
ec1y as reference been made IN America TO this
Journal the first TO make pubic PROFESSOR dugheSs
claims TO tine invention Of the thermOpile