Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-19
A TELEPHONE WAR.
The Patentces Have Begun to Pull Each
Others Hair.
Washington Cor. \. Y. Tribnpe

Washington Cor. n. \. Tribune.
This is probably the eve of Il great
telephone war. the end OF which no
lawyer or layman can foresee. Already
nearly a hundred patents embodying
supposed improvements in telephones
have been issued, and more than
dozen interference suits are now pen
ding before the Patent Office, brought
in the names of as many patentees.
The general public knows only of
business rivalry between the Bell Tele-
phone Company on the one hand and
the Western Union Company, owning
the Edison patents, on the other; but
before the courts and the Patent Office
the controversy takes character en-
tirely different The merits ofthe case
are very difficult 10 reach, and seem
not to be fully understood, even by ex.
perts in electricity or patent law. So
many fine points in electrical science
and in patent law, the most evasive and
crooked of all branches OF iurispru-
dence. enter into the matter that one
becomes involved from the outset in
labyrinth of teachnicalities 50 dense
that just and ineligible solution
seems to be an impoSsibility. The in
reference cases are set for hearing
some time next February, and the time
meanwhile is being taken advantage Of
by the council to take testimony bear
ing upon the cases.
Stripped of side issues, the immediate
controversy appears to be narrowed
down to the question of priority i'll the
application OF the principle of the UNI
dulatory current TO the transmission of
spoken words. Several years before the
issuance Of the first American tele-
phonic patent, IL German named Refs
experimental in telephones. and is said
to have succeeded in transmitting
musical tones and vowel sounds by
wire. Refs published IN account of his
experiments, with plans, an examina-
tion of which in the light of to-day
makes one marvel mat success should
have eluded him. He made use Of the
same diaphragm which forms part of
all successful telephone systems.
In July of 1870 Elisha Gray, Of Chi
cago, obtained patent upon system
Of transmitting musical sounds, which
it was thought at the time would form
graphy. Each note in the scale was to
be made the medium of communica-
ton between different points. The
principle is said to be theoretically per-
feet. Gray's patent was reissued on the
2Sth of January, 1879, and forms the
foundation Of the counter claim Of the
Western Union against the Bell Tele-
phone Company.
Professor Bells patent, the app!ica-
ton for which was filed on the l1th of
February, 1876, is based upon the en-
ployment OF undulatory currents OF
electricity The electrical current is
never absolutely broken, but effects are
produced by variation III the strength
Of tine current put upon the wire. This
principle is a necessary part OF every sue
cessiul telephonle system, and By Its
means every variation III the volume of
the human voice may be made to pro-
duce corresponding variations in the
volume of the human voice may be
made to produce corresponding varia-
tious in the magnetic effects transmit
ted from point TO point by telephone.
Professor Bell made no claim to the
discovery of the undrlatory current
principle, bnt merely to lis application
in the manner set forth in his applica-
ton. The claim Of the Western Union
is that the principle Of the undulatOry
was covered In the Gray patent. The
settlement OF this question will probab-
" be only the first IN the contest how
ever which involves many other points.