The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-04-23
EDISON'S BARGAIN.
The Western Union Company to Pay
100000 to Apply His Electro
photograph.

YtOO'OOO 10 Apply HIS Electro
From the New YORK Sun, March %.
During a long series of experiments
made some time ago with dampened
chalk as conductor, in connection with
the motophone, Mr.. Edison discovered
that the same principles could be applied
successfully to the production of me-
chanlcal movement at Il distance. Upon
this principle he constructed his electro
photograph. Up to that time there had
been but one method by which this could
be acco nplished. This method was first
applied by Il man named Page, and the
validity of his patents. after long and
costly controversy in the courts, was re-
Gently established by 4 decision Of Judge
Blatchford. The Western Union Tele-
graph company, being the assignee of
Mr.. Pages widow, were thus sustained
IN their claim to the only means of trans
hitting mechanical motion to dis
lance.
Fearing that Edison, during his con-
slant and untiring experimentation,
backed by genius, might some day strike
upon a second means of transmitting
mechanical motion to a distance, and
thus furnish rival companies with
means of successful competition, the
Western Union. company made a con-
tract with Edison by which they were TO
be allowed to make the first bid upon all
electric inventions. They agreed to pay
him $4,000 year for this privilege.
Some weeks ago, therefore, when the ma
ture of his new invention was learned
by that company, they called upon him
to name his terms. Mr.. Edison prompt
ly named 100000. This was thought to
be too high figure, and Mr.. Edison and
the company named an arbitrator to adj
just the difference.
While these were endeavoring to come
to an understanding, agents of the river
company-the American Union tcle-
graph company-opened negotiations
with Mr. Edison. A possession of this
invention would have enabled the latter
company to operate their wires without
in any way infringing upon the Page
patents, claimed by the Western Union.
This hastened matters, and without more
ado the Western Union company agreed,
on Saturday last, to the terms originally
asked by Mr.. Edison, namely, 100000
cash.
By this purchase they do not acquire
right to the electromagnetic princi-
pie, as has been stated, but only to the
application of that principle to tele-
graphy. That is to say, if the decision
of Judge Blatchford in the Page patent
case is sustained, the Western Union
company will hold the only two means
of producing mechanical; motion at a
distance, and will thus have complete
control of all means of Geographic COM
munication in this country.
The result of this new application of
the electromagnetic purposes opens
up new system of telegraphy by cleo
tricIty entirely outside and distinct from
the Page patents. Mr.. Edison's theory
is that the friction generated between
two bodies in motion is diminished, and,
in some cases, even entirely eliminated,
through the agency of electricity. When
current of electricity is passed from
metallic point through piece of chalk
chemically prepared, and thus rendered
conductor of electricity, the friction
normally existing between the metallic
point and the prepared chalk is elimin-
ated, and the result is that the metallic
point glides over the chalk surface with
out resistance. The moment the current
is shut off the normal friction is at once
perceived. From this it will be seen
that by the use of a current of electricity
and piece of chalk chemically prepar-
ed, on which rests a metaleic point con-
veying the electricity to to it, a me-
chanical movement is produced
at a distance. This principle
many experiments, to the production of
a receiving telephone, which is now ex-
tensIvelY used in Europe. 1t is known
as the chemical, or electromagnetic,
telephone. 1t is not used in this country
because of contacts with other telephone
companies. This electro-motograph
principle Mr.. Edisen has found appIica-
BILE TO many things, and it is said that it
presents as wide a field to the production
of new telegraphic inventions as does
electro magnetism. 1t is, in fact, a sub
stitute for electro-magnetism. Although
MIR. Edison has been aware of the DOW
ers of the electro photograph for some
time and its value as a transmitter of
mechanical motion, it was not until a
very recent period that he applied him.
self to the construction and perfection of
a machine by which biography can be
carried on by the use of the electro-mo-
tOgraph principle equally as well as by
the use of electric magnetism