Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-06-16
Sciences Latest Marvel.

question stood at the door of dingy,
ill-ventilated workshop in the fifth
story OF building occupied exclusively
by machines and model-makers. Dust
and cobwebs obscured the windows and
chung to the corners of the room. Here
and there squares of translucent paper
took the place of broken panes. The
floor and the long, rough work-benches
were covered with metal filings. Coils
of wire, tools and strange odds and
ends of machinery were suspended
from hooks in the walls. Complicated
models, made up of screws, springs
and cog-wheels, great and small, were
to be seen on few shelves about the
shop and on the window-sills. A
ssfront elevation of the late G.. Wash
ington," as John Phoenix would call it,
and bust of Robert Fulton, of which
some vandal had broken the nose, were
the only works of art visible. The per-
son to whom the reporters question
was addressed stood at a bench with
a file in his hand, with which he was
shaping piece of shining brass held
firmly between the iron jaws of wise.
The cheerful melody created by the
operation so filled the air that at first
the workman did not hear his interloc-
utor; but when the question was re-
peated in louder tone, the Machinist
suspended his labor and looked up.
He was perhaps forty-fve years of age,
but his gray hair and deep-lined feat
ures made him look much older. The
forehead was broad and high, and the
earnest gray eyes deeply set under the
bullying brOws. The prominent nose,
square, bold chin and massive jaws
would have told physiognomist that
the intellect of the man was properly
balanced by patience, energy and
strength of will. A long apron, that
had probably once been white, pro-
tected the artisans clothing from the
flying dust.
Certainly, sir; look at him. was
the response to the reporters question.
''What is your pleasurep"
"Well, am come to get some points
about your wonderful machine. /
should like to know how big it is, how
it LOOKS, and what it is expected to ac-
complish," said the reporter, looking
about for a seat.
''H'm!' calculated the inventor;
''thats asking great deal, and consid-
erably more than it would be policy for
me to tell. The electroscope is not as
big as Jumbo, by any means. AS to
how it looks, 1 could best answer that
by giving detailed description of my
magnum opas."
$50 much the BETTER" said the re-
porter, whipping out his notebook and
pencil.
''But to do that" continued the in
ventor, seating himself upon the bench
and swinging his legs pensively, ''would
be to give some one else a chance to
steal my secret, and thus deprive me of
the fruits of my years of labor. But
(noticing moan of disappointment
from his companion) 1 have no objec-
ton to telling you what l expect to &C
complish."
"Wellp"
"The electroscope. went on the
father of that marvellous instrument,
thoughtfully bending and twisting a
piece of slender copper wire, sis an APP
paratus for the transmission of light.
You knew that when you came. We
hope" pursued the inventor, "to be
able to produce in New York instanta-
neous photographs of scenes which are
being enacted in-San Francisco, for
instance. That may appear little
surprising" said the electrician.
''Just trife," observed the reporter.
"Yet it is far from impossible. We
set up our instrument in San Francisco
and attach it by ordinary telegraph
wires to sensitive plate here. The
image is transmitted over the line to
the plate, which is developed as in
common photography. As result, we
have clear, beautiful picture"
'That is all very fine, of course" said
the reporter, picking up his book, "but
of what practical good is itP"
81 will show you. Suppose a Sum
day-school Superintendent in Omaha
robs the bank of which he is cashier and
decamps. His photographs are imme-
diately sent to all the principal cities of
the Union by the electroscope, and his
chances of detection greatly increased.
In the same way fac-similes of docu-
ments may be transmitted. You will
see how valuable this will be in cases of
forgery"
"Then the electroscope will be used
chiefly in frustrating crimeP
'If it would do no more than that its
claim to a high place among useful in
ventions would, I think, be fully estab-
lished. But that is not all. When the
electroscope comes into vogue the i'm
aginations of the artists on the illus
trated papers will have a much needed
rest. Photographs of distant scenes
may be wired and engraved
But won't that be an expensive pro-
cessP''
II don't know why it should be espe-
cially so, and what If it lisp That will
not deter newspapers from using it.
Don't they spend money without stint
to get accurate newsp Why should they