Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-03
known, after many years Of experiments and
VARIOUS Improvements, the quadruplex system

Ahown, aItef many years OF experiments ana
VARIOUS Improvements, the quadruplex system
was devised by Edison. By means Of this system
the sending Of four messages-two in each d.
feetl0n-over single wire Is matter Of daily
experience in telegraph offices. To accomplish
the same thing with the telephone lie one Of the
problems which electricians are busily engaged
IN working out. How 1t can be done will, per-
give an explanation Of the quadruplex system in
daily use In telegraphy. To understand the latter
system requires q very complete knowledge Of
the science of electricity, and there are but few
telegraph operators that have clear idea Of it's
workings.
When a question in regard to the possibility
OF duplex or quadruplex systems in connection
with the telephone was put to practical cleo
tr1cian by STAR reporter, he said
- Such q system has not yet been Invented
understand yourself. If you think about it, how
1t will be possible. For instance, If you put
your ear to telephone receiver and heard two
voices you would be apt to distinguish the one
you wanted to hear. and disregard the other.
only use 1t as an illustration, and not as a de-
scription OF duplex or Quadruplex system ac-
tually in use"
So far the attempts to send more than one tel
ephone message at the same time over one wire
nave been In the nature Of experiments, and its
practicabiify has not as yet been demonstrated
But In this direction as In all others of tele-
phonic improvement the brightest minds of the
age are at work, and no doubt before long their
laDors will bear fruit in some sort of system
that will stand the test Of practical every day
use. There is sufficient in the possibilities that
open up to the mind in the study of the tele-
phone to stimulate the inventive faculties of
men to the highest pitch. Its unsolved prob
lens are many and great There is in the first
place such an Improvement in the instrument
itself to be made as to enable messages to be
transmitted through it for long distances In
the second place. some form of repeating
BOARD Is to be invented, and in the third place
duplex or quadrupleX system of transmission
These are the chief problems in which the gaunt-
let of the Unknown is thrown down as a chal-
lenge to the scientific minds of the present age.
OTHER UNsoLvED QUESTIONS.
There are other unsolved questions which will
arise in the attempts to master the main diff
culties. Such. for instance. is the disturbing
influence upon telephone currents when brought
into proximity with the currents of telegraph or
electric light wires. The telephone current is
much lighter than either of these, and close
contact with them weakens its force. Even the
ordinary methods OF insulation. such as enclOs-
utterly failed, owing to the influence of induction
There is. no doubt, but that these and other
dlfllcuities will give away to the inventive
genius OF the age. which is now bending every
energy to the work. With their solution will be
lnaugurated the system Of general communica-
tion throughout the country. which the electri.
Clans now say is only matter of time. People
In the near future win telephone not telegraph
and one general exchange will exist for the
whole country: For instance, citizen of
Washington will go to his telephone and ringing
up the main Office will call:
Hello, Central! Give me New York" or
"Give me Chicago" and then calling over the
wires to the main office in either Of those places
he will be put in communication with the person
with whom he wishes to talk. That is the con-
summation that electricians Of the present time
are working for and capitalists are backing
them with their money and buying up telephone
stock. so as to be in the front ranks when the
harvest begins.