The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-12
The Latest Wonder

Last night, in the little Office of the
Postal Telegraph Company, waa perfect
ed the feat of carrying on conversation
between Cleveland and New York.
The wire of the Postal Company was
switched on to telephone, the invention
of Mr.. Charles J. Dorrrnce. of New
York, who manipulated its workings in
the Cleveland office. At the New York
end were Mr.. Elisha Gray, of the Gray
Harmonic system, Mr.. A. d. Hunt,
prominent Wall street broker. and inter
ested in the Dorrance telephone, and
others. The experiment was principally
intended to prove the possibility of talk
ing from Cleveland to New York. This
is a much more difficult task than talking
from the Metropolis to Cleveland, a fact
due to the heavy induction upon the
wires running into New York. Mr..
Dorrance raised the ear trumpet to his
ear and distinctly heard:
'Hello Charlie; how do you get me?"
Good; how are you?"
"All right"
Mr.. Dorrance then recited verse from
Mother Goose.
II think you are little too tight
said the New York man, meaning, of
"No, 1 haven't been tight for years."
was the answer.
"There is reporter who wants to
listen to you" said Mr.. Dorrance to the
New York office.
"All right; call him to the phone
was the reponse.
The reporter picked up the instrument
suspiciously. The fact that the trans
mitter at the other end was almost 700
miles away was hardly comprehensive.
The fearful c]atter and clang of the great
network eff wires through which the
postal line creeps into New York could
be plainly heard. Finally above the
roar and clatter a voice was heard that
sounded as if coming down through the
earth, in the washee shop of Celestial.
The tones for minute were indistinct,
and the ear had to be held quite close to
the instrument. After little the voice
could be plainly heard.
Hell; how are all the people in Cleve
land?"
Everything is frozen up here"
''We are having our summer in New
York" was the response.
Mr.. Dorrance then tried several ex
periments. At no time were over five
battery cells used, and at one time the
number was reduced to a single battery
cell. II have tried all methods,," said
Mr.. Dorrance, land have come to the
conclusion that the fewer batteries the
better. I have worked with as high as
$50 cells, but it was no palmer than the
conversation to-day, when we used only
one or two."
"What new principle do you claim for
yOur instrument?" was asked
1.-The difference in the tension of the
transmitter," replied Mr., Dorrance.
Many very interesting experiments
were also made during the day with the
telegrapMc system.
1--WE will show you some rapid work,
said Mr.. Scribner of New York to the re-
porter, as the latter entered the office at
about two in the afternoon. We are
working through to New York to-day"
continued he, land the perfect condition
of our wires makes lively work pos
just then Mr.. q. Baird, president OF
the company, entered the New York
Office and telegraphed Il am ready to
receive some Lego matter"
The cylinders in the Cleveland Office
were already loaded, and a message of
400 words was fred to New York in thir-
teen second. One of 300 words was put
through in ten seconds, including their
answer, 80. K"
I'VE have some for you" said New
York.
go ahead" was the answer returned.
Then the messages which had been put
on the New York cylinders came flying
in at lively rate.
Its coming fast" said New York.
MAKE her spin," was Mr.. Schribner's
orders to the man at the receiving crank
Things did spin for thirty seconds, and
then the number Of words were counted.
Twelve hundred and thirty five was the
number, or at the rats Of 2,47c per
minute. The copy. piece of which was
given the reporter, was perfectly legible
and plain.
Experiments with the Gray system
were also successfully made.-Cleyeland
Herald.