The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-04-24
A l,loo-M11E TALK.
Telsphoning Between the Cities Of
Chicago and New York-An
Almost Incredible Feat.

Hello, New York.
Can you hear what / say?
Very plainly.
The above conversation was heard
by a representative of this paper, as
he sat in the office of the Postal Tele-
graph Company in this city yester-
day, holding to his ear one of the sew
eral receivers attached to the main
line. He was permitted to do this
through the courtesy of an invitation
from Mr.. c. f. Stumm, the obliging
general manager Of the company.
The day had been set apart by the
company for the purpose of further
testing the abilities of the telephones
that have. already done such remark
able service between this city and New
York. The leading Chicago papers
were represented at that end of the
line, and nearly all the New York
and Brooklyn papers at the New
office. Besides, there were present at
the latter Office such well-known elec-
tricians as Mr.. Gushing, Mr.. Fray
and Mr.. Ludwig.
The instruments used were the
of the Peoples Telephone
Company, of New York, and have
already been described in detail in
these columns. The line was in per-
feet trim and worked like q charm
The cable not having been completed
under the river at Chicago, that end
Of the wire was run into an office in
the stock yards, a mile or two this
side of the city. The line is just ], 100
miles. long.
A few moments after Ii o'clock the
Morse instruments were cut out and
the telephones attached. The induc-
tion did not seem TO be very heavy,
although Mr.. Stumm said that the
line running from Cleveland to Can
ton was rendered almost useless
while the experiments were going on,
as that line and the one over which
the conversation was being carried
on ran quite close together for sever
al rods at Bedford. So great was
this induction, especially from the
Chicago and New York line, that the
operators in Akron, Canton and
Cleveland could quite distinctly hear
what was being SAID in either Chica-
go or New York.
Chicago said: "Hello, New York
what time have you?
l am twenty minutes Of /, answer
ed New York how are you?
It's Just IL :49 o'clock in Chicago,
was the answer.
Your watch must be way off.
Oh, no. You forget that we are
1,l0O miles apart.
So did. l hear you SO plainly
that it seems as fyoumust be in the
next room.
Where are you /? asked Chicago.
, tho. 40 Broadway Where are
you?
At the Chicago stock yard.
Give us a song, said New York.
The Chicago man sang "Warrior
Bold" The words could be plainly
heard both at the Office in Cleveland
and in New York.
Can't you give us some music now :
asked Chicago.
The New York man produced a
harmonica and played "The Last
Rose of Summer," "Greenville,'
"Yankee Doodle and "Home Sweet
Home" The music was wonderful
ly sweet, and each tone was as plain
and distinct as if the instrument had
been in the next room. The Chicago
man not only heard the tones, bu,
caught the tunes. To the listener a,
Cleveland every note was distinct.
Experiments were then made by
holding the receiver several inches
from the ear. Very little difference
was noticeable, and both conversa-
tions could be plainly heard.
Wait moment while / change
diaphragms," said New York, whil'
the listener at the Cleveland offic'
still held the receiver several inche
from the ear. The removal of th'
diaphragm could be plainly heard.
Conversation then resumed, ant
was carried ON for about thirty min
utes with scarcely word being
missed. The New York operator in
troduced representatives of the lead
ing metropolitan journals to the maj
at the Chicago end of the wires, apt
in all the different voices that spok
over the wire the listener at the offic'
in this city did not miss word. Th'
experiments made yesterday wer
without question among the most i'm
portant ever made in electricity
They proved beyond a question tn
possibility of long distance telephon
ing and prognosticate the belief loni
held by practical men that the day i
not far distant when the leading cit
les of the land will be within speak
| ing distance Of each other.
Skinny Men.