Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-02
n NOVELTY IN TELEGRAPHY.
seventy-Two Messages ut Once over One
Wire-A New Line In New England.


A Boston telegram to the New York
Tribune says: A new telegraph line has
Just been opened between this city aud
Providence, which introduces new idea
into the general telegraph business Of the
country. The purpose Of the new inven-
ton is not 80 much 10 compete for general
commercial business as IL is 10 afford an abb
soluieiy secret and safe system OF private
telccraphing at q low expense. The inven-
ton is a. marvellous IN its way as the tele-
phone. Those who have dropped into the
Office 81 the new line at IS Deycnshire
street 10 erjoy sight Of It's performance
are almost thunderslruck.
The new system was invented by Paul
La Cour, OF Copenhagen, but has been per-
fected In America by Patrick Il. Delaney,
at an Office on Broad street, in New York
city. II is called synchronous-mu
biography" and is based on the idea of
the phonic wheel. Imagine two large
horseshoe magnets, shaped like tuning
forks, one in Boston and one I'm Provi-
dence, and both vibrating In tuning-fOrk
style In exact unison. This is the starting
point OF the system. Then mechanism Is
employed which looks like perpendicular
steel axle, with seventy or more knlttiug-
needle spokes projecting from II. This lit
tie wheel has no tire, but consists merely OF
axle and spokes. A trailing pen travels
around rapidly on these steel spokcs, touch
ing each I'm turn, and sending a flash OF
electricity through II. This wheel Is the
second important popularity OF the me-
chanism. There is one at each end Of the
wire.
In the wel-known quadrupleX system OF
telegraphy, four messages may be sent at
once over one wire, two in each direction.
BY the new system seventy.two messages
may DC sent at once over the same wire, all
In one direction, or part one way and the
rest the other. Speed OF Transmission varies
win the number Of operators, Six men
can Use the wire, aud each send thirty-iiye
words a minute, but II twelve should use
II the gpeed would be reduced to twenty
words. II seventy.two operators should
use II, the speed would be reduced even
below that of very slow Morse ope-
ralor. The regular telegraph companies
REQUIRE quick transmission, but there are
hundreds Ct businessmen whose business
docs not demand the speed OF quick opera
tors. II they could have private line, the
slow transmission Of wire worked In
connection with telegraph printing instru-
ments would do we'll enough for them. IL
is 10 meet the needs of n class Of business
men, who require the safety OF a private
wire than speed, but who cannot afford TO
pay $1,000 year for one. that the multiplex
system has been perfected. Seyenty-two
printing instruments can be worked stimuli
tanecusly over one wire, and without
any man getting message not intended
for him, as people often do In the ease of the
telephone, or getting his business rixed up
with anybody else's. The messages are
printed In capital letters on q narrow strip
OF paper, and both those sent and received
are recorded there. IL a merchant should
leave bis Office and message were sent In
his absence, Il would be found printed
there for perusal on his return. IL has
been demonstrated that IN six hours, the
duration OF an ordinary business-day, each
one of the seventy-two users OF single
wire can transmit one hundred messages
OF the ordinary length.
A curious feature Of this new system Is
it, secresy. The line cannot be tapped in
any way whatever. II that were attempted
confusion OF sounds, tumble OF words.
would be the only reeompensa.ion for the
thief.
The line between Boston and Providence
has been In operation only short time, but
quite long enough 10 attract some attention
In business circles. IL seems to De a novel
~ In telegraphy, and 10 have field almost
exclusively iis own.