Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-23
ELECTRICITY ON THE JUMP.
Catching n Train by EcleRraphing
Through the Roof of the Car.

Two hundred railway, telegraph and
newspaper men Of Chicago and vicinity,
saws the Chicago Herald OF the Goth,
we're Yesterday given an opportunity to
witness Edison's latest wonder, telegraph.
ing from moving train, in practical
operation. In the baggage car OF a special
train, run to Milwaukee and back by the |
st. Paul Road and the Telegraph and |
Telephone Company, OF New York, was
a little table, by which sat an operator
with receiving cups resembling telephone
receivers buckled tight over his ears
and an ordinary Morse dispatching key
under his fingers. In boxes near by was
a powerful battery, and wires connected
the instruments with the wheels OF the
car beneath and with the roof overhead.
Thus simple was the apparatus which
performs such marvellous work. Before
leaving Chicago many OF the guests
wrote messages addressed to themselves,
and these were received as the train
sped toward Milwaukee. One message
was received from the office OF the
company in New York. superintendent
Tubbs and Clowry received messages re-
lating to the business of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. One gentle
man sent dispatch inquiring the condi-
hour later received reply. Another in
quired for and was given the latest quota
ton on st. Paul stock and June wheat.
A HORSEPOWER had correspondence with
his agent regarding the rental Of n build
ing, and while running forty miles an
hour Conductor Glass received the first
train order ever sent to running train.
II was
P.J. GLASS AND ENGINEER SPECIAL: Pass
No. 10 (thirteen) at lakewood and run to
Minerva regardless of No. 10. @. Il. X.
In all something like two hundred
messages were handled, even the names
Of persons being in most cases correctly
received. The dispatches were sent
through the train and delivered by mes
senger, and passengers found that with
out leaving their comfortable seats they
could send messages to their homes or
places of business and receive replies
thereto.
"The process is very simple" said
Manager McGregor; "the secret OF the
whole thing lies in the fact that the air,
for short distance, does not make any
perceptible resistance to the transmission
OF an electrical current. Consequently,
when touch this key, / send current
|
where it makes leap to the wires run
ming along the road, distant, perhaps,
twenty-five to one hundred feet, although
it is possible for the current to leap
through the air, as we have practically
demonstrated, distance of $50 feet.
Messages are sent as by the Morse meth
cd, and received by the telephone instead
OF by ordinary sounder. With the receiv-
ing cups over his ears the operator is re-
lieved Of all annoyance by the noise OF
the train. In order to telegraph, you
know, we must have n circuit. This is
secured by connecting our wire with the
wheel OF the car by copper ring around
the axle, the current passing thence, oil
course to the rail and ground. AT fixed
station for this exhibition, lat Wadsworth,
the overhead wires are grounded by con.
nection with the rail, and thus we have
a complete circuit, excepting only the
distance from the car roof to the wires
strung along the track. By induction
this space is jumped and the circuit com.
pleted. Induction is electrical sympathy
and telegraph men have much trouble
: with the tendency OF currents to jump
from one wire to another, from telegraph
wire to an electric light wire, for instance
il placed too close together"
This system was brought into its pres
ent shape by Mr.. Edison, but the frs
patent was taken out by William Wiley
Smith, OF Tennessee, who, with l.. T
Gilliland, the noted New York electric
ian, co-operated with Mr.. Edison in tn,
matter. Mr.. Smith conceived the idea o
having message pass from train to al
ordinary wire along the route by simpl,
induction. He told Mr.. Gilliland. Mr.
Gilliland told Mr.. Edison. The telegraph
, and telephone company has million
dollars capital, and proposes to sell roy
, altles to railroad companies 1t is claimed
that with this system trains may be oper
ated with greater ease and safety, as tn
: dispatcher can communicate Direct,
with all conductors, no matter whethc
they are at telegraph stations or not Il
, case of any accident help could be sum
moned Immediately, and messages ma
. be sent from one train to another.
0 That the method is success there cal
Q be no doubt after yesterdays exhibition
Telegraphing to and from moving train
, is verify. In every sleeping car Their
l. may be telegraph office, in every pan
n Tor car n grain and stock ticker. The sys
TEN is interesting and it works marve
Gus, but there is much doubt as to il
practical utility, the trouble being tina
every train must take telegraph oper
: ator, and that this is an expense whic
: few railroads will be willing to incur. II
: this objection reply is made that conduct
1 ors can soon learn to telegraph, and tina
/ many unimportant fixed telegraph sta
It tions may be dispensed with, local pi
!, irons delivering their messages to passin
8 trains, to be transmitted therefrom. Iti
: also claimed that the presence of operi
:, tors on passenger trains will largely in
r crease commercial business, traveller
using the wires more freely than now be
Q cause Of the increased convenience an
Q CELEBRITY in forwarding the messages an
h receiving replies, Operation of the trai
!, telegraph in nowisc interieres with tn
: usual service OF the wires employed
o Doubtless the new method will be adopt
= ed on the limited and other important OK
o press trains on many roads, and som
= Western roads which maintain many tie
n egraph offices solely for the management
:. of trains may find its use advantagcou
= and economical, The many electrician
/ and railway telegraph superintendent
q present were delighted with the noyelt