The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-20
THE INDUCTION SYSTEM.
PRACTICAL TELEGRAPHY BE.
TWEEN MOVING TRAINS.
Successful Test OF EdisOn's Latest
lnVentiOn-Hlghly Satisfactory
Results Secured.

CHICAGO, Ill, March 19.-An exhi-
hilton OF tine practical working OF the
Editon system OF telegiapbing be-
tween moving trains and fixed sta.
ton was given to-day on a special
train run for the purpose by the Chi
csgo, Milwaukee and st Paul Railway
Company from Chicago to Milwaukee
and return, leaving here at 1890
o'clock this morning. About 200 in
yited guests were aboard, comprising
officials OF all the railroads en-
tering Chieago, officers and elect
ricaus Of the telegraph companies
and numerous representatives Of the
presP. Before leaving Chicago, each
passenger wrote telegram, which he
addressed to himself and handed to q
collector who passed through the
train, keeping a duplicate for com.
parison. The messages thus picked
up were Transmitted by the Morse
system to Wadswortb, a station mid
way between Chicago and Milwaukee,
where the duplicate set OF instruments
aud condensers had been located.
From there they We're telegraphed by
THK INDUCTION SYSTEM
10 the operator on the train, which
was moving at the rate Of thirty-hve
miles per hour. There was no inter
Tupiion to the working Of the system
from the time the train left the
Chicsgo yards until it arrived in Mil
waukee, and the messages delivered
on the trsin were found 10 be correct.
The same may bs said OF the return
trip. The instruments used appear
quite simple, consisting Of an Undue
llon coil, four inches in length aud an
inch and a half in diameter, 10 one
eId OF which is affixed a
metallic diaphragm on which is a vi
brating armature. Connected with this
is light key for sending, this being
between the vibrator and the battery.
The battery used going to Milwaukee
this morning consisted OF twenty-four
cells OF Fuller. On the return trip
this was reduced one-half and worked
quite as well. From tho metallic roof
OF the car a wire passed down to two
phonetic receivers, which are very
similar TO the end Of
A TELEPHONE RECEIVER,
being cup-shaped, and are. fastened
over each ear by straps, and the
vibrations coming into them are read
by the operator. The ordinary Morse
alphabet is used, the only difference
being the absence of the "back stroke"
which completes the letter to the
ordinary telpg;apher. In this system
the1ength OF the vibration determines
yhe difference between the dot and
dash from the two receivers. A wire
passes through the car floor 10 the
axles OF the truck, thus forming
ground connection aud com.
pleting the circuit from the
wire outside. The battery, it is
claimed, is used only from the key TO
the vibrator, the passage from there TO
the oof and the wires beirg accom-
panied by the mysterious process
called induction. There were four
wires on the poles, which were st an
average distance of thirty feet from
the track. At the station the Edison
instrument was connected with all the
wires, to guard against en- interruption
by the parting OF any one. The uss
OF the four wires in interchangiBg
messages had no effect on
THE MORSE oil ORATORS
at the regular station, and the Edison
men could find no difference between
the use OF four and one. They claim
that the only thing liable to trouble
them is where the telegraph line gets
more than fifty feet away from the
track. This spoils their induction Ia
a large degree, and II the system were
introduced permanently would have
TO be remedied by placing one or more
wires closer 10 the track.
In reply to the question propounded
as to how they could overcome the in
duction OF several wires with heavy
batteries, beside which they we're
working on a emaller wire with less
battery, the man ager said that they
had worked under just such circum-
stances, aud found no difficulty what
ever. Practical talegraphers and
electricians on the train were very
favorably impressed with the working
OF the system 60 far as lit is developed
The manager hopes to be able, in q
few days, to success fully Interchange
messages between two moving trains