The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-31
a SCIENTIFIC MARVEL.
Proceedings of a Convention Reported
by a Photograph.

From the Neto York Times
In one Of the large parors of the Grand
Pacific hotel at Chicago there was held,
May 30 Of this year, a convention of the
local photograph companies of the United
States, and verbatim report of the pro-
ceedings of this convention was made by
the use OF photograph. This was an un-
precedented performance. The convention
held its sessions during the day aud even
ing and transacted a large amount of
business, but the photographic covered it
all with his report and the proof of it exists
In the shape OF q volume Of 396 pages con-
tanning about 100 words each, the type
writer record written from the phonograph-
lists cylinders.
The photographic sat in front of a table
which was placed near the chair of the pre-
siding officer and used two monographs, an
assistant changing the cylinders for him.
Whatever anybody said the photographic
repeated after him into the photograph.
For example, the president in a deep bass
voice said: The hour named for the open
ing of this convention being arrived, you
will please come to order" The phono-
graphist, in tones heard only by his ma
chine, for he talked with his lips glued TO a
mouthpiece. repeated the presidents open
ing words. There was his start, and from
this starting point until the convention ad-
journed every speech that was of the slight
est consequence was communicated to the
photograph which made note of it upon
the soft wax Of its sixty successive cylin-
ders. Nothing escaped without record.
There were some warm debates in the
course of the day and evening, when words
came sharp and quickly, but the phono-
graphist captured everything.
All the fun of the convention will be
caught, too, and the reproduction of it is to
be found in the typewriter record For
example, Mr.. Barber of Denver told the
convention how in Denver storage batteries
were used to operate the monographs and,
in answer to a question, stated what was
the cost of the storage battery outfit in
Denver. A member rose and inquired:
And what would be the freight charges
from Denver to American The phonOp-
raphist got this into his little machine, and
then, to make the record perfect, added:
Great laughter"
AS sample Of the record, take a few
paragrl phs, without names, which refer to
the discussion as to where the next conven-
ton should be held.
Member-W WHAT'S the matter with Chey-
ennel | should like to invite you to come
out to Wyoming. Is there anything the
matter with Cheyenne!
Member-If hotel accommodations are
what you want nominate St Augustine.
Fla.
Member-r you have it in Detroit 1t will
cost you nothing for hotel bills.
At length the discussion ended; 1t was
voted to hold the next convention in
Kansas City. Thereupon the President
said: 81 will now announce that you can
come to Kansas City and stay as long az
you like. There will be no hall rent nor
hotel bills, and you can Just register now"
Member-Win you give us a lot and
deedl
President-No lot.
Mr.. I. Comerford Martin, the editor of
the Electrical Engineer, by whom Times
representative was shown the record of the
convention, says that the photographic
took" the meeting much easier and with
greater accuracy than it could have been
taken by stenographer.
"You may think" said Mr.. Martin. "that
it would be difficult for you to make such a
report as this, but you are wrong. You
would need two or three days' practice
only and you could go to Washington and
report House debate. There is not the
slightest difficulty in keeping up with a
speaker. The photographic almost leads
the speaker, because, in a measure, he an
ticipates what words are coming out of his
mouth.
"And this method of reporting is swifter
than stenography. There IS no question in
my mind that rapid speakers may be much
more faithfully reported by the photograph
than by the shorthand method. l foresee
that newspapers will use the photograph
man great deal where they now use the
shorthand man. As you must know, the
cylinders need not necessarily be written
off to make copy for the compostor. The
reporters cylinder may be sent direct to
the composing room. Just THU what this
means IL cases where time is short and
presses are waiting"